• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Roofing
• Exterior
• Structural Components
• Heating
• Central Air Conditioning
• Interior
• Insulation and Ventilation
• Built-In Kitchen Appliances
• What the Home Inspector Does Not Do

• Service entrance conductors, Service entry conductor materials, Service type as being overhead or underground;
• Service equipment, grounding equipment, main overcurrent device, and main and distribution panels;
• Branch circuit conductors, their overcurrent devices, and report any incompatibility of their ampacities and voltages;
• The operation of a representative number of installed ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, switches and receptacles located inside the house,
• The polarity and grounding of all receptacles within six feet of interior plumbing fixtures, and all receptacles in the garage or carport, and on the exterior of inspected structures;
• The operation of all ground fault circuit interrupters;
• The Home Inspector shall report any observed aluminum branch circuit wiring.
• The Home Inspector shall report on presence or absence of smoke detectors, and operate their test function, if accessible, except when detectors are part of a central system.

• The amperage and voltage ratings of the service;
• The location of main and distribution panels and disconnects;
• The wiring method/s used

• Insert any tool, probe, or testing device inside the panels;
• Test or operate any overcurrent device except ground fault circuit interrupters;
• Measure voltage, resistance or impedance
• Dismantle any electrical device or control other than to remove the covers of the main and auxiliary distribution panels;
• Observe: Low voltage systems; Security system devices, heat detectors, or carbon monoxide detectors; Inspect telephone, security, cable TV/Internet, intercoms, or other ancillary wiring that is not a part of the primary electrical distribution system;
• Inspect built-in vacuum equipment.

• Interior water supply and distribution system, including: piping materials, supports, and insulation; fixtures and faucets;
• Functional flow; leaks; and cross connections; I
• Interior drain, waste, and vent system, including: traps; drain, waste, and vent piping; piping supports and pipe insulation; leaks; and functional drainage;
• Hot water systems including: water heating equipment; normal operating controls; automatic safety controls; and chimneys, flues, and vents;
• Sumps, sump pumps and related piping;
• Fuel storage and distribution systems including: interior fuel storage equipment, supply piping, venting, and supports; leaks; and Sump pumps.

• Water supply and distribution piping materials;
• Drain, waste, and vent piping materials;
• Water heating equipment and its energy source;  
• Location of main water and fuel supply shutoff device/s.

• All routinely operated plumbing fixtures, including interior and exterior faucets attached to the house, except where the flow end of the faucet is connected to an appliance.

• State the effectiveness of anti-siphon devices;
• Determine whether water supply and waste disposal systems are public or private;
• Operate automatic safety controls;
• Operate any valve except water closet flush valves, fixture faucets, and hose faucets;
• Observe: Water conditioning systems; Fire and lawn sprinkler systems; On-site water supply quantity and quality; On-site waste disposal systems; Foundation irrigation systems; Spas, except as to functional flow and functional drainage; Swimming pools; Solar water heating equipment; or observe the system for proper sizing, design, or use of proper materials.

• Roof covering;
• Roof drainage systems;
• Flashings;
• Skylights, chimneys, and roof penetrations;
• Signs of' leaks or abnormal condensation on building components.

• Describe the type of roof covering materials;
• Report the methods used to observe the roofing.

• Walk on the roofing if there exists the possibility of personal  injury or damage to the roof material;
• Observe attached accessories including but not limited to solar systems, antennae, and lightning arrestors.

The Home Inspector shall observe and report discrepancies related to:

• Wall cladding, flashings, and trim;
• All exterior entryway doors and a representative number of windows;
• Garage door operators;
• Decks, balconies, stoops, steps, areaways, porches and applicable railings;
• Eaves, soffits , and fascias;
• Vegetation, grading, drainage, driveways, patios, walkways, and retaining walls with respect to their effect on the condition of the building.

The Home Inspector shall:

• Describe wall cladding materials;
• Operate all entryway doors and a representative number of windows;
• Operate garage doors manually or by using permanently installed controls for any garage door operator;
• Report whether or not any garage door operator will automatically reverse or stop when meeting reasonable resistance during closing or when an optical sensor path is interrupted (when provided);
• Probe exterior wood components where deterioration is suspected.

The Home Inspector is not required to observe:

• Storm windows, storm doors, screening, shutters, awnings, and similar seasonal accessories;
• Fences;
• Presence of safety glazing in doors and windows;
• Garage door operator remote control transmitters;
• Geological conditions;
• Soil conditions;
• Recreational facilities (including spas, saunas, steam baths, swimming pools, tennis courts, playground equipment, and other exercise, entertainment, or athletic facilities);
• Detached buildings or structures;
• Docks, seawalls, breakwaters, etc.
• Presence or condition of buried fuel storage tanks.

The Home Inspector is not required to move personal items, panels, furniture, equipment, plant life, soil, snow, ice or debris that obstructs access or visibility.

The Home Inspector shall observe and report discrepancies related to:

• Structural components including foundations, floors, walls, columns or piers, ceilings and roof.

The Home Inspector shall:

• Describe the type of Foundation, floor structure, wall structure, columns or piers, ceiling structure, roof structure;
• Probe structural components where deterioration is suspected unless such probing would cause damage to a finished surface;
• Enter under floor crawl spaces, basements, and attic spaces except when access is obstructed, when entry could damage the property, or when dangerous or adverse situations are suspected;
• Report the methods used to observe under floor crawl spaces and attics;
• Report signs of abnormal or harmful water penetration into the building or signs of abnormal or harmful condensation on building components.

