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Hi. I do call out that kind of corrosion because in my own experience it may be indicating an underlying issue. What I have found over the past year talking to different homeowners is that many water heater failures are top fitting failures and not bottom failures. My own water heater has a simmilar issue and leaked from the top. Im glad that it was locaed in my unfinsihed basement. Morris County NJ Home Inspectors Home inspections Morris County New Jersey

What you have there most likely is a termite bait station and termite monitoring set up. The product is made by a company called First Line. The idea being that a homeowner can install the monitoring devices themselves rather then have a pest control company install them. Pest control companies change a ton of money to install and monitor them. The termite monitors should be installed roughly every ten feet around the exterior of the home and about a foot away from the exterior foundation walls. The devise should be checked for termites monthly. The tell tail signs are live termites or mud tubes inside the monitoring devise. If termites are found then the monitoring device can be replaced with a bait station to actually treat the termite problem. In my opinion this type of treatment is less effective then traditional perimeter control methods. Home inspectors New Jersey Home inspections New Jersey

With a condensation issue like the one you describe it seems likely that one or more of the bathrooms is venting into the attic space. Often in my area builders cut corners and vent the bathrooms to the soffit area or into the attic space putting gallons of moisture into the space. Also the clothes dryer can be another huge culprit of this type of condensation and mold development. I have found dryer vents that just terminate into the attic. My feeling is that you have more then just an insulation issue. I come across this kind of condensation issue often here in new Jersey. Good luck. New Jersey Home Inspections - New Jersey Home Inspectors

Hi. I always, always include termite or WDI information in the body of the written home inspection report. I write WDI information and findings in the structure section. I would 100% do this if you are conducting the WDI yourself. It is much better to have two documents to fall back on and this way no one can tell you that the information was not presented. It is somewhat difficult to write a detailed description in the regular termite forms. Having it in two places will give you more fire power if something comes back on you. www.LookSmartHomeInspections.com

Hi. If the home is eight years old I would suspect that there is a main disconnect at another location most likely before these two electrical panels. The configuration requires that a main disconnect be accessible to cut off power in the event of an emergency. You are right its not conventional. I would state in the report that one could not be located and that before closing you must determine if a main electrical disconnect exists in order to be able to cut power off to the home in the event of an emergency. its better to cover yourself then not. http://www.LooksmartHomeInspections.com

I often come across gurgling drains in sinks and tubs in bathrooms. Often there is an S-trap installed at the waste pipe (when visible). Is this problem caused by inadequate venting, the S-trap or some other cause. Will a Mechanicle vent cure the issue? How would the tub be vented? I just want to give my home inspection clients the right answer. Thanks. New Jersey Home Inspections