Central Home Inspections LLC

🔥 AN OLD FIREPLACE CAN HAVE A LOT MORE GOING ON THAN YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LIVING ROOM.

This is an actual fireplace I encountered during a home inspection.

Inside the firebox, loose bricks had been stacked in front of the original firebox, creating a condition that deserved additional attention.

Looking upward into the chimney presented another issue: the clay tile flue liner wasn't fully visible, which meant I couldn't determine the complete condition of the flue during a visual home inspection.

That's an important distinction.

A home inspector evaluates the visible and accessible components of a fireplace and chimney, but portions of the flue can be concealed from view.

With the conditions observed here, I recommended that the fireplace and chimney be further evaluated by a qualified chimney contractor and repaired as needed before use.

Older wood-burning fireplaces aren't automatically unsafe simply because they're old. But when questionable modifications, loose materials, deterioration or limited visibility are present, additional professional evaluation can be the right next step.

This is another example of something I tell buyers regularly:

A good inspection isn't about pretending we can see everything. It's about recognizing what we can see—and knowing when what we can't see deserves further investigation.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net

Know More. Buy Smarter. Live Better.

🏡 BUYING AN OLDER WICHITA HOME? HERE ARE 7 THINGS I PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO.

Older homes are one of the things that give Wichita neighborhoods so much character.

But a house that's been standing for 60, 80 or even 100+ years has also had a lot of time for repairs, renovations, additions—and sometimes a little creative DIY work.

Here are 7 areas I pay particular attention to:

1️⃣ Foundation
Cracking, movement, settlement and previous repairs can help tell the story of how the structure has behaved over time.

2️⃣ Roofing
I look at visible roof condition, aging materials, previous repairs, flashing and other conditions that may affect performance.

3️⃣ Plumbing
Older piping materials, corrosion, leaks, water pressure and evidence of past modifications deserve attention.

4️⃣ Electrical
Older homes may contain older wiring methods, fuse equipment, aging panels and decades of modifications. I evaluate the visible and accessible portions of the electrical system for conditions and safety concerns.

5️⃣ Heating & Cooling
Equipment age is only part of the picture. I also look at operation, visible condition, venting and accessible components.

6️⃣ Insulation & Ventilation
Many older homes were built long before today's energy-efficiency expectations. Insulation may have been added or modified over the years, and attic ventilation deserves attention.

7️⃣ Moisture & Wood Conditions
Basements, crawlspaces, attics and exterior components can reveal evidence of moisture intrusion, deterioration or wood-destroying insect activity.

Here's the important part:

Older doesn't mean bad.

I've seen older homes that have been maintained beautifully—and much newer homes with significant problems.

The goal of an inspection isn't to judge a house by its age. It's to understand its present condition.

That's especially important when you're buying a home that has already lived through several generations of owners.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net

Know More. Buy Smarter. Live Better.

🏠 WHAT’S ABOVE YOUR CEILING?

When you're walking through a house, the attic probably isn't the first thing you're thinking about.

For a home inspector, it can tell an important part of the home's story.

Here are 5 things I pay close attention to when inspecting an accessible attic:

🔎 1. Insulation
I look at the type, general condition and coverage of the insulation. Missing, compressed or uneven insulation can affect the home's energy efficiency and comfort.

💨 2. Ventilation
Proper attic ventilation helps manage heat and moisture. I look for visible intake and exhaust ventilation and conditions that may restrict airflow.

💧 3. Signs of Moisture
Water staining, discoloration, damaged materials or other evidence of moisture can sometimes point to a past or current roof leak, condensation or ventilation problem.

🪵 4. Roof Structure
I inspect visible and accessible framing—including rafters, trusses and roof decking—for damage, unusual movement, improper alterations or other conditions that deserve attention.

⚡ 5. Electrical Conditions
Attics can reveal wiring problems you would never see from the rooms below—such as exposed connections, open junction boxes, damaged wiring or questionable modifications.

And there's one more reason I like looking in the attic:

Sometimes several small clues come together to tell a much bigger story.

A stain on the roof decking, compressed insulation below it and a bathroom exhaust fan terminating in the attic might each seem relatively minor by themselves. Together, they can help us understand what's happening in that part of the home.

