Fitting New Condo Safety Issues and defects into the Top 10 list is going to be a little tight, but you can find out about many other bad things from the Chicago condos by checking entire Chicago Condo Inspection Manual. You would think that after such a spectacular real estate meltdown, something would change in [...]
To start your Chicago new condo water heater inspection you have to determine what type of a water heater you actually have. Below are 4 most common types of water heaters installed in Chicago new condos: Natural draft, tank type water heater with a metal vent pipe (galvanized steel – no aluminum) Power vent / [...]
This chapter of the Chicago new condo inspection covers most common furnace installation issues (based on my inspections). Furnace air return port must be located at least 10’ from the combustion chamber(s) (where the burners are) of gas burning appliances or in a separate room. The exception from this requirement is when the furnace and other appliances (within that room and 10') are using combustion air from the outside.
Even if you know very little about Chicago history, I’m sure you have heard of the Great Chicago Fire that started on October 8, 1871 … maybe you didn’t remember the date … This chapter of your Chicago new condo inspection covers firewall separation between the condominium units, and it will tell us if we [...]
This part will cover Chicago condo inspection combustion air requirements for the gas furnace and water heater installed inside your condo closet / utility room (not in the building common areas) – this is an extremely important section and you may need measuring tape. All gas burning appliances require oxygen for a proper, complete and [...]
Chicago new condo laundry room electrical You can start your Chicago new condo laundry room inspection by looking at the electrical panel circuit breakers labels. Laundry room requires a dedicated (no other rooms, outlets, lights on this breaker) 20 amps rated circuit breaker to protect receptacles within that area. Outlet receptacles installed on that circuit [...]
Chicago new condo kitchen electrical inspection Start evaluating kitchen at the electrical panel section – check for kitchen labels, there are usually 3-5 (sometimes more) circuit breakers dedicated for kitchen circuits (depending on your kitchen features) Minimum of 2 x 20 amps circuit breakers are required for the kitchen countertop small appliance circuits, and they [...]
All bathroom outlets must be 20 amps rated and must include GFCI protection (there might be one GFCI receptacle and other outlets connected to it and protected). Your new condo bathroom receptacles must be installed on #12 AWG wire which you can’t see without removing of the receptacle or at least its cover, but this is beyond our basic / visual inspection.
This section of my Chicago Condo Inspection Manual will help you to ensure that your property developer / electrical contractor followed local electrical code requirements while wiring your brand new condo or a gut-rehabbed property. You’ll find here general Chicago new condo electrical requirements and more details concerning your kitchen, bathroom and the laundry area [...]
Requirements for the smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors / alarms installation in the city of Chicago are slightly different than those from NEC (National Electrical Code). So if you're moving from the Chicago suburbs or other states into the Windy City you're actually going to need LESS smoke, fire and Carbon Monoxide protection. So let's continue your Chicago condo inspection and check for smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors. Pushing test button on smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors may only confirm that unit is mechanically functional and it has power. This test does not guarantee proper response to smoke, flame and / or CO presence.
Following section of the Chicago condo inspection concerning issues with hardwood / floating / tiled / carpeted / vinyl floors, windows, doors and wall surfaces may be considered as cosmetic (at least parts of it). Although, some of the described conditions may be a result of an already corrected problem, other are evidence of an [...]
Let’s start your Chicago condo inspection from the unit entrance doors. The entrance to your condominium from an enclosed staircase, hallway or a garage must comply with the City of Chicago building / fire code requirements. The condo entrance door must be a fire-rated type – no hollow core interior type doors like the ones [...]
Purchasing a new condo in Chicago without a professional inspection carries significant risks, and naturally many buyers are taking their chances. Some are on a tight budget / trying to save a few extra dollars on a condo transaction, others are not even aware or pay attention to a home / condo inspection disclosure. There’s [...]
If you are looking for a new gut rehabbed condo in Chicago, or even a 100% brand new property – make sure that you inspect it before the purchase. Ask your real estate agent, call friends and find a home inspector with recommendations. Make sure that your home inspector will be able to check your [...]
