The roof was replaced 15 years ago.
The roof surface was in very good condition, with not much to write home about.
In the course of the inspection I like to verify that all exhaust equipment terminates where it is supposed to terminate—as in outdoors.
The Inspection of the kitchen was pretty casual, given plans to remodel the kitchen prior to occupancy. Because of this I did not even test the kitchen range hood to see if it turned on to pull air from the room. I merely excluded it.
All the same, my report template has a place for me to fill in as to where the fan vents to at the exterior. When I was in the attic, I could see where the duct for the hood runs right up to the underside of the roof. (For now I won’t discuss all the other issues in the picture including how ugly and “less-than-professional” the duct is.)
This is where I scratch my head and ask myself: “Hey knucklehead, did you see an exhaust cap when you were on the roof?” Not remembering such a cap, I went back to look at my roof pictures only to find—nothing. No vent cap.
So for 15 years this fan has done nothing except make noise and collect grease.
Whenever you have a roof replaced or other significant changes made to your house—even having the house painted—I consider it prudent to have the home inspected by a licensed and qualified home inspector to catch these sorts of faux-pas.
Hopefully the kitchen remodel will take care of this issue.
Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle
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WA State, Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board
