The Big 20: A Deep Dive into the Most Common Defects Found During a Cincinnati Home Inspection
Buying a home is an emotional rollercoaster. You’ve fallen in love with the breakfast nook, the backyard view, and the neighborhood vibe. But beneath the surface of every home—from the historic Victorians of Hyde Park to the modern builds in Mason—lies a complex web of systems. And in those systems, there are almost always surprises.
At Good Eye Home Inspections, our mission is to uncover those surprises before they become your financial burden. As a Certified Master Inspector (CMI®), Todd Engle has seen it all.
We’ve compiled a list of the top 20 issues we find during our inspections. Some are minor "weekend warrior" fixes, while others are "deal-breakers" that require immediate attention. Here is what we look for when we put a "Good Eye" on a property.
1. Improper Grading and Drainage
This is the #1 issue we find, and it’s the root cause of 90% of basement moisture. If the ground slopes toward the house rather than away from it, rain is channeled directly against your foundation.
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The Fix: Regrading the soil to ensure a 6-inch drop over the first 10 feet. You must have a visible foundation
2. Clogged or Damaged Gutters
In the humid Ohio River Valley, gutters are your first line of defense. When they are full of leaves or pulling away from the fascia, water overflows and pools at the foundation, leading to hydrostatic pressure and foundation cracks.
3. Roof Damage and Aging Shingles
The Cincinnati weather is brutal on roofs—from hail in the spring to heavy snow in the winter. We frequently find "lifting" shingles, lost granules, or improper flashing around chimneys. A roof at the end of its life (15–20 years depending on the shingles) is a major capital expense that buyers need to know about.
4. Electrical Safety: Double-Tapped Breakers
This happens when an amateur DIYer tries to add a new circuit by shoving two wires into a single breaker designed for one. It’s a fire hazard because the connection isn't secure and can lead to arcing.
5. Outdated Electrical: Knob-and-Tube or Aluminum
In many of Cincinnati's historic neighborhoods, we still find Knob-and-Tube wiring. Similarly, homes built in the late 60s and early 70s often have aluminum wiring, which is prone to overheating at connection points.
6. The "Silent Killer": High Radon Levels
As a Zone 1 risk area, Cincinnati has some of the highest radon levels in the country. This radioactive gas seeps through the slab. Without a professional test, you’d never know it was there.
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Todd’s Tip: "Never buy a house in Southwest Ohio without a 48-hour continuous radon monitor test."
7. Foundation Cracks (The "Cincy Bow")
Our local clay soil expands when wet. This pressure causes foundation walls to "bow" inward. We look for horizontal cracks or stair-step patterns in the mortar—signs that the structural integrity of the home is under stress.
8. Plumbing: Galvanized Pipes and Low Pressure
Older homes often have galvanized steel pipes that rust from the inside out. This restricts water flow (low pressure) and eventually causes pinhole leaks that can go unnoticed inside walls for months.
9. Leaking or Improperly Vented Water Heaters
A water heater that is "backdrafting" can release Carbon Monoxide into the home. We also frequently find missing TPR valve pipes (Temperature and Pressure Relief), which are essential to prevent the tank from exploding under extreme pressure.
10. HVAC Neglect and Clogged Filters
We often find furnaces that haven't been serviced in years. Clogged filters restrict airflow, causing the heat exchanger to overheat and potentially crack—a dangerous defect that requires system replacement.
11. Mold and Mildew in Crawlspaces
If a crawlspace doesn't have a proper vapor barrier (plastic sheeting), moisture from the earth rises into the wooden floor joists, creating a breeding ground for mold that affects the air quality of the entire home.
12. Poor Attic Ventilation
An attic that "can't breathe" becomes a sauna in the summer and an ice-dam factory in the winter. This heat buildup destroys shingles and can lead to "attic mold" on the underside of the roof sheathing.
13. Missing or Damaged Sump Pumps
In Cincinnati, a sump pump is your basement’s heart. We often find pumps that are "frozen," disconnected, or lacking a battery backup—meaning the first big thunderstorm will result in a flooded basement.
14. Inadequate Attic Insulation
Most older homes are significantly under-insulated by modern standards. This leads to massive energy bills and discomfort. We look for a minimum of R-49 insulation depth (about 15–20 inches).
15. Improper Chimney Flashing and Masonry
The "shoulder" of the chimney is a common leak point. We also find "spalling" bricks (bricks that are flaking apart) and cracked chimney crowns that allow water to enter the masonry structure.
16. Termite and WDI (Wood-Destroying Insect) Damage
Subterranean termites are active in the Tri-State area. We look for "mud tubes" and hollowed-out wood. Often, the damage is hidden behind finished basement walls and requires a "Good Eye" to spot.
17. GFCI Protection Failures
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are required in kitchens, bathrooms, and garages to prevent electrocution. Many older homes haven't been updated, or the GFCI outlets have "tripped" and failed internally.
18. Failed Window Seals (Foggy Windows)
When the seal on a double-pane window fails, the insulating gas escapes and moisture gets in, causing "fogging." While not structural, replacing custom windows can be incredibly expensive for a new homeowner.
19. DIY Plumbing Hazards: "S-Traps" and Accordion Drains
We see a lot of "handyman" plumbing. S-traps (which can siphon dry and allow sewer gas in) and flexible "accordion" drain pipes (which clog easily) are frequent finds under kitchen and bathroom sinks.
20. Deck Safety: Improper Ledger Flashing
Decks are one of the most dangerous parts of a home if built incorrectly. We check to see if the deck is properly bolted to the house (the ledger board) and if it has "flashing" to prevent the wood from rotting where it meets the house.
Why the "Good Eye" Perspective is Different
When Todd Engle or Jaran Burns performs an inspection, we aren't just looking for problems—we are looking for context.
Not every issue on this list is a reason to walk away from a deal. A double-tapped breaker is a $150 fix. A bowed foundation wall is a $15,000 fix. Our job is to help you distinguish between a "maintenance item" and a "structural catastrophe."
Most homes in Cincinnati are at least 30 to 100 years old. They aren't perfect, and they all have "character" (which is often code for "defects"). The goal of a Good Eye Home Inspection is to give you a prioritized roadmap. We want you to know what needs to be fixed today for safety, what needs to be planned for next year, and what you can simply keep an eye on.
The CMI Difference
As a Certified Master Inspector, Todd Engle brings a level of forensic scrutiny to these 20 issues that goes beyond the standard state requirements. We use thermal imaging to find the leaks you can't see, continuous monitors to track the radon you can't smell, and a lifetime of local experience to understand the house you're about to call home.
Don't Buy Blind—Get a Good Eye
If you are in the process of buying a home in Loveland, Cincinnati, Dayton to Batavia, or the surrounding area, don't leave these 20 issues to chance. You deserve to know exactly what you are signing up for.
Whether it's a "Cincy Bow" in the basement or an "octopus" furnace in the attic, we’ve seen it, we’ve inspected it, and we can help you navigate it.
Ready to schedule your inspection?
Call Todd and the team at 859-630-4659 or visit us online at goodeyeinspections.com.
Good Eye Home Inspections: Because you can't afford to miss the details.
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