We noticed the kitchen was noticeably cooler when I went in to drop off my tools and start the dishwasher. So I felt the floor register. No air was blowing. So, why was no air blowing from the kitchen HVAC register?
I LOVE STARTING OUT A HOME INSPECTION WITH A QUESTION!
Trying to get the lay out of the geography of the land upstairs, and comparing it to what I found downstairs ...
And making my way around and through furniture and stuff ...
And opening a door to an unfinished area, looking up, and seeing a gap over the ceiling ...
And getting a ladder and trying to fit it into position to have a look ...
And climbing up, reaching over, and, proudly demonstrating my best ballerina pose ...
(which was a sight)
And reaching around a floor joist ...
And adjusting the telephoto lens a bit here and a bit there ...
And guessing what direction to point the camera ...
And using the camera to see what I could not ...
Sight unseen I snapped a bunch of photos with the camera pointed different ways and the telephoto lens adjusted to different positions ...
And, with the luck o' the Hungarian/Scotch (we are a small minority, worthy of many benefits and affirmative action rules) ...
I checked my photo gallery register and found one that confirmed what I thought!
Yep, ducto disconnectedo (that's perfect Spanish)!
Problem solved. Then I could get on with the rest of the inspection!
It went well.
My recommendation: your home inspector LOVES a few mysteries during the inspection. A boring home inspection without mysteries is like a day without sunshine. Well, not for the buyers, but surely for the inspector!
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
Of course, the next question is why, when, by whom was the duct disconnected or was it ever connected????
Next question, can it be fixed???
It can be fixed, but it will require cutting into the drywall at a particular point Lenn. Not hard, but this is something the people have lived with, perhaps for some time, and I bet didn't realize it! This house is 14 years old! How long has this been disconnected? Construction?
What a picture can say sometimes is priceless. By the way congrats on the feature.
Thanks James. I didn't know it was featured until your comment! The photo says it all...
Funny, I tried to find ducto-disconnecto in my Google translate and it came up as a language that's new to me: Markanichish?
correcto Mundo senior Jayo. Excellente as usual.
It's a Hungarian/Scotch dialect Gabe. Spanish fits perfectly into it...
Scott - thanks! Hope you are not jealous about my pretty ballerina pose.
Yes it pays to have a home Inspection, keep up the good work and good luck with your business in 2013, E
I always recommend a home inspection and cross my fingers that you DON'T see any "sunshine"! Great post and would have loved to have seen your ballerina stance!
at least it kept the attic cool and dry! nice catch to help buyer and seller!
Thanks E&T. We try, we really try!
I have to say, Janice, it was classic and cute.
This was under the floor Mark, but same difference! Blowing where it should not have!
Jay, Fortunately in my house all the ducts are clearly visible in the unfinished basement and are all connected :)
Jay, I'll bet this family always wondered why their kitchen was always cold. Why is what looks like a trash bag wrapped around the duct?
The didgital camera is one of the best tools I have in the pouch. Without you would have no seeo the problemo, that's perfect Spanish too ;)
So many points worthy of comment here...but I can't decide. Guess I am sitto on fence-o!
There you go with that foreign language stuff again! How do you expect us to understand your blogs if you keep writing in a foreign language? By the way... The visual of you in a ballerina costume thankfully did nothing for me.
The camera is indeed another set of eyes, it can help to see things that it would take a contortionist to get to!
Jay an home inspection is worth its weight if you get a person that is positive in thier thoughts as to what is going on. Sounds like you are a great inspector and we are happy to learn new things every time we read your posts. Have a blessed day
Jay, so true----every answer has a question as they say
Jay, it continues to amaze me that superintendents on building jobs miss items like this! Inspections are essential! I am still fixated on the mental image of your best ballerina pose!
Great picture taking tactics and a very successful pic showing the indisputable un-connection. Mystery solved! With the amount of time spent in our kitchens it seems strange the owners didn't notice or didn't care about the lack of heating/cooling. I'm sure the buyers are happy with your detective work. Have a great weekend.
Sue of Robin and Sue
When you call Jay...repairs surrender, questionable work gives itself up, problems run but they cannot hide and inspections stand all at attention...JAY is on board....Get right or get lost........... is at work
Perfecto! Love reading about your adventures Jay. I wonder what the seller's reason was for this weekend warrior project?