That's one of the biggest benefits of a thorough home inspection: we're not just looking at individual components—we're looking at how the pieces of the house work together.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net

Know More. Buy Smarter. Live Better.

⚡ WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS ELECTRICAL PANEL?

Some of the most important things found during a home inspection aren't obvious during a normal walkthrough.

One example is a double-tapped breaker—two conductors connected to a breaker terminal designed to accept only one conductor.

Why can that matter?

A connection that isn't made as the equipment was designed can potentially result in a loose connection, overheating or other electrical concerns.

But here's an important detail:

Two wires on one breaker aren't automatically wrong in every situation. Certain breakers are specifically manufactured and listed to accept more than one conductor.

That's why identifying the equipment and evaluating the actual installation matters—not simply counting wires.

When inspecting an electrical panel, I'm looking at much more than whether the lights turn on:

🔎 Breaker and conductor conditions
🔎 Improper or questionable connections
🔎 Grounding and bonding
🔎 Signs of overheating or corrosion
🔎 Panel condition and accessibility
🔎 Evidence of modifications or amateur work
🔎 Other visible electrical safety concerns

You don't have to be an electrician to buy a house. That's one reason you hire professionals to help you understand what you're buying.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net

Know More. Buy Smarter. Live Better.

💨 WHERE DOES YOUR BATHROOM EXHAUST FAN ACTUALLY VENT?

This is an actual condition I found during a home inspection.

The bathroom exhaust duct was terminating directly into the bottom of the attic instead of exhausting to the open portion or exterior.

Why does that matter?

Every hot shower produces moisture. The bathroom exhaust fan is designed to help remove that moisture from the house—but if the duct ends in the attic, we're essentially moving that warm, humid air from the bathroom into the attic.

Over time, elevated moisture can contribute to:

🔎 Condensation
🔎 Moisture staining
🔎 Deterioration of wood materials
🔎 Damp or damaged insulation
🔎 Conditions favorable for mold or other microbial growth

Ideally, bathroom exhaust should be properly ducted all the way to the exterior, rather than discharged into an attic.

This is another good example of why I spend time in the attic during an inspection.

The bathroom fan may sound like it's working perfectly from below—but where that air actually goes matters.

Sometimes it's the small details that can have a big impact.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net

Know More. Buy Smarter. Live Better.

💧 HOW GOOD IS THE WATER HEATER IN THE HOME YOU'RE BUYING?

It's easy to overlook a water heater during a showing. If hot water comes out of the faucet, everything must be okay… right?

There's more to look at than that.

During a home inspection, I evaluate accessible portions of the water-heating system for things such as:

🔎 Overall visible condition
🔎 Signs of leakage or corrosion
🔎 Water temperature
🔎 Venting on fuel-fired units
🔎 Temperature-and-pressure relief components
🔎 Drain pan where applicable
🔎 Visible plumbing connections
🔎 Approximate age and manufacturer information

Age matters—but just like the furnace we talked about in my last post, old doesn't automatically mean defective.

A water heater can be functioning properly on inspection day while still being old enough that a buyer should understand that replacement may be in the foreseeable future.

And sometimes the small details are the important ones: corrosion, improper venting, leaking fittings, or problems involving safety components can tell us much more than simply turning on a faucet.

A home inspection isn't about predicting exactly when something will fail. It's about giving you useful information about the condition of the home today so you can plan for tomorrow.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net

Know More. Buy Smarter. Live Better.

🔥 THE FURNACE IS 22 YEARS OLD… BUT IT STILL WORKS. IS THAT A PROBLEM?

This is a conversation I have with home buyers fairly often.

Age and condition are not the same thing.

An older furnace may be operating properly on the day of the inspection. That doesn't automatically mean it's defective—and it also doesn't mean we should ignore its age.

When I inspect an older heating system, I'm looking at the bigger picture:

🔎 Is it operating properly?
🔎 What is its overall visible condition?
🔎 Are there signs of deterioration or corrosion?
🔎 Are there visible safety concerns?
🔎 Is the venting appropriate?
🔎 Does it appear to have been maintained?
🔎 Approximately how old is the equipment?

