Buyer decides to do a 'selfie' home inspection
Q. The house I'm buying is about 15 years old, and I've decided to do the home inspection myself in order to save money. One of the things I noticed is that the clothes dryer exhaust blows into the attic, and nearly half the attic is covered with lint. When I asked the seller to vent the dryer to the exterior of the building, he said that lint in the attic is advantageous because it increases the amount of insulation. How should I regard this rebuttal?
A. It sounds as if your seller is exhaling some lint and hot air of his own. If he wants to provide some additional attic insulation, ask him to install another layer of fiberglass.
Conventional attic insulation consists of materials that are nonflammable, such as fiberglass or chemically treated cellulose. Laundry lint consists primarily of cotton and synthetic fibers, which are highly flammable. Therefore, the continued accumulation of laundry lint in the attic should be regarded as a fire hazard.
An additional problem with venting a dryer into the attic is moisture condensation. Dryer exhaust contains the water that has been extracted from wet laundry. When this steam is blown into the attic on a cold winter day, condensation on the wood framing can lead to dry rot damage and mold infection. So don't take any steam from the seller with regard to the clothes dryer vent. The dryer should be vented to the exterior of the building, as required by code.
With regard to inspecting the home, it would be wise to retain the services of a qualified home inspector, someone with years of inspection experience, rather than trying to inspect the home yourself. The findings of a competent home inspector will more than compensate for the inspection fee. You can take that to the bank.
Q. A home inspector recently removed the grills from the forced-air heat registers in my home and noticed that the air ducts are coated with a thick layer of dust. I suddenly realized that my family has been breathing this disgusting filth, a revolting prospect to say the least, and I'm wondering how to have the ducts cleaned. What do you suggest?
A. Dust build up in forced-air heating ducts is a common source of indoor air pollution and is known to cause adverse health effects in some individuals, especially those who are prone to allergies. Not only is the dust itself a potential respiratory irritant, but air moisture in the dust layer can promote the growth of molds and other microorganisms.
To have your ducts cleaned, contact a licensed heating contractor or a certified chimney sweep. However, whether the ducts can be effectively cleaned depends upon the type of duct material that is installed. Sheet metal ducts are the most cleanable. Plastic flex ducts and old fiberglass ducts usually need replacement. A qualified professional can advise you accordingly.
To prevent future dust problems in your heating system, be sure to maintain a clean air filter at all times.
• To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com, or write AMG, 1776 Jami Lee Court, Suite 218, San Luis Obispo, CA 94301.
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