Professional Home Inspection in Essington, PA

A thorough, InterNACHI-certified buyer's home inspection for Essington and all of Delaware County, with Bob personally checking every major system and delivering a full photo-documented report inside 24 hours. Call 610-348-6728 to schedule yours.

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Inspections typically scheduled within the week. Bob returns every call within 24 hours.

4.9 on Google
★★★★★

"I had a great experience with Bob. I attended the inspection as well and he answered all the questions I had. It seemed to be a very thorough inspection and he got the report back to me pretty quickly in a little under 2 days."

— Nina Sapientia, via Google Reviews
★★★★★

"I highly recommend using All Seasons. Bob was extremely thorough and took the time to answer all my questions. What is also extraordinary is that he answered all my calls right away after the report was issued. You don't find many companies that will do that."

— Sue, via Google Reviews
★★★★★

"We're so glad we went with Bob. He was professional, thorough, easy to talk to, prompt, and genuinely great to work with. He especially made a point of helping us avoid common pitfalls and unnecessary extra remediation costs. Enthusiastically recommending him to anyone looking for a great home inspector."

— Cary Marcous, via Google Reviews
★★★★★

"As a first-time homebuyer, Bob's thoroughness, attention to detail, and willingness to answer any and all questions made me feel extremely comfortable. He took the time to explain all findings and make me a part of the process. I couldn't recommend Bob enough."

— Kyra Quigley, via Google Reviews
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Essington, Delaware County

What does a home inspection in Essington include?

A home inspection in Essington, Delaware County is a top-to-bottom evaluation of a single property -- foundation, structure, roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and exterior envelope -- performed in person by Bob against InterNACHI standards, with a full photo-documented digital report delivered inside 24 hours.

Essington is a riverfront community in the western part of Tinicum Township, Delaware County, sitting on a flat band of Delaware River floodplain just west of Philadelphia International Airport and bordered by the Darby Creek drainage. Its housing stock is mostly early-to-mid twentieth century working-class construction, built to serve the Westinghouse plant, the Lester Piano Works, and the riverfront airfield that became the Philadelphia Seaplane Base. You find modest detached frame houses, brick and frame twins, and rows of small homes on stone and concrete block foundations along Wanamaker Avenue, Saybrook Avenue, and the side streets that run between Governor Printz Boulevard and the water. These are homes built solidly for their purpose -- frame and masonry construction, plaster walls, simple roof lines -- but they carry eighty to a hundred years of layered repairs, system swaps, and deferred maintenance, and they sit on some of the lowest, wettest ground in the county. When I inspect a house in Essington, I check the foundation and structure for the settlement and moisture damage that low river-soil sites produce, the roof and attic for the wear that flat-lot exposure brings, the electrical for the piecemeal upgrades typical of century-old houses, the plumbing supply and waste lines for galvanized corrosion and laterals failing under the slab, and the heating and cooling equipment for the safety problems that come with old chimneys and fuel conversions. The structural picture matters most here because of the ground itself. A house built on river floodplain and, in many cases, on former industrial fill settles unevenly as the soil compacts and the tidal water table cycles, and I look closely at foundation walls, floor framing, and door and window alignment for the evidence of that movement. The proximity to the river also means buyers should understand drainage and grading specifically, because water that is not directed away from these foundations has almost nowhere to drain on ground this flat and this low.