Here's something that's especially important for buyers:

A home inspection is a snapshot in time.

I can tell you how accessible components appeared and operated during the inspection. I can't tell you whether a 22-year-old furnace will last another five years—or stop working next month.

So when older equipment is still functioning, my goal isn't necessarily to tell you “This needs replaced.”

It's to tell you:

“This equipment is older, it's currently operating, and you should understand its age and budget accordingly.”

That's a big distinction.

Buying a home isn't about finding a house with absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's about knowing what you're buying so you can make an informed decision.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net

Know More. Buy Smarter. Live Better.

🚽 WHAT'S HIDING IN THE SEWER LINE OF THE HOME YOU'RE BUYING?

You can walk through a beautiful house, turn on the faucets, flush the toilets and watch everything drain normally…

and still have a problem underground that you can't see.

A standard home inspection evaluates the home's visible and readily accessible plumbing components—but it doesn't tell us everything about the condition inside the buried sewer line.

That's why Central Home Inspections can coordinate a sewer scope performed by a licensed plumbing professional as part of your inspection process.

A specialized camera is used to examine accessible portions of the sewer line for conditions such as:

🔎 Tree-root intrusion
🔎 Cracked or deteriorated piping
🔎 Offset or separated joints
🔎 Sagging or “bellied” sections
🔎 Significant buildup or obstruction
🔎 Other conditions that may warrant repair or further evaluation

This can be particularly valuable when purchasing an older Wichita-area home, where portions of the sewer system may have been underground for decades.

The important thing for buyers to understand is this:

Fixtures draining properly inside the house doesn't necessarily tell you the condition of the buried sewer line.

My goal is to help you gather as much useful information as reasonably possible before you buy the home—and when a specialized service is needed, I believe in involving the appropriate qualified professional.

Know More. Buy Smarter. Live Better.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net

☢️ RADON: You can't see it. You can't smell it. You can't taste it. But it can be in your home.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter a home from the soil beneath it.

And here's a statistic that gets people's attention:

About 1 in 4 homes in Kansas have elevated radon levels, according to information from the Kansas Radon Program reported by K-State Research & Extension.

Radon isn't just an “old house” problem, either. High levels can occur in new homes, older homes, homes with basements, homes without basements, well-sealed homes and drafty homes. The only way to know the radon level in a particular house is to test it.

The EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon when a home's level is 4.0 pCi/L or higher and says homeowners should consider reducing levels between 2.0 and 4.0 pCi/L as well.

That's why I recommend that home buyers consider radon testing as part of the home-buying process. The EPA recommends testing when buying or selling a home too.

I am an NRPP Certified Radon Measurement Technician, so when Central Home Inspections performs your radon test, you're getting professional testing as part of the services we provide.

Sometimes the most important things we look for in a home are the things you can't see.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net

🌩️ YOUR ROOF MAY LOOK FINE FROM THE GROUND… BUT WHAT DID THE LAST HAILSTORM LEAVE BEHIND?

Living in Kansas, hail is something we're all familiar with.

What many homeowners and buyers don't realize is that roof damage isn't always obvious from the driveway.

When I'm inspecting a roof, I'm not just looking for missing shingles or an active leak. I'm looking for the overall condition of the roofing system and signs that it may have been affected by previous storms.

Hail can cause things such as:

🔎 Granule loss or displacement
🔎 Bruising or impact marks
🔎 Cracking or damage to shingles
🔎 Damage to roof vents and metal components
🔎 Dents to gutters and downspouts
🔎 Damage to other exterior components

Research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety identifies deformation, granule loss, and tears/cracks among the recognized ways hail can damage asphalt shingles.

There's another important point: not every mark on a roof is hail damage. Normal weathering, manufacturing characteristics, blisters and mechanical damage can sometimes resemble hail impacts.

That's why I look at the roof and the surrounding evidence, rather than making a conclusion from one questionable spot.

A home inspection isn't an insurance adjustment—and I don't determine whether an insurance company will cover a roof—but I can identify visible conditions that deserve additional evaluation.

Know what you're buying.

— Roger
Central Home Inspections LLC

📍 Wichita & surrounding communities
📞 316-550-0933
🌐 CentralHI.net