I was told by a home inspector that the distance for my dryer vent and air conditioner are too close to my gas meter. What should a person look for as far as distances and spacing for your gas and electrical service?

When you have an underground service coming into your house, the distance from the ground to the middle of the glass on the meter should be a minimum of 2 feet, 6 inches and a maximum of 6 feet. I see some that are only 18 inches above the ground.

When you have an overhead service, the wires must be a minimum of 10 feet above a walkway and a minimum of 12 feet above a driveway.


The following are clearances from the gas regulator vent that should be followed: A building air intake system either gravity or power must be 10 feet away from a gas vent, the clothes dryer must vent at least 3 feet away from the gas vent and an appliance exhaust and any appliance air intake should be a minimum of 3 feet from the gas vent.

I have also seen some dryer vents right next to the air intake on the furnace making the furnace suck in moist air and lint, which can be harmful to the unit. Check your heating specialists for proper clearances.

Do you see a lot of moisture in basements?

Yes I do. A lot of times it is a sign of moisture penetration and not standing water. I have seen rooms that are finished and the paneling is buckling or are all soft on the bottom drywall that has turned to mush from the water. If it is active, there is a good chance if it is around organic material such as wood, it is a breeding ground for mold.

When I check these stains and they are dry, I tell the client to talk to the seller and see what problems they had and what was done to correct it. If it is dry, I also mention to monitor it. If you had moisture before, the chances are high that you may have it again.

Once again, the biggest problems I see are no gutter or long extensions on the downspouts; gutters that are full to the top with debris; and landscaping that slopes toward the house or no landscaping at all. There is no guarantee that this will cure everything, but it gives you a fighting chance. Sometimes you are just in areas with a high water table or springs nearby.

In my own home, one year we had a very hard rain. The water ran down the sidewalk, chose a path running behind the air conditioner and into my basement and it was filling fast. During the storm, I went to the store, bought some hard rubber border, pounded it in to the ground right by the sidewalk and channeled the water down the sidewalk and into the street and then sealed the area with quick plug to seal the penetration area.

As you can see, it can happen to anyone at anytime, but look around the house at areas that could be trouble spots come spring and take action.


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