26 Good Tips on Inspecting Your Attic, Basement, and Garage
Attics and basements often serve well as storage solutions and utility rooms while others are finished for use as additional living space. But while their locations in most homes are usually best for those purposes and the concealment of important home systems accessories like ductwork, plumbing, and wiring, they also require routine inspections and maintenance that ensures continued efficient safe performance of the space and components inside.
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Discover the Most Common Issues Revealed in Home Inspections
Here are twenty-six tips sourced from scores of home inspections over the years that should be considered when examining the attic, basement, and garage of your home.
12 Tips to Consider in a Good Home Inspection of Your Attic
- See if the attic stairs pull down easily, with minimal noise, and if they close securely.
- Check the condition and security of the pull-down stair springs, hinges, and weather seals.
- Look for but do not disturb any brown, grayish, or silvery gold pebbles found being used as insulation in the attic of homes built through the late 70s. If found, STOP, leave, close off the attic, and have a professional trained in asbestos test the insulation.
- Be sure that the insulation fully covers the attic floor.
- Look for dampness or evidence of insects, mold, or rodents.
- See if there’s any evidence of roof leaks, condensation, or pest penetration.
- Be sure that no exhaust fan ducts terminate in the attic.
- Confirm that all air ducts are properly connected without sagging or corrosion.
- Be sure that the gas flue is properly secured and sealed to the attic roof deck.
- Ensure that the flues have at least a one-inch clearance in the attic.
- Check that the powered ventilation attic fan works properly.
- Look for and address any wires that hang and electrical connections outside of unsecured junction boxes.
Avoid Maintenance Surprises in the Basement and Crawlspace
- Check for dampness in basements and other areas that are usually closed off and dehumidify as needed.
- Be sure that no exhaust fan ducts terminate in the crawlspace.
- Check the condition of the moisture barrier in the crawlspace.
- Look for and address any uncapped drains in the crawl space.
- Confirm that all ductwork is properly secured.
- Ensure the proper operation of the sump pump.
- Examine the basement floor and walls for cracks, particularly any wider than ⅛th of an inch.
- Look for and address any odor, standing water, and their sources.
- See if any blackened areas along the surfaces are contaminated with mold.
- Be sure that the shut-off valve to the icemaker line works properly.
- Test windows and doors for proper operation, and that the hardware and other components allow them to securely open, close, and lock.
Five Common Garage Gotchas often found in Home Inspections
- See if the garage doors will stop and remain in place midway when disengaged from the power door opener.
- Confirm that the garage doors connected to a door opener stop and reverse when obstructed.
- Lubricate the garage doors and springs if not already done within the past six months.
- Check the condition of and test windows and doors for proper operation, including the door threshold.
- Address any movement, raised nails, or any other safety hazards along the steps and rails to the entry door.
Read about the three systems routinely checked in home inspections for insights into evaluating the condition of any HVAC components located in these areas.
Wrapping Up the Attic, Basement, and Crawlspace Inspections
The areas of the attic, basement, and crawlspace in your home that can be inspected and issues found could number into the thousands, and a skilled home inspector knows where to look to find something wrong among them all. Those discoveries often made at the worse time possible, perhaps during a home inspection associated with a real estate sales transaction, can put the seller at a disadvantage in negotiations. While this list of tips is not provided as a replacement for the wisdom of an experienced home inspector, it may offer some guidance and peace of mind about the condition of the gear in these areas while plenty of time and funding are available to take appropriate actions.
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