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You’d be forgiven for thinking that the life of a home inspector is a boring one, but this fascinating Instagram account says otherwise. By posting some of their most striking discoveries on their IG, Boston Home Inspectors take us along on their most interesting home inspections.

A home inspector’s job is to provide prospective home buyers with an expert report on the state of the home they’re considering. They look for everything from building code violations to water damage, wear-and-tear, dangerously poor repairs, and other hidden risks. You might find their work a lot more interesting when you realize they’re a lot like detectives or, in the worst cases, crime scene analysts.

Some of the photos on BHI’s IG show obvious problems, like decaying shower walls, structurally unsound steps, and other clear dangers. But other photos show issues in places that the average homeowner might have never thought to check. Crawlspaces between walls, above ceilings or under floors can hide tons of problems for unsuspecting buyers.

Bored Panda got in touch with BHI to ask about their fantastic IG, so read on!

#1

While You Are Waiting…

While You Are Waiting…

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Daniel Atkins
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would be tempting to sit on it and greet anyone who came to that floor with an enthusiastic "Well hello come join me."

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We were just as surprised as you probably were to discover that a business inspection business was running such a successful Instagram account, but the results (and some of the crazy pictures) speak for themselves. 

The owners clearly appreciate the support as well, telling Bored Panda: “I’ve had great responses and success. Most people enjoy the funny items posted. I think people enjoy seeing other peoples problems or misery.”

#6

Almost There.. Little More To The Right!

Almost There.. Little More To The Right!

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°CORLEONE°
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just buy some cable and fixed permanently before the wind throws it away.

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#7

Railings And Spindles Are Overrated!

Railings And Spindles Are Overrated!

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#8

Sometimes You Just Need A Set Of Two!

Sometimes You Just Need A Set Of Two!

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It hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows. The account admin clearly takes steps to anonymize the photos they post, but some home owners or realtors can get upset when their homes’ most serious flaws are outed to the world. Nonetheless, the account’s admin takes it all in stride.

“I did have some millennials trying to force me to take down a picture of sagging front steps. They got a bunch of their friends and wrote negative reviews on Google after I refused to take the picture down. The picture is still on Instagram. And their attempt to harass me actually drove more people to my account.”

#10

Nothing To See Here… Move Along!

Nothing To See Here… Move Along!

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#11

Just A Little Tight!

Just A Little Tight!

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Rens
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like my downstairs powder room in my house in the Netherlands, minus the bathtub!

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#12

Listing Agent Says It Has A Closet!

Listing Agent Says It Has A Closet!

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Emily M
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The house i bought has two of these 'closets' in the bedrooms and no real places to put clothes TAT

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You may have already encountered your favorite pic of the bunch, or it might be waiting for you further down. As for the inspectors at BHI, here are some of their craziest finds:

“The two funniest items that I found [were] the sex swing, hanging in the bedroom that the realtor kept calling a TRX workout band and the shower that still had the [sex toy] on the floor.”

“The most outrageous or disgusting violation was an illegal apartment built in a basement and they had the toilet draining into the sump pump.” Yuck!

#15

Not Sure Where To Begin, But Yes, They Technically Do Have A Roof Deck!

Not Sure Where To Begin, But Yes, They Technically Do Have A Roof Deck!

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Debby Keir
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, that might be a design feature - the sloping roof allows rain and snow to roll off. If flat, you'd have to have drainage added. So long as it really stable, no issues.

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But where did the idea for a building inspector to launch an Instagram account come from in the first place? BHI explains: “A few years back, I picked my kids up from school and took them for pizza. While we were sitting at the pizza place, they were playing with this new app Instagram. My daughter suggested I start posting some of the crazy stuff that we see and she helped me set up the account.”

Given that their work helps people buy safe homes and avoid very unpleasant financial “surprises”, we wish them the best of luck!

#19

No Safety Issues Here!!

No Safety Issues Here!!

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C L
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And it has been that way for millenia from the wear pattern on the stairs!

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#20

Quick Exit For The Falling Kids!

Quick Exit For The Falling Kids!

