1) Evidence of "light to moderate" rodent infestation was found in one or more areas. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines this as less than 20 feces per square foot. Rodent infestation may be a safety hazard due to the risk of contracting Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). HPS is a rare (only 20-50 cases per year in the United states) but deadly (40% mortality rate) disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus. For example, from sweeping up rodent droppings.

Recommend following guidelines in the CDC's Clean Up, Trap Up, Seal Up article for eradicating rodents, cleaning up their waste and nesting materials, and preventing future infestations. While Hantavirus is believed to survive less than one week in droppings and urine, specific precautions should be taken during clean up. The client(s) may wish to consult with a qualified, licensed pest control operator for eliminating the infestation. A qualified licensed abatement contractor or industrial hygienist could be contacted for clean up. If the infestation was minimal, clean up of rodent waste and nesting materials in non-living spaces (crawl spaces and attics) may not be necessary, or may be performed for aesthetic reasons only (odor and appearance).

2) One or more hornet, bee or wasp nests were found at the building exterior. These can pose a safety hazard. A qualified person should remove nests or exterminate as necessary.

3) Numerous wall, floor and/or ceiling surfaces were obscured by furniture and/or stored items, preventing a full evaluation of some areas.

4) Moss on roof. Recommend killing moss with a moss killer and cleaning moss from roof after it dies. Commercial, zinc-based products are available, but certain laundry detergents such as Tide with bleach crystals are known to be effective and cheaper, and can be spread with hand cranked fertilizer spreaders.

5) Recommend cleaning gutters.

6) One or more downspout extension are detached. Recommend repairing these downspouts where necessary.

7) Noted deteriorated brick and mortar joints at the top of the chimney. This condition can allow water into the mortar joints and will further deteriorate the brick and joints and can lead to water leaking into the attic and potentially cause water damages to interior finishes. Recommend having a qualified mason repoint the top portion of the chimney.

8) Noted a small crack in the cap shingles over the master bedroom. Recommend replacing the shingles. To get by for another year you could apply roofing mastic over the crack. This crack could lead to a roof leak is left un-corrected.

9) Caulk was missing and/or deteriorated in areas. For example, . A qualified person should repair or replace as necessary. For more information, visit:
https://www.reporthost.com/_docs/FPL_Caulking_Ins_Outs.pdf

10) Noted one penetration through the exterior siding that has not been caulked. This condition can allow water into and behind the siding and cause structural damage and mold as well as allow wood destroying insects into the wall cavity. Recommend sealing all openings around the penetrations with a high quality exterior grade silicone caulk.

11) Wood trim and siding shows signs of deterioration, requires repair and repainting.

12) Noted missing soffit material on the gable end and side of the back room. This is allowing wood destroying insects into the wall and ceiling space and could allow mice in. Recommend having a qualified siding contractor install soffit materials to seal any openings to wall or ceiling spaces to keep pests out

13) Noted hole in exterior siding. This hole will allow wood destroying insects and pests into the structure of the house. This hole can also allow wind driven rain into the wall cavity which can lead to rot and structural damages as well as damages to interior finishes. Recommend having a qualified siding contractor seal hole

14) Noted missing mortar in exterior foundation wall. Recommend having a qualified mason re-point the stone to keep water out. Once water gets into the joints it can cause damage to the stone from freeze thaw cycles and eventually lead to water in the basement.

15) Evidence of "light to moderate" rodent infestation was found in one or more areas. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines this as less than 20 feces per square foot. Rodent infestation may be a safety hazard due to the risk of contracting Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). HPS is a rare (only 20-50 cases per year in the United states) but deadly (40% mortality rate) disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus. For example, from sweeping up rodent droppings.

Recommend following guidelines in the CDC's Clean Up, Trap Up, Seal Up article for eradicating rodents, cleaning up their waste and nesting materials, and preventing future infestations. While Hantavirus is believed to survive less than one week in droppings and urine, specific precautions should be taken during clean up. The client(s) may wish to consult with a qualified, licensed pest control operator for eliminating the infestation. A qualified licensed abatement contractor or industrial hygienist could be contacted for clean up. If the infestation was minimal, clean up of rodent waste and nesting materials in non-living spaces (crawl spaces and attics) may not be necessary, or may be performed for aesthetic reasons only (odor and appearance).

16) Exposed wiring due to not being contained in junction box. Recommend having a licensed electrician install junction boxes with cover plates where needed to contain wiring or at the very least install wire nuts.

17) Insulation in the eave attic in Master is substantially less than an R49 rating . Recommend installing additional insulation for better energy efficiency.

18)  Main Attic

19)  Eave attic in Master Bedroom

20) Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) wouldn't trip when tested. Recommend having a qualified, licensed electrician evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.open ground

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22) Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) wouldn't trip when tested. Recommend having a qualified, licensed electrician evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

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25) The ungrounded and obsolete 2-prong outlets should be upgraded to include more modern and safer ones, which provide a pathway for the current to travel harmlessly to ground.

26) Handrails at one or more flights of stairs were missing. This is a potential fall hazard. Handrails should be installed at stairs with four or more risers or where stairs are greater than 30 inches high. Recommend that a qualified contractor install handrails where missing and per standard building practices.

27) Wire connections exposed due to missing cover over outlet box behind washer. Recommend installing covers over boxes where missing.

