Still feels like there’s no perfect answer... just gotta roll with it sometimes.
That’s the truth. We had one inspector who was super chill about vent clearances, then the next guy nitpicked every little thing. It’s wild how much depends on who you get. I started snapping pics of everything too—never thought I’d need “vent evidence,” but here we are. Your point about asking for the code in writing is spot on. Sometimes they just want to see you’re paying attention. Hang in there, it’s a weird process but you’re not alone.
It’s wild how much depends on who you get.
You nailed it there. I’ve had inspections where I could almost predict what the guy was gonna flag, then the next one walks in and points out stuff I’d never even considered. Sometimes I wonder if they just want to keep us on our toes. Taking photos is a smart move—saves a lot of back-and-forth. It really does come down to documenting everything and rolling with the punches. Hang in there, it gets a bit easier once you’ve seen all the curveballs.
Sometimes I wonder if they just want to keep us on our toes.
Honestly, it does feel like a game of “spot the difference” sometimes. I’ve had one inspector laser-focused on duct sealing, then the next barely glances at it but obsesses over damper labels. Keeps things interesting, I guess...
I’ve had one inspector laser-focused on duct sealing, then the next barely glances at it but obsesses over damper labels. Keeps things interesting, I guess...
Spot on with the “game of spot the difference” vibe. It’s wild how much it depends on who shows up that day. I actually had an inspector once who spent a full ten minutes just running his hand along every single duct joint—like he was looking for buried treasure or something. Next time, same company, different guy, and he just peeked in, asked if the vent labels were “legible,” and called it good.
It makes me wonder if there’s some secret checklist we’re not seeing, or if it’s just down to personal pet peeves. Have you ever tried asking inspectors what they care about most, or do you just prep for everything and hope for the best? I started keeping a running list of what each one seems to notice, but it’s getting long... and kind of random.
I started keeping a running list of what each one seems to notice, but it’s getting long... and kind of random.
That’s almost exactly my experience—my “inspection notes” spreadsheet is a mess at this point. I’ve tried asking a couple inspectors about their priorities, but the answers are usually vague, like “just follow code.” Not super helpful when the interpretation varies so much. Have you noticed any patterns, or does it really just depend on the mood that day? Sometimes I wonder if prepping for every possible quirk is even worth it, or if I’m just overthinking.