When I inspect an early-1900s frame house or twin in Essington, I am not treating it as a generic old house -- I am looking at a structure on some of the lowest ground in Delaware County that has almost certainly had three or four rounds of owners make uncoordinated decisions about the foundation, the wiring, the plumbing, and the heat. The issues cluster in predictable places. The first is the foundation and the ground beneath it. These houses sit on stone and concrete block walls on river floodplain soil, often over former industrial fill, and a tidal water table that climbs high in wet seasons. I check below-grade walls for bowing, step cracking in block, deteriorated mortar joints, and the efflorescence and staining that mark chronic moisture, and I look hard at crawlspaces, because so many of the smaller riverfront houses have a dirt-floor crawlspace over saturated soil rather than a full basement. Settlement shows up upstairs too, in out-of-square door frames, sloping floors, and separation cracks in plaster, and I trace those back to the structure rather than writing them off as cosmetic. The second pattern is the plumbing. Original galvanized supply lines in houses this age corrode from the inside out, and the clay sewer laterals running to the township main have spent a century settling and cracking in soft river soil and filling with tree roots -- a sewer scope is something I strongly recommend on any Essington house unless recent paperwork proves the lateral was replaced. The third is the heating system and its chimney. Many of these homes went through oil-to-gas conversions over the decades, and those conversions frequently left an original masonry flue oversized for the new gas equipment, which allows condensation, liner deterioration, and carbon monoxide spillback into the living space. I check the panel and accessible wiring for the same piecemeal history, where modernized service sits alongside surviving early circuits in attics and wall cavities, and the junction points between old and new are exactly where I look hardest. I am an independent inspector. I never perform repairs and I never refer the work to anyone, so nothing I write carries a financial incentive -- my only job is to tell you what is there. Buyers looking at similar river-floodplain housing in Norwood face many of the same questions. I encourage every client to walk the house with me so I can show you each finding in person. Call 610-348-6728 to schedule.

20+
Years of Experience
1900s–1950s
Primary Housing Era
4.9★
Google Rating (159)
2
National Certifications

What does Bob check during an Essington home inspection?

Bob approaches every Essington inspection per ASHI and InterNACHI Standards of Practice. With 1900s–1950s housing stock dominant in Essington, he focuses on the era-specific concerns that affect early to mid-20th century construction in Delaware County.

Block & Poured Foundations with Clay Laterals

1920s–1940s homes typically feature poured concrete or concrete block foundations — an improvement over stone, but still vulnerable to cracking and water intrusion after 80+ years. Bob pays special attention to clay sewer laterals common in this era, which suffer from tree root intrusion and joint separation.

Early Electrical Upgrades & Oil-to-Gas Conversions

Many homes from this era have had multiple electrical upgrades layered over original wiring — sometimes creating code violations where old and new systems connect improperly. Bob also evaluates oil-to-gas furnace conversions, checking that chimney liners, supply lines, and venting meet current safety standards.

Original Slate Roofs & Plaster-Over-Lath Moisture

Original slate and clay tile roofs from the 1920s–1940s may still be serviceable but require careful inspection for worn fasteners and deteriorating underlayment. Bob checks for plaster-over-lath moisture issues where exterior water intrusion saturates wall cavities behind intact-looking plaster surfaces.

Plaster Walls, Hardwood Floors & Early Insulation

These homes feature quality craftsmanship — hardwood floors, plaster walls, built-in cabinetry — but often lack adequate insulation by modern standards. Bob evaluates whether past insulation retrofits were done properly and checks for moisture trapped behind plaster from exterior or plumbing leaks.

Because so much of Essington's housing stock predates 1940, original wiring is a recurring finding here. Bob wrote a detailed field guide on knob-and-tube wiring in Philadelphia-area homes — how to identify it, when it is genuinely hazardous, and what insurers require.

What are common issues in Essington homes?

Based on 20+ years inspecting early to mid-20th century homes in Delaware County, these are the issues Bob finds most often in Essington's 1900s–1950s housing stock:

  • Clay sewer laterals with tree root intrusion and bellied sections
  • Layered electrical upgrades with code violations at old/new connections
  • Oil-to-gas furnace conversions with improper chimney liner sizing
  • Original slate or clay tile roofs reaching end of useful life
  • Plaster-over-lath moisture damage hidden behind intact-looking walls
  • Inadequate insulation and single-pane windows driving high energy costs

Ready to schedule your Essington inspection?

Inspections typically scheduled within the week. Bob returns every call within 24 hours.

