4 Aspects A Home Inspector Looks for When Inspecting Your Kitchen

It goes without saying that our kitchens are an integral component of our homes. You want to ensure that it’s maintained properly.  Granted, each room in your home serves a specific function and purpose.  However, the kitchen plays a significant role in the health of your family members.  For example, you cook food in the kitchen and store it there as well.

If you’ve maintained your kitchen properly, the food will always be safe and healthy for you and your family members to consume. Additionally, adherence to all safety and building codes becomes an important pre-requisite for proper home inspection.

Consequently, this becomes a crucial checkpoint for prospective home buyers.  The following aspects of your kitchen are what a home inspector will typically inspect when performing a home inspection:

• Corrosion, leaks, and other plumbing issues – defects with plumbing systems can range anywhere from a dripping kitchen faucet to extensive leakage that is rotting out the subflooring. In most cases, only simple repairs are required if they’re caught early on.  However, if they’re left unchecked, these defects can lead to extensive, costly repairs or total replacement.  Sometimes, the damage can be so extensive that partial demolition and reconstruction may be required.
• Hazardous electrical issues – another key aspect that home inspectors check in the kitchen are the electrical wiring and receptacles. Any defects with these could be very dangerous and possibly cause a fire.  Heavier gauge wire is required in kitchens as well as bathrooms along with GFC protection.  In other cases, wiring may be located too close to plumbing, especially around dishwashers and under the kitchen sink.
• Poorly installed or maintained appliances – defects in appliances can turn expensive quickly. While repairs are by no means cheap, replacing certain appliances can cost thousands of dollars.  Home inspectors regularly check primary built-in appliances such as dishwashers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, and stoves.  Microwaves and other smaller appliances don’t normally get inspected.
• Vents that don’t lead anywhere – surprisingly, some stove vents are only decorative and don’t extract airborne cooking greases and steam the way they’re supposed to. The home inspector will check this vent to ensure it’s working the way it should and will also confirm that it switches on and off.  Even if it turns on, it still might not be a properly functioning stove vent.

Remember, a timely home inspection can save time and money by protecting against costly, extensive repairs.  To ensure that your kitchen has been properly maintained, call Florida Inspections Unlimited today at 305-910-1171 to schedule a professional home inspection. We are here to help you get a real-time check on the house. Call now.