Rub a Dub Dub, A Shock in the Tub

"How ingenious is this: To reduce the chance of electrocution from the circuit breaker panel, we simply lowered the shower head!"

Earle Johnson

AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service

Winnipeg, Canada

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

The First Step Is a Doozy!

"While inspecting a 120-plus-year-old home, I found this attic stairway opening directly outside the door from an attic bedroom. I sure hope the people sleeping here don't sleepwalk."

Sergio Angione

Housemaster

Towaco, N.J.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

But How Do You Reach the Doorbell?

"This is a welcome mat covering a hole in the roof. Welcome to my roof!"

Nate Stitzlein

Crow Home Inspection

Baltimore, Ohio

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Paper-Thin Excuse

"Here you can see a heating register that someone wallpapered right over. Why have that ugly register mess up your nice wallpaper just to make the master bathroom warm?"

Neil Brogren

A'N'B Home Inspections

Gold Canyon, Ariz.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Worst Treehouse Ever

"This house comes with mature trees!!"

Gary Kershaw

Pillar to Post

Philadelphia, Pa.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

The Mummy

"Must be the Ancient Egyptian method for attaching a showerhead."

David Grudzinski

Advantage Home Inspections

Cranston, R.I.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

From Prying to Frying

"This is a steel crowbar hooked on the electrical main service of a house I inspected. I figured it was the latest technology in electrical grounding..."

Tirso De Ubago

Castle Rock Inspections

Walnut Creek, Calif.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Sticky Situation

"Duct-tape siding: I wonder if the paint voids the warranty."

Lawrence F. Nies

National Property Inspections

Wattsburg, Pa.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Lint-Sanity

"This is a dryer venting in the tub plumbing wall, as viewed from the crawl space."

Jeff Wise

HIS - Home Inspection Services

Yakima, Wash.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Do You Want Asbestos With That?

"This is an old Chambers range with a gas grill between the electric elements. The concern is the damaged asbestos cover, which rests on the grill surface when it's not in use. Every time the grill or burners are used, a potential hazardous condition develops. According to the seller, it has been in use for years."

Gary Tucker

Tucker Inspection

Emeryville, Calif.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

A Complete Lack of Support

"From a recent trip to India: high-rise scaffolding in New Delhi made of bamboo and rope. Not exactly OSHA-approved."

John J. Heyn

Owings Mills, Md.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

World-Wide Tangle

"Also from New Delhi: When you have a computer problem, here's where your calls go."

John J. Heyn

Owings Mills, Md.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Hair Raising

"This is one shower that includes a way to keep warm and curl your hair at the same time! The shower stall heater was in a house with no ground, no GFCI and on a very powerful 20-AMP circuit."

Marcus Richter

Hands-On Home Inspection

Tucson, Ariz.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Green Machine

"I know there's an air-conditioning compressor in there somewhere, but I can't find it."

Matthew Steger

WIN Home Inspection

Elizabethtown, Pa.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

No-Brain Drain

"Chimney leaking from the cleanout in the basement? Put a drainage hose on it."

Nate Stitzlein

Crow Home Inspection

Baltimore, Ohio

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Make a Splash, Make a Splat!

"This hot tub is installed on a very unstable deck. The deck is not properly secured to the structure and has no handrail. The far side of the deck overhangs about a 15-foot drop."

Wally Shank

Mid Penn Home Inspections

Carlisle, Pa.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Puts the Lean in "Lean-To"

"I'm thinking there may be an issue here."

David Grudzinski

Advantage Home Inspections

Cranston, R.I.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Hole-y Bad Idea

"Yeah, sure. It's okay to run your ductwork through the main support girder—as long as you have a good saw."

Chuck Arnone

Precision Consultants

Sussex, N.J.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Poor Exit Strategy

"Not sure what exactly this is supposed to be, with no railing or stairs. A deck? A stage for one?"

David Grudzinski

Advantage Home Inspections

Cranston, R.I.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Medusa's Junction Box

"I found this jumble of wires leading to a junction box in an attic. This is the difference between an electrician and a master electrician."

Mario Lucciola

All Spec Building Inspections

St. Catharinas, ON

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Well, This Is a Bad Sign

"I found this at a recent inspection. Don't worry, the cardboard will protect you from the deadly shock awaiting you behind the sign."

Kurt Salomon

Advocate Inspections

Midvale, Utah

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter

Window, Interrupted

"Yes, that is a roof caulked up to a window. The second photo is the view out the window from inside the house."

David Grudzinski

Advantage Home Inspections

Cranston, R.I.

Courtesy of The ASHI Reporter