AboutJohn McKenna, CMI Expertise I can answer your question about home inspections and the hidden aspects of of the industry. I own American Home Inspection for east Texas and am a Certified Master Inspector. Sometimes there are questions about buying and selling a home that a qualified and honest home inspector can answer. Many people are led to believe incomplete information about repair items and make costly mistakes when they respond. If you do not know enough information or know what to ask, you can buy a nightmare instead of a home. Is your home inspector working for you or the Realtor? Is the owner of the home telling the truth? How do you make sure the contractor who makes repairs will do it right? Is the Realtor moving too fast and causing a person to make hasty choices? What are some of the things the Realtor does not want you to know? What you discover after you are the owner of the home and then decide to sell? What type of box can the home inspector put you in when the new buyer is now inspecting your home? What can you do if the home inspector was negligent? How do you prepare for a home inspection? What should you do with the home inspection report at the negotiating table? What are the signs of sheeple being led to the slaughter? Why do some realtors hate the "deal killer" home inspector? What type of action can you take now to protect yourself from law suite after someone buys your home? When is something a minor or major problem? What are the most common problems found in a home inspection? What can you do to prepare for a home inspection? What questions can you ask the home inspector so you choose the right one? The list goes on and on... "The truth will make you free"
Experience Over 25 years experience in construction and board certified as a Certified Master Inspector. Licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission as a Professional Home Inspector (TREC #4565) and Certified by the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI).
Education/Credentials Certified Master Inspector (CMI)
National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI)
Licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC #4565) See more info: http://texas-inspection.com
Expert: John McKenna, CMI Date: 6/13/2008 Subject: window well sump pump
Question QUESTION: Hi John, we would like to get your opinion regarding a window well sump pump. We have our house up for sale and there has been a sump pump installed in the basement window well for 20 years now as a safety precaution in the event of heavy storm water intrusion. The electrician brought the electrict wire thru the top frame of the window and connected it to a GFI dedicated outlet.
The question we have is will a home inspector have any issue with the way the pump electrical power is done? Both the installer of the sump pump and the electrician assured us that this is no issue because the pump power is connected to a dedicated circuit in the electrical box.
We would like to hear your opinion to confirm the same.
Thanks so much. Mike
ANSWER: Without being present to see how things where installed, it would be hard to say. Ask the electrician to give you a written assurance, license number and to cite the code that he rely's on for this written statement. Tell him you are going to let the city inspect it after he writes his statement.
QUESTION: Unfortunately, this installation was done many years ago and I don't even know who the electrician was because he came with the sump contractor to do the electrical work. A relative of mine who also has done tons of electrical work also says that it's just fine.
I don't know what else to tell you. Again, there is a dedicated electric line that goes from the circuit box to the window and a GFI outlet is installed at that location and the pump is plugged into the outlet. The only other alternative was to install a dedicated outlet outside the house rather than inside it seems to me but the electrician perfered bringing it inside.
Answer Your asking me to give my opinion about something that I cannot see. Electrical analysis involves more than just the couple consideration you have referred to.
I recommend you have a qualified electrician look at your items. Why not do it right and remove all doubt?
