10 MOST
FREQUENT HOUSE PROBLEMS
In
a recent survey by professional Home Inspectors, the following
list was compiled of the most frequently found problems
in the homes they inspected.
1.
Improper Surface Grading/Drainage. This was by
far the most frequently found problem, reported by 35.8%
of the survey respondents. It is responsible for the most
common of household maladies: water penetration of the basement
or crawlspace.
2.
Improper Electrical Wiring. A significant number
(19.9%) chose this item as the most common home defect,
which includes such situations as insufficient electrical
service to the house, inadequate overload protection, and
amateur, often dangerous, wiring connections.
3.
Roof Damage. Although reported by only 8.5% of
the respondents as the most common problem, roof leakage,
caused by old or damaged shingles or improper flashing,
was considered to be a frequent problem.
4.
Heating. Systems. Problems in this category include
broken or malfunctioning operation controls, blocked chimneys,
and unsafe exhaust disposal.
5.
Poor Overall Maintenance. Even the novice home
buyer is usually aware of this situation, demonstrated by
such signs as cracked, peeling, or dirty painted surfaces,
crumbling masonry, makeshift wiring or plumbing, and broken
fixtures or appliances.
6.
Structurally Related Problems. Many houses, as
a result of problems in one or more of the other categories,
sustain damage to such structural components as foundation
walls, floor joists, rafters, and window and door headers.
7.
Plumbing. Though never ranked by the respondents
as a Number One problem, plumbing defects still rank high
among the house problems encountered, and include the existence
of old or incompatible piping materials, as well as faulty
fixtures and waste lines.
8.
Exteriors. Flaws in a home's exterior, including
windows, doors, and wall surfaces, are responsible for discomfort
of water and air penetration, but rarely have structural
significance. Inadequate caulking and/or weather-stripping
are the most common culprits.
9.
Poor Ventilation. Perhaps due to overly ambitious
efforts to save energy, many home owners have "over-sealed"
their homes, resulting in excessive interior moisture. This
can cause rotting and premature failure of both structural
and non-structural elements.
10.
Miscellaneous. This category includes primarily
interior components, often cosmetic in nature.
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Notes:
a. It is significant that within this list of ten
problem categories, at least four are directly related
to the damaging effects of water. It is apparent,
therefore, that after a home is built (presumably
in a structurally sound manner), keeping water out
is the homeowner's most important - and continually
challenging - objective.
b. It should be most clearly understood that the
statistics relating to electrical and plumbing problems,
and roofing in particular, will vary greatly depending
upon regional climates and building codes, and that
this list, therefore, represents an average.
c. In addition, the age of a home plays a significant
role in these findings. In older, urban houses problems
such as heating system failure, inadequate electrical
service, and worn plumbing can be found with much
greater frequency than reflected in this survey.
d. Survey response percentages were given only for
the first three categories because they were so high
and statistically meaningful. Items 4 through 10 were
ranked significantly lower than the top three, and
vary regionally.
e. This was a National survey, therefore conditions
and priorities of conditions could change based on
regions.
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