Jay, I am still thinking about your as Tinkerbell ; ) Great shot though tells the whole story.
Good shot. A find worth your fee. Those dovetail connections are often a problem and even when installed properly they leak with out mastic.
Love those reports Jay Keeep them coming
Jay -- though the kitchen may have been cooler than other areas, wasn't this helping keep the kitchen floor warmer?
As others have already said "LOVE MY DIGITAL CAMERA" I put my phone into places all the time I would have had to stick my head or some sort of mirror setup. Saves me all those lumps/bumps and cobwebs on my head. :)
Bliz - and the rest of duct-dom is jealous! But good that you know you have great air flow!
Mike - they may have thought it just normal. That is the insulation around the duct, which has slipped off a bit, exposing the end.
Jim - righto. It can become our eyes when our eyes can't see. Your Hungo/Scotch is excellent, by the way.
About what Gary? The disconnected duct is there! My fun reporting about it all can be taken with a grain of salt though...
Cheryl - it does avoid a bunch of potential problems. And thanks for the reblog!
Fred - the cameras are great, even if you don't need the photo for the report. And we minorities have our own languages - that's common. You're jealous of my Redskin tutu, arent' you!
Thanks Laura. The inspection is to investigate, and that's what we do.
Charlie - we pose questions all the time! But does getting to the answer sometimes require a tutu?
Sharon - who knows when this happened. But you are right, maybe the day it was installed.
Thanks Sue. Actually the buyer thought it pretty funny! Of course, she saw me posing in ways most people don't think I could shape myself into.
Thanks Richie. When you decide to start a publicist business let me know!
Tamara - if the seller even knew before the inspection!
Don - as Tinkerbell (on whom I had a crush as a small boy) I could have gotten to take this photo much more easily!
And fourteen years ago mastic was not used Rob. Or aluminum tape for that matter.
Thank you Chuck. They likely will.
Steven - the disconnection was 20' from the kitchen!
David - one of my clients today used his phone a lot during the inspection!
Like a day without sunshine, I enjoy your perspective, you have to bring an open mind to every situation that you will see something you've never encountered before.
That's right Morgan - my story and I'm sticking with it. I like sunshine!
Jay, some of my best answers to the biggest questions occur to me when I am wearing a tutu---you taught me that :)
And you taught me that mine can come when I am naked with only a tool belt Charlie. Wasn't it Nutsy who had the front-row view of that?
Life is alot easier without the mysteries but as you said, it's also boring. We need mysteries in life.
They do make things more fun Steve. I agree.
This very issue came up in a home inspection I attended this week. We all suspected what the problem was and sure enough the inspector confirmed it. Fortunately, this is an easy fix. That is, if you can get to the bugger.
Mastic wasn't but silicone was in use by some of the better contractors. I see it on older installs all the time.
This can be gotten to here Tammie, but drywall will have to be removed.
Rob - that would represent a lot of time and money. No wonder they don't do it anymore! I have never seen silicone used.
Hi Jay,
And what's wrong with the duct work? HMMM. Even the floor or ceilings need to be heated. If not it can cost a lot more to heat the home. And what about the little furry friends in the crawl spaces? Boy, the list is a long one. LOL
Good lokk into the ducting and what is not right. If it is "not right" then call it. Simple huh?
Have a good day in Bristow my friend.
Best, Clint McKie
Took some effort to get that view Clint. But it is obvious now!
Hardy Boy or Nancy Drew mystery solved. This was an easy one.
Book #73, The Mystery of The Ventless Vent. Frank and Joe would have that one solved first chapter Andrew.
No doubt about that diagnosis, Jay. I've seen some pretty sad HVAC work in the past couple years. In cases like that one, it looks like somebody was in a hurry. I do appreciate the companies we work with that do top quality work every time.
It was probably loose to begin with Mike, and over time popped loose with pressure. But I don't know.
No wonder my feet are cold...no warm air in the kitchen may not be noticed; however, my COLD FEET would have asked the question long ago!
And the people who lived here all lived with that Wallace! For many years! Problem solved now.