| Many home inspectors not only check the | | | | inside. Another common problem, that should |
| critical components and systems of a home, | | | | be checked, is the condition of the door |
| but also try to give an overview of the | | | | gaskets that are often found to be torn. |
| status of the household appliances. The | | | | |
| information below gives some insight into how | | | | Ranges, gas and electric, should be checked |
| this evaluation is done. | | | | for the basics: Do the burners, the oven and |
| | | | the broiler all heat? With a gas range there |
| Home inspection standards seldom specify that | | | | might be more safety checks but complicated |
| household appliances must be inspected by the | | | | functions, like the working of the oven timer |
| professional home inspector. There are a | | | | or the calibration of the thermostat are |
| number of reasons for this. For example, many | | | | beyond the scope of the inspection. |
| times the appliances go with the seller so | | | | |
| they will not be in the house after closing. | | | | When the dishwasher is run, the inspector |
| Other times, there are no appliances in the | | | | makes sure that it operates and that no water |
| home because it is brand new or, in an older | | | | leaks show up around it on the floor or under |
| home, they were worn out and were disposed | | | | the sink. A dishwasher, depending on the |
| of. A problem with trying to evaluate used | | | | jurisdiction or circumstances, might require |
| appliances is the difficulty in doing so | | | | an air-gap. This device is a safeguard that |
| accurately. Even an appliance repair | | | | keeps contaminated water from entering into |
| professional will be reluctant to try to | | | | the potable water system. In a related |
| predict the longevity or remaining life of a | | | | matter, the food disposal is usually run and |
| used household appliance. | | | | the primary concern there is that it does not |
| | | | leak, that it is not heavily rusted and that |
| The inspector does not want to make wild | | | | it does not sound like it is flying apart. |
| predictions about the unknown so, when | | | | |
| appliance inspections are done at all, there | | | | As described above, kitchen appliances are |
| are a few guidelines. These procedures may | | | | commonly viewed by the inspector but laundry |
| vary from one inspector to another, and from | | | | appliances, when they are present at all, may |
| one appliance to another, but here are some | | | | or may not be operated depending on a number |
| basics. With a refrigerator or freezer, an | | | | of factors that the inspector takes into |
| inspector tries to determine if it is cooling | | | | account at the time. |
| and whether or not it is broken or rusted | | | | |