The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the house. A home inspector will check your potential property for safety and structural defects. The report may contain recommendations on repairs that are needed and bring up potential issues essentially in the kitchen.
Here are some of the most common kitchen defects that home inspectors find:
1. Excessive rust in the sink or appliances.
Home inspectors are typically looking for rust because it is a sign that water is leaking into an area of your kitchen that needs to be fixed. It can also indicate that there are structural issues behind the countertop or inside of appliances, which may need immediate attention.
2. Outdated or inefficient appliances.
If you have an old refrigerator that uses far too much power for its size, a home inspector will recommend that the appliance be replaced. Home inspectors may also note appliances with inoperable controls on stoves and dishwashers as highlighting potential health and safety issues, especially if they are gas-powered.
Ben from Nationwide Appliance Repair Brisbane explains: ” outdated or broken appliances can cost you hundreds of dollars per year in power costs. When purchasing a house it is very important you get a professional to look them over. If they are underperforming, you can use this to negotiate the price. “
3. A greasy film over the surface of your stove and/or oven.
This means you probably have grease build-up somewhere on your appliance. Home inspectors check for grease build-up because this usually points to something being caught in the system or some type of burner issue on top of gas stoves, which can be dangerous if left untreated.
Home inspectors will also look for grease build-up on the vent above stoves that have a fan, which may suggest that it’s time to replace or clean your exhaust hood.
4. Water damage in the kitchen.
This is a common finding because a home inspector is looking for visible signs of water getting into places where it shouldn’t be. Home inspectors are typically not experts at fixing the issues they find, but if there is water damage from pipes or from exterior leaks, you can ask them what would need to be done to fix it and get an estimate on cost if possible before moving forward with repairs.
5. Worn out grout around sinks or tile surfaces.
Home inspectors will check for this issue because tiles in the kitchen are often subjected to water damage if grout is worn out. Home inspectors check for this because tiles with broken grout can be a potential risk in the event of flooding or if water penetrates into walls or cabinets below, which can weaken your structure.
6: Vents That Lead to Nowhere
The kitchen range vent should remove steam as well as some of the cooking grease. In a perfect world, at the very least. However, in many kitchens, the range vent is simply ornamental. It doesn’t imply that it’s functioning just because it’s there.
The home inspector will examine the range vent to see whether or not the fan is turned on. Even if it does, it might not be effective. As a result, your inspector will check for proof that it disperses outside of the property as required.
7: Dangerous Electrical Problems
Not only are bad electrical connections and outlets a defect, but they’re also dangerous. In comparison to living rooms, kitchens require greater gauge wire and GFCI protection throughout the room. But that isn’t the whole story when it comes to home inspectors’ findings.
Inspectors frequently discover wiring dangerously close to plumbing, especially in the kitchen sink region. Garbage disposal and dishwasher cables, as well as DIY wiring changes for a variety of reasons such as new light fixtures and additional appliances, are possible hiding places.
It doesn’t matter whether the kitchen is modest or enormous enough for a professional chef. They all have similar systems, and they’re all susceptible to faults. Your home inspector is there to protect and inform you of potential problems.