Chapter 11 – Inspecting Laundry Areas

We will continue our inspection with the laundry area.  We have already checked most of this area: the windows and doors, the floor, ceiling and walls, the electrical outlets, switches and lighting and the sink if present.

What’s left?  The appliances.

First, you have to decide if the washer and dryer are included in the sale.  If they are new, you may want to take them with you.  If they are badly worn, you may consider other options.  (See REMEDIES & SOLUTIONS).

Check the following:
Do both the washer and dryer operate properly?

Is there any damage to the washer or dryer’s exterior?

Do the doors open and close properly?

Are the dials and controls on the face of the washer and dryer readable and do they function properly?

Does the washer leak?

Is there adequate flow into the washer?  The washer water supply hoses usually have a wire screen and gasket inside the hose end where they hook to the water valves.  The fine screens can become clogged with debris and mineral buildup over time causing low water flow.

A home inspector probably will not check the screens because he will not want to turn off the water valves.  The water valves are not regularly operated and could begin to leak if disturbed.  However, you might want to take a few minutes to check yourself.  If you find clogged screen, replace it.

Does the dryer sound like a “thrashing machine” when operating?  It may only require a simple repair.

Look behind the appliances and make sure the dryer vent pipe is properly attached and not kinked.  A clogged dryer vent pipe causes poor airflow through the dryer and will require more time for the clothes to dry.  Many dryers have been unnecessarily replaced because of this issue.

FYI: Plastic wrapped flexible wire is no longer acceptable for dryer vents.  They have been known to melt under intense heat and could ignite due to lint buildup.

Lint buildup and improper installation of the vent pipe are the most common problems found in the laundry area.  Another common problem is when the vent pipe does not terminate at the exterior of the building.  We will discuss this further in the chapter on the crawl space.

If your home is on a concrete slab and you have no crawl space, the dryer must vent to the exterior of the building.

Make sure that the dryer vent piping is clear of lint and debris and the exterior vent diffuser is clean and in good condition.  There should be a hinged cover on the exterior diffuser to prevent the entry of vermin.

Laundry areas can be notorious for organic growth and moisture from overflowing drainpipes and leaking washer hoses.  Double check the walls and flooring for possible stains, particularly at the hookup for the washer hoses.

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LAUNDRY AREAS: REMEDIES AND SOLUTIONS

If your washer or dryer are old, beat up or damaged but operate well, you might just clean them up and make them a gift to the new owners.

If the new owners have their own washer and dryer, they may want yours removed.  Consult with your Realtor before you do anything.

If the washing machine leaks it may be a clogged or loose drainpipe behind the washer or a loose or worn drain line in the machine itself.

Clogged or restricted dryer vent pipes are a fire HAZARD and can damage a perfectly good dryer.

If you do not feel comfortable about cleaning or repairing the vent pipe or leaking hoses, call a couple of qualified appliance repairmen for an estimate.

Inspect the laundry area in the garage as you would any separate laundry room or closet.

If the washer leaks in the garage, it usually won’t damage the floor.  However, if you live in an area where freezing temperatures are possible, water on the floor could become a slipping HAZARD.

PHOTO GALLERY

You will probably recognize a trend in these photos when it comes to laundry area issues.

An additional 9 images with descriptive captions are available in the 27 Dollar Home Inspections eBook.

Click here to move on to
Chapter 12 – Inspecting Garages

Chapter 12 – Inspecting Garages

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Filed under: Chapter 11 – Inspecting Laundry Areas • Inspection Training

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