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  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "BlogPosting",
  "headline": "What We Look For (And What We Don’t): The Hidden Clues in a Home’s Year Built",
  "description": "Learn how a home's construction decade can reveal red flags like aluminum wiring, polybutylene piping, and Chinese drywall. Home inspectors use the year built to spot problems others miss.",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Inspections Over Coffee"
  },
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Inspections Over Coffee",
    "logo": {
      "@type": "ImageObject",
      "url": "http://homeinspectionsovercoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/home-inspection-blog-4.png"
    }
  },
  "url": "https://chocolate-stingray-763198.hostingersite.com/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-the-hidden-clues-in-a-homes-year-built/",
  "datePublished": "2025-06-30",
  "mainEntity": {
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "mainEntity": [
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Is aluminum wiring really dangerous?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Yes, especially when used for branch circuits. It expands and contracts more than copper, which loosens connections and creates overheating or fire risk. I look closely at visible connections and panel details."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "What’s Chinese drywall, and why is it a problem?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Chinese drywall imported between 2001–2009 can release sulfur gases that corrode copper wiring and HVAC coils. It often creates a rotten egg smell. I can’t test for it, but I know what signs to watch for."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Is polybutylene piping always a dealbreaker?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "It’s not always a dealbreaker, but it is a known risk. Polybutylene piping degrades internally and can fail without warning. Most plumbers recommend replacing it proactively."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "If a home is older, do you report it for not meeting modern code?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "No. Homes are evaluated based on function and safety, not compliance with current codes. I only flag things that are visibly unsafe, broken, or likely to fail—not outdated features."
        }
      }
    ]
  }
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