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#22

Proper Way To Inspect A Fireplace!

Proper Way To Inspect A Fireplace!

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#25

Ordered The Wrong Size…no Problem The Little Blocks Will Fix It!

Ordered The Wrong Size…no Problem The Little Blocks Will Fix It!

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ƒιѕн
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spending that money on composite, would have at least framed it correctly.

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#26

164°f…a Cup Of Tea With Your Toothpaste!

164°f…a Cup Of Tea With Your Toothpaste!

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#27

I Guess The Outlet Cover Couldn’t Fit!

I Guess The Outlet Cover Couldn’t Fit!

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#29

Nailed It!

Nailed It!

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#30

Space Age!

Space Age!

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Oais Wright
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't quite get what's wrong in this one. I guess it's pipe's silver color?

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#31

Speed Bump Floor

Speed Bump Floor

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cats_from_the_void
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHhh WHYYYYY *breath* ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHhh *breath* ARGHHHHHHH

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#34

Younger And Older Bonding!

Younger And Older Bonding!

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#35

State Of The Art…high Tech…new And Improved Window Lock! No Tools Needed To Use

State Of The Art…high Tech…new And Improved Window Lock! No Tools Needed To Use

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#36

But, Is It Still Under Warranty The Agent Asked!

But, Is It Still Under Warranty The Agent Asked!

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#38

They Have A Fanny Washer!

They Have A Fanny Washer!

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#40

Ok 1 More… Day 8 Of Deck Week Just A Tap Or Two To The Right

Ok 1 More… Day 8 Of Deck Week Just A Tap Or Two To The Right

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#41

Good News! Snow Melted In Boston!

Good News! Snow Melted In Boston!

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Tobias Reaper
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i totally read that in Professor Farnsworths voice "Good news everyone"

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#42

There We Go…that Oughta Work!

There We Go…that Oughta Work!

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#43

Listing Agent Corrected Me…its Just Cosmetic!

Listing Agent Corrected Me…its Just Cosmetic!

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Mike Fitzpatrick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cosmetic my donkey! Do NOT sing Jericho, lest the wall come tumbling down.

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#44

Aren’t Doors Supposed To Be Fuzzy?

Aren’t Doors Supposed To Be Fuzzy?

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#48

Smart Man…he Didn’t Finish The Last Line!

Smart Man…he Didn’t Finish The Last Line!

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#49

Drooling Vent Cover!

Drooling Vent Cover!

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#50

Here A Spot…there A Spot!

Here A Spot…there A Spot!

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#51

High In Fiber!

High In Fiber!

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S. E. in Indiana
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Couldn't even buy the right size filter? Seriously change the filter at least every two months.

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#53

Who Wants To Take A Ride?

Who Wants To Take A Ride?

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Mike Fitzpatrick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the alternative is carrying huge sacks of whatever, you would be very happy to use this gizmo. I remember there were still a few of these in use in Detroit when I was young. There was an iron (or perhaps steel) plate over it at sidewalk level. Without warning they would pop open and this elevator contraption open up so trucks could unload and go directly into the basement without having to go up and down the stairs.

#54

Told My Wife That I Am Going To Install A Set Of These In Our House For Her… I’m Now Sleeping In The Garage!

Told My Wife That I Am Going To Install A Set Of These In Our House For Her… I’m Now Sleeping In The Garage!

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#56

Day 7 Of Deck Week!

Day 7 Of Deck Week!

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#57

Oh Boy!

Oh Boy!

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S. E. in Indiana
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You think the code enforcement inspector will even notice? Nah we're good. Time for a beer.

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#59

You May Need To Rethink This One!

You May Need To Rethink This One!

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#60

Should Have Used Duct Tape!

Should Have Used Duct Tape!

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#61

Found The Hidden Treasure And Also Why No Heat!

Found The Hidden Treasure And Also Why No Heat!

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#62

Always On The Cutting Edge!

Always On The Cutting Edge!

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#63

A Bungee Cord Is Duct Tape’s Best Friend!

