A home inspection covers many vital parts of the home, the exterior, interior, and electrical appliances are a few general examples of what gets investigated during a standard home inspection. However, what is not covered in a standard home inspection? Well as a general rule anything that cannot be realistically reached by a home inspector is not covered.
A home inspector cannot look inside walls or inspect things that are hidden during the inspection. Some specific items that are not covered or investigated during a home inspection include the septic system, the chimney, and pools or hot tubs, as well as, blocked or inaccessible areas of the home. Here are why these 4 areas of the home are not typically covered during a standard home inspection.
Blocked or Inaccessible Areas During a Home Inspection are Not Covered
Home inspectors will check hard to reach places, like crawl spaces or tight corners, but anything that requires climbing or digging will remain unreported. Another thing to note is if an area is blocked or inaccessible, for example if the attic has no entrance or the crawl space is covered in snakes it will most likely not be covered during the inspection.
Septic Systems Are Not Covered During a Home Inspection
If you want your septic system examined then you’ll have to order a separate inspection. People often assume that this service is included in a standard home inspection, but the next time you are scheduling for an inspection do not anticipate a report on your septic system. It wouldn’t be realistic to expect a home inspector to investigate your septic system, the reason for this is, in order to properly inspect a home’s septic system, digging would be required.
Some home inspectors may be able to investigate your septic system separately, but this service won’t be included in your standard home inspection. If you’re worried about when you should have your septic system examined, then InterNACHI recommends that you have it annually inspected.
Chimneys are Not Covered in Detail During a Standard Home Inspection
Chimneys are not entirely covered. They are not completely avoided during a home inspection, but they will not be looked into thoroughly. A basic chimney inspection does not require special tools, or even climbing, it mostly consists of an inspector doing a visual check of the fireplace and chimney. This service only requires a visit to the roof in the event of an earthquake or storm.
During a standard home inspection, the home inspector will check to make sure there are not any obvious problems with the chimney, but they will not perform an in depth inspection. The reason for this is, most home inspectors might not have the experience needed to give a proper inspection, and there are other parts of the home that need their attention. However, if you are getting ready to sell your home then a thorough chimney inspection is recommended, for safety reasons.
Pools and Hot Tubs are Not Covered In a Home Inspection
Pools and hot tubs are not typically covered in a standard home inspection. If you are considering a home with a pool, then you will need to order a separate inspection. Why are they usually not covered? Pools have intricate systems and it takes time and experience to properly, and thoroughly, inspect them. During a pool inspection the filters, heaters, pumps, and other electrical appliances each need to be individually investigated, adding these components to a home inspection would take too much time. A standard home inspection will cover plumbing and even your house’s water system, but pools and hot tubs are another matter entirely.
Home inspections cover a large part of the home, but that doesn’t mean it covers everything. A lot of time is spent going over each room in a home and by the end of the inspection you will have a good idea of what needs fixing and what does not. If your home needs a septic, chimney, or pool inspection then you will need to schedule an appointment with a qualified inspector who is trained in those fields so that they are properly covered.
Have questions about home inspections? Give us a call at 276-566-5669. You can schedule directly online or by giving us a call. Curious about the cost of our inspections? Check out our free estimate tool on our website or by clicking here.
