- Accessible:
- An area or component the inspector can safely approach or enter. Furniture, stored items, locked doors and unsafe conditions can limit access.
- Readily accessible:
- Available for observation without moving significant obstructions or taking equipment apart beyond the agreed inspection scope. Your report should explain relevant access limitations.
- Component:
- A part of a larger system, such as a fixture, valve or individual piece of equipment.
- System:
- A group of components that work together, such as the plumbing, electrical or heating system.
- Eave:
- The portion of a roof that extends beyond an exterior wall.
- Fascia:
- The vertical board or trim along a roof edge, often behind the gutter.
- Flashing:
- Material installed at roof intersections, openings and other joints to direct water away from vulnerable areas.
- Gutter and downspout:
- A gutter collects water along a roof edge. A downspout carries that water downward toward a drainage outlet. Where the water discharges matters as much as whether the gutter is present.
- Ridge:
- The high point where two sloping roof surfaces meet.
- Soffit:
- The underside of an overhang. Some soffits have openings that provide ventilation.
- Valley:
- The intersection of two roof slopes that forms a channel for water runoff.
- Crawlspace:
- A shallow, unfinished space beneath the first floor. Access, moisture and visible structural conditions are relevant to its inspection.
- Footing:
- The supporting base beneath a foundation wall or column that spreads the building's load to the soil.
- Foundation:
- The supporting base of a building. Common forms include slabs, crawlspace foundations and basements.
- Grade:
- The level or slope of the ground around a building. Drainage patterns can affect where surface water collects.
- Joist:
- A horizontal framing member that supports a floor or ceiling.
- Rafter:
- A sloped framing member that supports a roof.
- Truss:
- An engineered assembly of framing members used to support a roof or floor. Alterations should be evaluated by a qualified professional.
- Vapor retarder:
- A material that slows the movement of water vapor through an assembly. Its purpose and placement depend on the building's construction.
- Air handler:
- Indoor equipment that moves air through a heating or cooling system.
- Condenser:
- In a typical air-conditioning system, the outdoor equipment that releases heat carried by the refrigerant.
- Duct:
- A passage that carries air through a heating, cooling or ventilation system.
- Heat pump:
- Equipment that transfers heat to provide heating and, in many installations, cooling.
- Return:
- The air path that brings indoor air back to heating or cooling equipment for circulation.
- Bonding:
- An electrical connection between conductive parts. Its role is part of the electrical system's safety design; questions about installation belong with a qualified electrician.
- GFCI:
- Short for ground-fault circuit interrupter. This protective device interrupts a circuit when it detects a ground fault. It may be built into a receptacle or a circuit breaker.
- Shutoff valve:
- A valve used to control or stop water flowing to a fixture, appliance or the building.
- Sump pump:
- A pump that removes water from a collection pit and discharges it to another location.
- Trap:
- A plumbing fitting that holds a water seal to help keep sewer gases from entering the home.
- Vent:
- A passage that allows air or gases to move. The meaning depends on the system: a plumbing vent, attic vent and appliance exhaust vent serve different purposes.
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