Top 20 Reasons Home Inspectors save lives and why you should never skip a home inspection
When the team at Good Eye Home Inspections walks through a property, they aren't just looking for broken tiles or peeling paint. They are performing a tactical safety sweep.
For a homeowner, an inspection is the difference between a "fixer-upper" and a "fire trap." Here are 20 ways a professional home inspection can quite literally save your life.
The "Silent Killers": Gas & Air Quality
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1. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Leaks: Detectors pick up this odorless, colorless gas from cracked heat exchangers or improperly vented furnaces.
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2. Natural Gas Leaks: Using specialized "sniffers," inspectors find slow leaks in aging pipes that could lead to explosions.
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3. Radon Gas: This radioactive gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer; testing identifies if a mitigation system is needed.
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4. Sewer Gas Entry: Missing P-traps or cracked vent stacks can allow toxic methane and sewer bacteria into living spaces.
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5. Toxic Mold: Inspectors use thermal imaging and moisture meters to find hidden mold colonies that cause severe respiratory distress.
Fire Hazards & Electrical Safety
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6. Federal Pacific/Zinsco Panels: These specific brands of electrical panels are notorious for failing to trip, leading to catastrophic house fires.
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7. Aluminum Wiring: Homes built between 1965–1973 often have wiring that overheats at the connections; inspectors spot the "AL" markings.
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8. Clogged Dryer Vents: Venting not correct or Built-up lint is highly flammable; if a vent is pinched or clogged, it’s a fire waiting to happen.
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9. Double-Tapped Breakers: Improperly wired electrical panels can overheat a single circuit beyond its capacity.
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10. Lack of GFCI Protection: In kitchens and bathrooms, the absence of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters can lead to fatal electrocution near water.
Structural & Physical Dangers
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11. Loose or Missing Handrails: A loose railing on a steep staircase is a leading cause of traumatic falls, especially for children and seniors.
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12. Unsafe Chimney Flues: Cracked clay liners (flues) allow heat and embers to reach wooden framing, causing "attic fires" you can't see.
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13. Deck Integrity: Rotting ledger boards or improper "flashing" can cause a deck to collapse during a social gathering.
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14. Pest Intrusion: Rodents chew through electrical wiring (causing fires) and carry diseases like Hantavirus.
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15. Garage Door Sensors: Non-functioning "auto-reverse" sensors on heavy garage doors can crush pets or small children.
Hidden Environmental Hazards
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16. Asbestos Insulation: Finding "vermiculite" or old pipe wrap prevents homeowners from accidentally disturbing fibers that cause mesothelioma.
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17. Lead-Based Paint: In homes pre-1978, identifying deteriorating paint is crucial for preventing lead poisoning in toddlers.
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18. Improper Water Heater Venting: "Backdrafting" sends exhaust fumes back into the home instead of up the chimney.
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19. Foundation Collapse: Severe "bowing" walls in a basement aren't just a repair issue—they are a sign that a wall could catastrophically fail.
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20. Tree Hazards: Large, rotting limbs overhanging a roof can fall during a storm, crushing bedrooms below.
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