Also Available: Mold Testing & Air Quality in Essington

In addition to home inspections, Bob provides professional mold testing and air quality analysis for Essington properties. PRO-LAB certified lab results starting from $290.

Learn About Mold Testing in Essington

Schedule Your Home Inspection in Essington

Same-week appointments available. Bob personally oversees every inspection — you always know who's walking through your home.

610-348-6728

Mon–Sat, 7am–7pm • Urgent pre-closing available

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Inspection Services in Essington

  • Residential Home Inspection
  • Pre-Listing Inspection
  • New Construction Inspection
  • 11-Month Warranty Inspection
  • WDI / Termite Inspection
  • Radon Testing

Pricing for Essington

Home Inspection
Full inspection + 24-hour report
From $325

Every home is different. Call Bob for your specific quote — he'll give you an honest number on the spot.

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"24-hour report. You always get Bob. My name is on every inspection I do."
InterNACHI Certified • 20+ Years Experience • No Conflict of Interest
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Why Choose Bob

Why do Essington homeowners choose All Seasons?

01

You Always Get Bob

When you hire All Seasons, Bob personally oversees your inspection — start to finish. No corporate dispatch, no unknown inspector. You know exactly who's walking through your Essington home.

02

InterNACHI Certified

InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector with 20+ years of specialized expertise in Delaware County's 1900s–1950s housing stock.

03

24-Hour Reports

Your detailed, photo-rich inspection report delivered the same day. No waiting — so you can make decisions within your contract timeline.

04

Early to mid-20th century Expertise

Bob has deep experience with 1920s–1940s construction — homes built with real craftsmanship but aging infrastructure. He knows the common failure points: clay laterals, layered electrical upgrades, oil-to-gas conversions, and plaster moisture issues that other inspectors miss.

From the Blog

What should Essington homebuyers know about inspections?

What Should a Home Inspector Actually Check?

Read More →

First-Time Homebuyer Inspection Guide

Read More →

Get in Touch

How do I schedule a home inspection in Essington?

Same-week appointments available throughout the Philadelphia region.

Serving Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester & Delaware Counties. All major credit cards accepted.

Tell Us About Your Property

Bob returns every call within 24 hours. Inspections typically scheduled within the week. No spam, no email lists.

Common Questions

What are common home inspection questions in Essington?

Questions buyers and sellers in Essington ask us most often — answered directly.

