What's Inspected

Your inspections shall cover everything listed below, and possibly more depending upon your home and situation. If their is anything that is not listed below please feel free to ask your inspector to inspect that area.

Structural Components
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe and describe visible structural components
including:
(a) Foundation;
(b) Floors and floor structure;
(c) Walls and wall structure;
(d) Columns or piers;
(e) Ceilings and ceiling structure; and
(f) Roofs and roof structure.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector shall:
(a) Probe or sound structural components where
deterioration is suspected, except where probing would
damage any finished surface;
(b) Enter underfloor crawl spaces, basements, and
attic spaces except when access is obstructed or
restricted, when entry could damage any property, or
when dangerous or adverse situations are suspected;
(c) Report the methods used to observed
underfloor crawl spaces and attics; report inaccessible
areas; and
(d) Report signs of abnormal or harmful water
penetration into the building or signs of abnormal or
harmful condensation on building components.
812-008-0206
Exterior and Site
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe and describe:
(a) Wall cladding, flashings, and trim;
(b) Entryway doors and all windows;
(c) Garage door operators;
(d) Attached decks, balconies, stoops, steps,
areaways, porches, and applicable railings;
(e) Eaves, soffits, and fascias; and
(f) Vegetation, grading, drainage, driveways,
patios, walkways, and retaining walls with respect to
their effect on the condition of the building that
adversely affect the structure.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector shall:
(a) Operate all entryway doors and a
representative number of windows;
(b) Operate garage doors manually or by using
permanently installed controls for any garage door
opener; and
(c) Report whether or not any garage door opener
will automatically reverse or stop when meeting
reasonable resistance during closing, or reverse with
appropriately installed optical sensor system.
(3) The Oregon certified home inspector is not
required to observe:
(a) Storm windows, storm doors, screening,
shutters, and awnings;
(b) Garage door operator remote control
transmitters;
(c) Soil or geological conditions, site engineering,
property boundaries, encroachments, or easements;
(d) Recreational facilities (including spas, saunas,
steambaths, swimming pools, decorative water
features, tennis courts, playground equipment, and
other exercise, entertainment, or athletic facilities); or
(e) Detached buildings or structures;
(f) Fences or privacy walls;
(g) Ownership fencing, privacy walls, retaining
walls; or
(h) Condition of trees, shrubs, or vegetation.
812-008-0207

Roofing
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe and describe:
(a) Roof coverings;
(b) Roof drainage systems;
(c) Flashings;
(d) Skylights, chimneys, and roof penetrations; and
(e) Signs of leaks or abnormal condensation on
building components.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
report the method used to observe the roofing and
components.
812-008-0208

Plumbing
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe:
(a) Interior water supply and distribution system,
including piping materials, supports, and insulation,
fixtures and faucets, functional flow, leaks, and cross
connections;
(b) Interior drain, waste, and vent system, including
traps, drain, waste, and vent piping, piping supports
and pipe insulation, leaks, and functional drainage;
(c) Hot water systems including water heating
equipment, normal operating controls, automatic safety
controls, and chimneys, flues, and vents;
(d) Above ground oil storage and distribution
systems including interior oil storage equipment,
supply piping, venting, and supports; leaks; and
(e) Sump pumps and sewage ejection pumps.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
describe:
(a) Water supply and distribution piping materials;
(b) Drain, waste, and vent piping materials; and
(c) Water heating equipment.
(3) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
operate all plumbing fixtures, including their faucets
and all exterior faucets attached to the house except
where the flow end of the faucet is connected to an
appliance or interior faucets not serviced by a drain.
(4) The Oregon certified home inspector is not
required to:
(a) State the effectiveness of anti-siphon devices
and anti-backflow valves;
(b) Determine whether water supply and waste
disposal systems are public or private;
(c) Operate automatic safety controls;
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(d) Operate any valve except toilet flush valves,
fixture faucets, and hose faucets;
(e) Observe:
(A) Water conditioning systems;
(B) Fire and lawn sprinkler systems;
(C) On-site water supply quantity and quality;
(D) On-site waste disposal systems;
(E) Foundation irrigation systems;
(F) Whirlpool tubs, except as to functional flow and
functional drainage;
(G) Swimming pools and spas; or
(H) Solar water heating equipment.
812-008-0209

