A simple roof replacement left this homeowner with a disconnected water heater flue—and they had no idea. Learn why regular home system checks matter and what else you should be watching for.

The other day, we were out on a job in Vero Beach doing a Wind Mitigation and 4 Point Inspection for a homeowner who recently had a brand-new roof installed. Everything looked good at first glance—nice shingles, sealed edges, and all the right paperwork in place. But when I went to check the water heater, something immediately stood out.

The flue vent was out of place.

Now for context: the flue is the metal pipe that carries combustion gases from your water heater out through the roof. When it’s not connected properly, those gases can stay in the home—and that’s dangerous. Carbon monoxide is no joke. And in this case, the flue had clearly been knocked loose during the roofing process. It happens. Roofers are focused on their job and sometimes things get bumped, shifted, or removed entirely.

What’s wild is that the homeowner had no idea. And it was sitting right there—in the garage, next to where they park the car every day. I fixed it in about three seconds. Scooted it back into place, realigned the pipe, and done. They was shocked.

“I had no idea!” they said.

And this kind of thing is more common than you’d think.

It’s part of a larger trend I see in homes across the Treasure Coast: homeowners simply don’t look at their home systems. They don’t know where their water heater is. They don’t know what condition their electrical panel is in. Some have never looked at the air handler, and if you ask about plumbing? You get a blank stare.

I’ve inspected million-dollar homes where water was leaking under sinks, or the HVAC disconnect was burned and sparking—and the homeowner was completely unaware.

So what’s the takeaway?

You don’t need to be an expert. But you do need to be aware.

After a major project like a roof replacement, it’s worth doing a walk-through. Take a few minutes to walk the property. Check the attic if you can. Open the electrical panel. Look around your water heater, the air handler, and the plumbing connections under sinks and behind toilets. You don’t have to understand every component—but if something looks off, you’ll notice it.

And if you’re not sure what to look for, that’s where we come in. As licensed home inspectors, we see these details every day. That’s our job—to look in the places people don’t, and to spot the problems before they turn into expensive repairs or safety hazards.

If you’ve had any work done recently—or if it’s just been a while since someone really looked around—consider scheduling a quick 4 Point Inspection or maintenance check. It’s worth the peace of mind.

Because the systems in your home aren’t going to inspect themselves.