A Bungee Cord Is Duct Tape’s Best Friend!

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#65

Deck Week Day 1

Deck Week Day 1

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#66

2 Lines Still Working!

2 Lines Still Working!

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Sean
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is an old-school telephone demarcation point in some sort of commercial building and they pretty much always look like rat’s nests. Believe it or not, this is actually pretty clean for an install this size and age.

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#67

Hmmmm, Now What To Do?

Hmmmm, Now What To Do?

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Mike Fitzpatrick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps a very old home. Wiring of the houses that were originally lit by gas jets often were wired through the baseboards to avoid doing a lot of damage to plaster walls. I commented on a post earlier about living in a period home for a time, the walls were FULL of iron pipes that were originally gas jets for lighting. The wiring was added many years later and the outlets were in the (10") baseboards. The woodwork was all very dark and of course the outlets were brown. It really made for a treasure hunt to find the outlets when one was needed.

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#68

Crushing It!

Crushing It!

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#70

Still Working Fine!

Still Working Fine!

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#71

A Little Hip Check! Something Is Not Quite Right!

A Little Hip Check! Something Is Not Quite Right!

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#72

No Photoshop Needed! Yes, It Was That Far Off.

No Photoshop Needed! Yes, It Was That Far Off.

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#73

Day 3 Of Deck Week! No Dancing On This One!

Day 3 Of Deck Week! No Dancing On This One!

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#74

Nothing Can Go Wrong Here!

Nothing Can Go Wrong Here!

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#77

So Close…

So Close…

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#78

The Sponge Is To Clean Up This Mess!

The Sponge Is To Clean Up This Mess!

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#80

Faux Painted Wall!

Faux Painted Wall!

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#81

So Many Questions… So Little Time!

So Many Questions… So Little Time!

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#83

What’s Up With The Sink In The Attic??

What’s Up With The Sink In The Attic??

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#84

There Are Handrails At The Bottom And The Building Inspector Already Signed Off… The Listing Agent Said

There Are Handrails At The Bottom And The Building Inspector Already Signed Off… The Listing Agent Said

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#85

How Did That Get There?

How Did That Get There?

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C L
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🎶 Cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes 🎶

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#86

Life Is Like The Stairs! Some Go Up And Some Go Down

Life Is Like The Stairs! Some Go Up And Some Go Down

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#88

Oh Boy! Where Do We Start?

Oh Boy! Where Do We Start?

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Mike Fitzpatrick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those folks must be afraid of their own shadows. I'm counting 3 lights, and there's probably another on the end of that drop cord. To be fair, the garage door probably broke the one mounted on the opener so they would be down a light there, but still...

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#89

Well… Technically The Condenser Is Supported!

Well… Technically The Condenser Is Supported!

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Ga Di
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

for now.... water+frost will erode the brick soon enough

#90

Getting To The High Places!

Getting To The High Places!

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#91

Oldie But Goodie. Still Working Fine

Oldie But Goodie. Still Working Fine

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Rostit .
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fuses are more reliable than breakers. Only reason fuses are not used anymore is that people would put coins in the bottom.

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#93

At Least The Package Of Instructions Is There…

At Least The Package Of Instructions Is There…

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sari swick
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

#94

Here A Plate. There A Plate. Everywhere….

Here A Plate. There A Plate. Everywhere….

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Matt
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those plates help hold the building together in old masonry structures but there's a excessive amount

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#95

Day 6 Of Deck Week. Just About There!

Day 6 Of Deck Week. Just About There!

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#96

Day 5 Of Deck Week And The List For This One Is Way Too Long!

Day 5 Of Deck Week And The List For This One Is Way Too Long!

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#97

Day 4 Of Deck Week. 1-2-3 Bad Footings And Your Out!

Day 4 Of Deck Week. 1-2-3 Bad Footings And Your Out!

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#98

Day 2 Of Deck Week!

Day 2 Of Deck Week!

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#100

Welcome To Inspection Day!

Welcome To Inspection Day!

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#101

Looks Just About Right!

Looks Just About Right!