28) Handrails at one or more flights of stairs were wobbly. This is a safety hazard. Recommend that a qualified person repair as necessary.

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30) This fireplace is not operational. Recommend consulting a fireplace specialist to inspect the flue prior to converting this to a gas insert fireplace

31) Firebricks lining woodstove are cracked and/or broken. Recommend replacing these firebricks.

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35) Recommend that this system be serviced now before closing and every two years in the future by a qualified heating and cooling technician.

36) Noted duct joints have not been taped or sealed with mastic. Currently duct joints are wasting a lot of energy. Recommend sealing all accessible duct joints with proper tape or mastic which will greatly improve the air handlers efficency and save energy.

37) Pressure relief valve Drain line is missing. Recommend having a licensed plumber install a drain line extending to within 6" from the floor or routed so as to drain to waste.

38) This unit is older than 5 years old and for better performance and a longer life this unit should be flushed out every other year because of sediment build up at bottom of unit. To flush a unit of sediment start by shutting off the water supply to the heater. Turn the temperature control to low and turn the breaker off. Connect a hose to the drain valve at the bottom and run the hose outside or to a drain. Drain the tank down and then open the water supply to force the sediment out. Close the drain, refill the tank, and reset the controls to normal and turn the breaker back on.

39) Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) wouldn't trip when tested. Recommend having a qualified, licensed electrician evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

40) Substandard wiring was found at the interior rooms. For example, extension or lamp cord used as permanent wiring. This is a safety hazard. Recommend that a qualified electrician evaluate and repair as necessary and per standard building practices.

41) The ungrounded and obsolete 2-prong outlets should be upgraded to include more modern and safer ones, which provide a pathway for the current to travel harmlessly to ground.

42) Based on the age of this structure and the appearance of existing smoke alarms, the alarms may have been installed more than 10 years ago. According to National Fire Protection Association, aging smoke alarms don't operate as efficiently and often are the source for nuisance alarms. Older smoke alarms are estimated to have a 30% probability of failure within the first 10 years. Newer smoke alarms do better, but should be replaced after 10 years. Unless you know that the smoke alarms are new, replacing them when moving into a new residence is also recommended by NFPA. For more information, visit:
https://www.reporthost.com/?SMKALRMLS

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44) Noted water flow rate at the fixtures was low. This is largely due to the fact the water lines are old galvanized lines and are 1/2" in diameter and are most likely corroded inside and restrict flow. Recommend replacing all accessible lines with 3/4" PEX and use 1/2" PEX for branch lines to fixtures. This will improve flow rate.

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46) Noted one or more steel support columns are a temporary style (red arrow). The house puts a tremendous amount of weight on these columns. The columns that are currently in place are not recommended for permanent installations. Recommend replacing the temporary support columns with the 3" diameter, heavy gauge, permanent support columns.

47) Noted main support beam under the back exterior wall of the kitchen that has significant damage due to wood destroying insects. This is the reason for the added support posts. Recommend having a structural engineer evaluate and recommend a replacement beam configuration that will still allow a reasonable amount of head room at the base of the stairs.
Cost estimate: $6000-8000

48) Basement foundation stone has missing mortar in the stone joints. Recommend having a qualified mason remove loose mortar and re-point all open joints in the stone

49) One or more support posts appear to have been added (yellow arrow) since the original construction based on the inspector's observations. Such posts may have been added to reduce bounce or sag in floors above. Consult with the property owner about this, or that a qualified contractor evaluate and make permanent repairs per standard building practices if necessary.

50) The vapor barrier in some areas of the crawl space did not extend all the ay to the foundation wall. Soil was exposed as a result and will allow water from the soil to evaporate up into the structure. This is a conducive condition for wood-destroying organisms. A 6 mil black plastic sheet should be placed over all exposed soil with seams overlapped to 24 inches, and not in contact with any wood structural components. The sheeting should be held in place with bricks or stones, not wood. Recommend that a qualified person replace or repair the vapor barrier where necessary and per standard building practices.

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52) The ungrounded and obsolete 2-prong outlets should be upgraded to include more modern and safer ones, which provide a pathway for the current to travel harmlessly to ground.

53) Recommend installing additional carbon monoxide detectors so one exists on each floor including the basement.

54) One or more open ground outlets were noted throughout the house. Recommend having a licensed electrician establish a proper ground wire.

55) Based on the age of this structure and the appearance of existing smoke alarms, the alarms may have been installed more than 10 years ago. According to National Fire Protection Association, aging smoke alarms don't operate as efficiently and often are the source for nuisance alarms. Older smoke alarms are estimated to have a 30% probability of failure within the first 10 years. Newer smoke alarms do better, but should be replaced after 10 years. Unless you know that the smoke alarms are new, replacing them when moving into a new residence is also recommended by NFPA. For more information, visit:
https://www.reporthost.com/?SMKALRMLS

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57) Because this is a specialty system, recommend the following:

• That a qualified well contractor fully evaluate the well
• That the client research the well's history (e.g. how/when constructed, how/when maintained or repaired, past performance, past health issues)
• That that the client document the current well capacity and water quality for future reference

For more information, visit:
https://www.reporthost.com/?WELL

58) The estimated useful life for most well pumps is 15-20 years. Based on information provided to the inspector or evidence found during the inspection, the well pump may be near this age and may need replacing at any time. Recommend budgeting for a replacement in the near future.

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