Home inspections in Essington start at $325. The final price depends on square footage, the age of the home, the number of outbuildings, and whether you bundle add-on services such as radon, a sewer scope, termite, or mold air sampling. Bob gives honest per-property quotes on the first call rather than handing you a rigid menu, so call him directly at 610-348-6728 and describe the house. Every inspection includes a full photo-documented digital report, typically delivered within 24 hours.
Every Essington inspection runs against InterNACHI standards and covers the foundation and structural systems, the electrical panel and accessible wiring, plumbing supply and waste lines, the heating and cooling equipment and its distribution, the roof and attic, the exterior envelope and grading, interior finishes, windows and doors, and insulation and ventilation. Given Essington's low river-floodplain ground, Bob pays particular attention to the foundation, the crawlspace or basement, and how the site drains. You receive a photo-documented digital report within 24 hours, with findings sorted into genuine safety and structural concerns versus ordinary maintenance.
Most Essington inspections run two to three hours on site, depending on the size and age of the home. Older frame houses and twins with crawlspaces, layered mechanical systems, and a century of repairs often take longer to sort out accurately than a newer house of the same size. Bob encourages buyers to attend, because the in-person walk-through at the end is where the report becomes genuinely useful rather than just something you read later. He shows you each finding, explains what matters and what is cosmetic, and answers your questions on the spot.
You always get Bob. Bob Klebanoff personally performs every home inspection in Essington with no subcontractors and no rotating technicians — the same certified inspector every time. He inspects the home, writes the report, and explains it in plain language so nothing gets buried in jargon.
Essington sits on Delaware River floodplain soil, and many houses also sit on former industrial fill, so settlement is the structural theme Bob watches for. As soft river soil compacts and the tidal water table cycles, foundations move, and that movement shows up as step cracking in block walls, deteriorated mortar joints, bowing below-grade walls, sloping floors, out-of-square door frames, and separation cracks in plaster upstairs. The high water table also drives chronic moisture against stone and block foundations, leaving efflorescence and staining. Crawlspaces over bare, saturated soil are common in the smaller riverfront houses and deserve direct inspection. Bob traces cracks and slopes back to their structural cause rather than writing them off, so you understand whether you are looking at old, stable settlement or active movement.
On most older Essington houses, yes. The clay sewer laterals running from these homes to the township main are original in many cases, and after a century of settling and cracking in soft river soil and filling with tree roots from mature street trees, bellied and root-blocked sections are an expectation rather than a possibility. A failing lateral backs up into the lowest level and can saturate sub-slab areas, and replacing one is a significant expense. A sewer scope sends a camera down the line so you know its real condition before closing. Bob strongly recommends one on any Essington property unless recent documentation proves the lateral has already been replaced, and it is easy to bundle with the inspection.
Yes, and on Essington's housing stock both are worth considering. Radon is present across southeastern Pennsylvania geology, and it can enter through cracks in slabs and stone foundations even on low river-adjacent ground, so a radon test placed in the lowest livable level gives you a real number. Mold air sampling makes sense here because the high water table, damp crawlspaces, and finished basements over masonry create the conditions mold needs. Both are add-ons you can bundle with the inspection, and Bob is PRO-LAB certified for the air sampling. Because he does only testing and never remediation, the results carry no conflict of interest. Call 610-348-6728 to discuss which add-ons fit your situation.
Many Essington homes went through oil-to-gas conversions over the decades, and the quality of those conversions varies widely. Bob checks whether the original masonry chimney flue was properly relined for the new gas equipment, because a flue sized for an old oil appliance is usually too large for the lower exhaust temperatures of modern gas equipment, which allows condensation, liner deterioration, and carbon monoxide spillback into the living space. He also checks the equipment's age and condition, clearances, supply routing, and whether documentation exists. In many of these houses the conversion itself was done twenty to forty years ago, so even the retrofit is now aging and deserves careful review as a safety matter.
Because the ground is so flat and so low. Essington sits on Delaware River floodplain right beside the Darby Creek drainage, and water that is not actively directed away from a foundation has almost nowhere to go on a site like this. Poor grading, downspouts that discharge against the house, and low spots that hold water all push moisture toward the foundation, where it wicks through stone and block walls and raises the humidity in the basement or crawlspace. Bob evaluates exterior grading to determine whether the lot sheds water away from the house or channels it toward the foundation, and he ties that back to whatever moisture evidence he finds below grade, so you understand the water management you would be taking on.
Yes. Most Essington inspections are pre-purchase, done for a buyer before closing, but Bob also performs pre-listing inspections for sellers who want to know the condition of their home before they put it on the market. A pre-listing inspection lets a seller find and address problems on their own terms rather than during negotiation, and it gives buyers confidence. Either way, the inspection is the same thorough, InterNACHI-standard evaluation performed in person by Bob, with the same photo-documented report. Because he is independent and never does the repair work, his findings are equally honest whether he is working for the buyer or the seller. Call 610-348-6728 to set up either one.
Every home inspection in Essington is performed in person by Bob Klebanoff, the same InterNACHI-certified inspector who shows up to every appointment. There are no rotating technicians and no subcontractors, and the job is never handed off once you book. Bob has been inspecting homes since 2003, more than twenty years, and he documents findings with photographs and plain-language explanations, sorted into immediate safety concerns versus planned maintenance, so you can decide whether to negotiate, accept, or walk away. Because he is fully independent and never performs repairs, nothing in the report is shaded by a financial interest in what it recommends.
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