Plumbing & Sewer Articles
Plumbing in Portland and SW Washington homes: galvanized supply and drain pipe, common failures, and what an inspection can point to.
Garbage Disposal Problems: Debris, Homemade Cords and Wiring Russ Finds at Inspections
Debris in the disposal, homemade power cords and loose wiring came up at 33 of Russ's inspections. What each one means and which ones are electrical.
Water Damage Under the Sink: What Swollen, Stained Cabinet Floors Tell Russ
Swollen, stained sink cabinet floors from old leaks came up at 47 of Russ's inspections. How he tells...
The Main Water Shutoff and the Meter Box: Find Them Before You Need Them
Meter boxes full of dirt, water in the vault and main shutoffs nobody could find came up at...
Slow Drains and Flexible Accordion Drain Pipe: Two Findings Russ Writes Up Often
Slow drains came up at about 60 of Russ's inspections and flexible accordion drain pipe at 22. What...
Water Behind the Tile: How Tub Surrounds, Shower Walls and Shower Pans Fail
Cracked grout, soft walls and flexing shower pans let water behind the tile. What Russ checks in a...
Buying a House With a Private Well: What the Home Inspection Doesn’t Cover
Buying a house with a private well? What the home inspection leaves out, Oregon's seller well test, Washington's...
Toilet, Faucet, and Washer Supply Lines: The Small Hoses Behind Big Water Claims
Plastic coupling nuts, rubber washer hoses, and lines pulled tight cause real water claims. The settlements, the 5-year...
The Old Brass Gas Connector Hiding Behind Your Range or Dryer
CPSC has warned about uncoated brass gas appliance connectors since 1996. How to tell one from a modern...
The Flushmate Recall: How to Check a Pressure-Assist Toilet Tank
Four CPSC recalls cover about 4.5 million Flushmate pressure-assist units that can burst. How to read the date...
Lead in Drinking Water in Portland and Vancouver Homes: Where It Comes From
Portland and Vancouver report no lead service lines. The lead risk sits inside the house: old solder and...