Electrical
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe:
(a) Service entrance conductors;
(b) Service equipment, grounding equipment, main
overcurrent device, and distribution panels;
(c) Amperage and voltage ratings of the service;
(d) Branch circuit conductors, their overcurrent
devices, and the compatibility of their amperages and
voltages;
(e) The operation of a representative number of
installed ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, switches, and
receptacles located inside the house, garage, and on
the dwelling’s exterior walls;
(f) The polarity and grounding of all receptacles
within six feet of interior plumbing fixtures, and all
receptacles in the garage or carport, and on the
exterior of inspected structures;
(g) The operation of ground fault or arc fault circuit
interrupters; and
(h) Smoke alarms.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
describe:
(a) Service amperage and voltage;
(b) Service entry conductor materials; and
(c) Service type as being overhead or
underground;
(3) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
report:
(a) Any observed 110 volt aluminum branch circuit
wiring; and
(b) The presence or absence of smoke alarms, and
operate their test function, if accessible, except when
detectors are part of a central security system.
(4) The Oregon certified home inspector is not
required to:
(a) Insert any tool, probe, or testing device inside
the panels;
(b) Test or operate any overcurrent device or
safety device in the electrical service panel or
elsewhere that may adversely affect the personal
property of the resident;
(c) Dismantle any electrical device or control other
than to remove the covers of the main or auxiliary
distribution panels;
(d) Observe:
(A) Low-voltage systems except to report the
presence of solenoid-type lighting systems;
(B) Security system devices, heat detectors, or
carbon monoxide detectors;
(C) Telephone, security, TV, intercoms, lightening
arrestors or other ancillary wiring that is not a part of
the primary electrical distribution system; or
(D) Built-in vacuum equipment.
812-008-0210

Heating
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe permanently installed heating systems
including:
(a) Heating equipment;
(b) Normal operating controls;
(c) Automatic safety controls;
(d) Chimneys, flues, and vents, where readily
visible;
(e) Solid fuel heating devices;
(f) Heat distribution systems including fans, pumps,
ducts, and piping, with supports, insulation, air filters,
registers, radiators, fan coil units, convectors; and
(g) The presence of installed heat source in each
room.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
describe:
(a) Energy source; and
(b) Heating equipment and distribution type.
(3) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
operate the systems using normal operating controls.
(4) The Oregon certified home inspector shall open
readily accessible panels provided by the manufacturer
or installer for routine homeowner maintenance.
(5) The Oregon certified home inspector is not
required to:
(a) Operate automatic safety controls;
(b) Ignite or extinguish solid fuel fires;
(c) Observe:
(A) The interior of flues;
(B) Fireplace insert flue connections;
(C) Humidifiers; or
(D) The uniformity or adequacy of heat supply to
the various rooms.
812-008-0211

Central Air Conditioning
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe:
(a) Central air conditioning systems including
cooling and air handling equipment and normal
operating controls.
(b) Distribution systems including fans, pumps,
ducts and piping, with associated supports, dampers,
insulation, air filters, registers, and fan-coil units.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
describe:
(a) Energy sources; and
(b) Cooling equipment type.
(3) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
operate the systems using normal operating controls.
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(4) The Oregon certified home inspector shall open
readily openable panels provided by the manufacturer
or installer for routine homeowner maintenance.
(5) The Oregon certified home inspector is not
required to:
(a) Operate cooling systems when weather
conditions or other circumstances may cause
equipment damage;
(b) Observe non-central air conditioners; or
(c) Observe the uniformity or adequacy of cool-air
supply to the various rooms.
812-008-0212

Interiors
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe and describe:
(a) Walls, ceiling, and floors;
(b) Steps, stairways, balconies, and railings;
(c) Counters and cabinets; and
(d) Doors and windows.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector shall:
(a) Operate a representative number of windows
and interior doors; and
(b) Report signs of abnormal or harmful water
penetration or damage in the building or components
or signs of abnormal or harmful condensation on
building components.
(3) The Oregon certified home inspector is not
required to:
(a) Operate a representative number of cabinets
and drawers;
(b) Observe paint, wallpaper, and other finish
treatments on the interior walls, ceilings, and floors; or
(c) Observe draperies, blinds, or other window
treatments.
812-008-0213

Insulation and Ventilation
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe and describe:
(a) Insulation and vapor retarders/barriers in
unfinished spaces;
(b) Ventilation of attics and foundation areas;
(c) Kitchen, bathroom, and laundry venting
systems; and
(d) The operation of any readily accessible attic
ventilation fan, and when the temperature permits, the
operation of any readily accessible thermostatic
control.
(e) Absence of insulation in unfinished space
adjacent to heated living areas.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector is not
required to report on:
(a) Concealed insulation and vapor retarders;
(b) Venting equipment that is integral with
household appliances; or
(c) Thermal efficiency ratings.
812-008-0214

Built-in Kitchen Appliances
(1) The Oregon certified home inspector shall
observe and operate the basic functions of the
following kitchen appliances:
(a) Installed dishwasher, through its normal cycle;
(b) Range, cook top, and installed oven;
(c) Trash compactor;
(d) Garbage disposal;
(e) Ventilation equipment or range hood;
(f) Installed microwave oven; and
(g) Built-in refrigerators.
(2) The Oregon certified home inspector is not
required to observe:
(a) Clocks, timers, self-cleaning oven function, or
thermostats for calibration or automatic operation;
(b) Non built-in appliances;
(c) Refrigeration units that are not installed; or
(d) Microwave leakage.
(3) The Oregon certified home inspector is not
required to operate:
(a) Appliances in use; or
(b) Any appliance that is shut down or otherwise
inoperable.