What a Home Inspector Actually Checks in a Connecticut House

August 10, 2026 · Connecticut real estate, straight answers

A home inspector spends two to four hours checking the roof, foundation, structure, electrical system, plumbing, heating and cooling, insulation, and every major appliance that stays with the house. In Connecticut, they're also watching for a few things specific to older housing stock: knob-and-tube wiring, oil tanks, crumbling foundations, and outdated septic systems. Here's what actually happens during that walkthrough.

The roof and exterior

The inspector looks at shingle condition, flashing around chimneys and skylights, gutters, and how water drains away from the house. Connecticut winters are hard on roofs. Ice dams push water under shingles, so inspectors check attic spaces for water stains that point to past leaks. On the exterior, they check siding, trim, grading, and whether the ground slopes toward or away from the foundation. A house with soil piled against the siding, common in older Connecticut towns, is a setup for rot and pests.

Foundation and structure

This is the part that worries people most, and for good reason. Eastern Connecticut has a known issue with crumbling foundations caused by pyrrhotite in the concrete aggregate, mostly in homes built between 1983 and 2015 in towns like Willington, Vernon, and Stafford. A general home inspector will note cracking, bowing, or a horsehair pattern in the concrete, but if they suspect pyrrhotite, they'll recommend a structural engineer for a closer look. Beyond that, they check for foundation settling, water infiltration, and whether support beams and floor joists are sound.

Electrical system

The inspector opens the electrical panel, checks the amperage, and looks for outdated wiring types. A lot of homes built before 1960, especially in cities like New Haven, Hartford, and Bridgeport, still have knob-and-tube wiring in parts of the house. It's not automatically dangerous, but insurers often won't write a policy until it's replaced. Aluminum wiring from the 1960s and 70s is another red flag insurers watch for. The inspector will also test outlets, check for GFCI protection near water sources, and note any exposed or amateur wiring in basements and attics.

Plumbing

They run water at every fixture, check water pressure, look at pipe material, and check the water heater's age and condition. Older homes may still have galvanized steel pipes, which corrode from the inside and reduce water flow over time. If the house is on well water, the inspector doesn't test water quality, that requires a separate well water test, which most Connecticut buyers order alongside the inspection. Same goes for septic systems: a general inspector checks that everything drains, but a septic inspection is its own service and worth the extra few hundred dollars on any property that isn't on town sewer.

Heating and cooling

Connecticut homes rely heavily on oil and gas heat, and the inspector checks the furnace or boiler's age, condition, and venting. If there's an oil tank, especially an old underground one, that's a big deal. Underground oil tanks are a known liability and many lenders and insurers want them removed or tested before closing. Above-ground tanks in basements get checked for rust and leaks too. Central air, if present, gets tested for cooling function, though inspectors generally won't run it if it's below 60 degrees outside since that can damage the compressor.

Attic, insulation, and moisture

The inspector checks insulation levels, ventilation, and signs of moisture or mold. Poor attic ventilation combined with heavy snow load is exactly how ice dams form, so this section connects back to the roof. Basements get checked for dampness, efflorescence on foundation walls, and sump pump function if there is one.

What inspectors don't check

• Radon levels, which require a separate test and are common enough in Connecticut that most buyers order one
• Chimney interiors, which need a certified chimney sweep for a real evaluation
• Pest and termite damage, which requires a licensed pest inspector
• Anything hidden behind finished walls or under flooring

A general home inspection is a visual, non-invasive review. It tells you the condition of what's visible and accessible, not a guarantee against every possible problem.

What happens after the report

Most inspection reports run 20 to 40 pages with photos. Expect a mix of minor items, like a loose handrail, and bigger flags, like an aging roof with five years of life left. In Connecticut's typical purchase contract, buyers usually have a set inspection contingency period, often 7 to 10 days, to review the report and either move forward, negotiate repairs or a price credit, or walk away. Sellers who get a pre-listing inspection often avoid surprises altogether, since it lets them fix small issues before a buyer's inspector finds them.

If you're buying or selling in Connecticut and want a sense of what an inspection might turn up on a specific property, the team at J Harvey Realty can walk you through what's typical for the area and age of home you're looking at.