• Enter any area or perform any procedure that may damage the property or it's components or be dangerous to or adversely effect the health of the Home Inspector or other persons.
• Provide an opinion as to the adequacy of any structural system or component.
  

The Home Inspector shall observe and report discrepancies related to:

• Permanently installed heating systems including Heating equipment; Normal operating controls; Automatic safety controls; Chimneys, flues, and vents, where readily visible;
• Solid fuel heating devices;
• Heat distribution systems including fans, pumps, ducts and piping, with supports, insulation, air filters, registers, radiators, fan coil units, convectors; and the presence of an installed heat source in each room.

• Heating equipment and distribution type;
• Energy source.

• Operate the systems using normal operating controls.
• Open readily accessible access panels provided by the manufacturer or installer for routine homeowner maintenance.

• Light pilot lights or operate systems shut down by other than the normal operating controls;
• Inspect heat exchangers;
• Inspect humidifiers or dehumidifiers;
• Inspect electronic air filters;
• Operate automatic safety controls; Ignite or extinguish solid fuel fires;
• Observe: The interior of flues; Fireplace insert flue connections; Humidifiers; Electronic air filters; or the uniformity or adequacy of heat supply to the various rooms.

The Home Inspector shall observe and report discrepancies related to:

• Central air conditioning and permanently installed cooling systems including: Cooling and air handling equipment; and Normal operating controls;
• Distribution systems including: Fans, pumps, ducts and piping, with associated supports, dampers, insulation, air filters, registers, fan-coil units;
• The presence of an installed cooling source in each room.

The Home Inspector shall describe:

• Energy sources; and Cooling equipment type.

The Home Inspector shall:

• Operate the systems using normal operating controls:
• Open readily accessible access panels provided by the manufacturer or installer for routine homeowner maintenance

The Home Inspector is not required to:

• Observe window air conditioners;
• Operate cooling systems when weather conditions (below 65ºF) or other  circumstances may cause equipment damage;
• Observe the uniformity or adequacy of cool-air supply to the various rooms.

The Home Inspector shall inspect and report discrepancies related to:

• Walls, ceiling, and floors;
• Steps, stairways, balconies, and railings;
• Counters and a representative number of installed cabinets;
• A representative number of doors and windows

The Home Inspector shall:

• Operate a representative number of windows and interior doors;
• Report signs of abnormal or harmful water penetration into the building or signs of abnormal or harmful condensation on building components.

The Home Inspector is not required to inspect:

• Paint, wallpaper, and other finish treatments on the interior walls, ceilings, and floors;
• Carpeting; or Draperies, blinds, or other window treatments.
• Radon mitigation devices

The Home Inspector shall observe and report discrepancies related to:

• Insulation and vapor retarders in unfinished spaces;
• Ventilation of attics and foundation areas;
• Kitchen, bathroom, and laundry venting systems; and the operation of any readily accessible attic ventilation fan, and, when temperature permits, the operation of any readily accessible thermostatic control.

The Home Inspector shall describe:

• Insulation in unfinished spaces;
• Absence of insulation in unfinished space at conditioned surfaces.

The Home Inspector shall:

• Move insulation where readily visible evidence indicates the need to do so;
• Move insulation where chimneys penetrate roofs, where plumbing drain/waste pipes penetrate floors, adjacent to earth filled stoops or porches, and at exterior doors.

The Home Inspector is not required to report on:

• Concealed insulation and vapor retarders ;
• Venting equipment that is integral to household appliances.

The Home Inspector shall observe, report discrepancies related to and operate the basic functions of the following kitchen appliances:

• Permanently installed dishwasher, through its normal cycle;
• Range, cook top, and permanently installed oven;
• Trash compactor;
• Garbage disposal;
• Ventilation equipment or range hood;
• Permanently installed microwave oven.

The Home Inspector is not required to observe:

• Clocks, timers, self-cleaning oven function;
• Thermostats for calibration or automatic operation;
• Non built-in appliances;
• Refrigeration units.

The Home Inspector is not required to operate:

• Appliances in use;
• Any appliance that is shut down or otherwise inoperable.

• Life expectancy of any component or system;
• The causes of the need for a repair; The methods, materials, and costs of corrections;
• The suitability of the property for any specialized use;
• Compliance or non-compliance with codes, ordinances, statutes, regulatory requirements or restrictions;
• The market value of the property or its marketability;
• The advisability or inadvisability of purchase of the property;
• Latent or concealed defects;
• Any component or system that was not observed;
• The presence or absence of pests such as wood damaging organisms, rodents, or insects; or Cosmetic items, underground items, or items not permanently installed.

• Offer warranties or guarantees of any kind;
• Calculate the strength, adequacy, or efficiency of any system or component;
• Enter any area or perform any procedure that may damage the property or its components or be dangerous to the Home Inspector or other persons;
• Operate any system or component that is shut down or otherwise inoperable;
• Operate any system or component that does not respond to normal operating controls;
• Move personal items, panels, furniture, equipment, plant life, soil, snow, ice, or debris that obstructs access or visibility;
• Determine the presence or absence of any suspected adverse environmental condition or hazardous substance, including but not limited to mold, toxins, carcinogens, noise, contaminants in the building or in soil, water, and air;
• Determine the effectiveness of any system installed to control or remove suspected hazardous substances;
• Predict future condition, including but not limited to failure of components;