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#102

Roof Deck Permits Signed Off By The City Building Inspector!!

Roof Deck Permits Signed Off By The City Building Inspector!!

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#103

Hvac Return Air Duct New Construction. Yuck!

Hvac Return Air Duct New Construction. Yuck!

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#104

When The Light Is More Important Than The Floor Joists!

When The Light Is More Important Than The Floor Joists!

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ƒιѕн
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lot of work to recess a light. I don't think this was the intended purpose of the opening, possibly a new stairway, but something didn't work out.

#105

Song…just A Little More Time

Song…just A Little More Time

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#106

Long Way Down!

Long Way Down!

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#107

Hello Mr George…how Much Did You Pay For The New Guys

Hello Mr George…how Much Did You Pay For The New Guys

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#108

This Is Why Are You Always Check The Undercarriage!

This Is Why Are You Always Check The Undercarriage!

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#109

Just One More Piece Of Wood…

Just One More Piece Of Wood…

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#111

#4 Wants To Be Left Alone!

#4 Wants To Be Left Alone!

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#112

Nailed It…and Not The Side!

Nailed It…and Not The Side!

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#113

No Leveling Needed!

No Leveling Needed!

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ƒιѕн
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Doors square, looks like the wall is out, enjoy looking at that every time you walk by.

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#114

Sometimes You Just Need A Little More!

Sometimes You Just Need A Little More!

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#115

Good Try! That’s Not 200a

Good Try! That’s Not 200a

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#116

Joist Hangers Are So Overrated!

Joist Hangers Are So Overrated!

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#117

Blast From The Unknown Past!

Blast From The Unknown Past!

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#118

Good Thing It’s Not A Gas Stove!

Good Thing It’s Not A Gas Stove!

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#119

The Listing Sheet Did Say Matching Appliances…

The Listing Sheet Did Say Matching Appliances…

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#120

So Many Things Wrong. The Boiler That Keeps Giving!

So Many Things Wrong. The Boiler That Keeps Giving!

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Seadog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I built in '93 we installed a Polaris gas water heater that also supplied hot water to the air handler for heat. So when house needed heat it was 140 degree hot water supplying it. Great system. Too bad the idiot that installed it had no idea what he was doing so his crappy venting caused the water heater to burn up after just a few years. We have since spray foam insulated the roof and upgraded the windows. Now the gas furnace hardly ever runs. In fact if it's above 40 outside, the AC is likely running.

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#121

When You Don’t Turn Off Your Outdoor Faucet…

When You Don’t Turn Off Your Outdoor Faucet…

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Debby Keir
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, you are less likely to get an burst pipe if the tap's not completely off...

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#122

Crushing It!

Crushing It!

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#123

A Little Of This… A Little Of That!

A Little Of This… A Little Of That!

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Nikki Sevven
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the most diverse sink plumbing I've ever seen. It's the Mambo #5 of sink plumbing...a little bit of everything.

#124

Sometimes You Just Gotta Keep Climbing…

Sometimes You Just Gotta Keep Climbing…

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#125

That Looks Just About Right!

That Looks Just About Right!

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Alienkitten11
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

#1. Am I the only one who commented on this? And #2. At first I thought the pink foam in the top right was a dead body. And if u have seen my other comments then yes I am 11 and very smart.

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#126

Can You Guess.. Found In A Garage Secured To The Floor! Vintage Fuel Or Water Pump?

Can You Guess.. Found In A Garage Secured To The Floor! Vintage Fuel Or Water Pump?

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#127

Hey… That’s Not Right!

Hey… That’s Not Right!

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ƒιѕн
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a mid 1950's quad receptacle by GE, you could plug in 4 cords with the narrow plug.

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#128

Now Where Did I Park My Bike?

Now Where Did I Park My Bike?

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#129

Well, It’s Not Frost Free!

Well, It’s Not Frost Free!

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#130

Global Cooling On The 8:00 Am Inspection!

Global Cooling On The 8:00 Am Inspection!

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#131

Huge Upgrade…from Rotary To Push Button

Huge Upgrade…from Rotary To Push Button

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