Thoughts and ideas from one of the best area home inspectors in the Bloomington Normal area.
Posts tagged safety
Things to know about home fire safety
3479 days
by ClintonR
in Uncategorized
Home fire safety
* Conduct a safety inspection at home with spring – cleaning don’t forget most injuries occur in and around the House. Some can be fatal. Almost all home injuries can be avoided.
* Store all flammable substances properly. Flammable substances are those that ignite readily. Gasoline is the most common. Don’t forget: petrol fumes can travel several feet and find an ignition source. Paint, varnishes for nails, more lightweight fluid and kerosene, butane is flammable examined all the.
* Heater home security and safety is the main concern in the winter.
-Install and check smoke detectors
-Install and verify carbon monoxide detectors
-Never use gasoline to light a fire in the fireplace
-Keep stacked and covered outdoor wood
-Keep the area around the chimney and chimney clean
-Keep clean the space around the heating appliance. Does not store the fuel elements of furnace.
* Check once smoke detectors per month.
* Change batteries detector twice per year. A good way to remember is to change their when you change your clocks.
* Puts on each floor of a House smoke detectors.
Kitchen safety tips.
-Keep the area around the clear Cook.
-Pan move handles so that they do to keep the stove. Otherwise they are struck and reversed. Also small children might be tempted to grab spilling them hot and liquid food for themselves or others.
-Read your manual microwave carefully. Place the bad apples in a microwave oven can light a fire.
* Home practice fire escape plans.
-Everyone should know what to do if a fire occurs in a House
-Remember that children may have difficulty responding to a smoke detector alarm. They must be taught what to do.
N ‘ don’t forget: Plan, prepare and practice escape from a fire. * Source: El Paso Fire Department 
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Electrical Safety FAQ
1389 days
Home Owner FAQ
Why ought I get my home’s electric system inspected?
A recent study from the FPRF or Fire Protection Research Foundation showed older homes may have life-threatening electrical conditions that need to be inspected and corrected by electric experts, such as a certified electrician. Electric fires that begin behind your walls can be amongst the most dangerous and deadly. Your family and the fire alarms in your home may not notice an electrical fire until it is fully engulfed, affording you less time and fewer choices for escape. Having your abode inspected by a skilled electrical professional person, such as a qualified electrician, is a simple step to protect you, your family unit, and your household.
Who would be considered a ?qualified electrician??
A qualified electrician is a disciplined professional who has skills, knowledge, and experience associated with the installation and repair of electric cabling and equipment. These electricians ought be familiar with the electrical building code prerequisites in the localities in which they do work, and should likewise be familiar with the most recent requirements of the National Electrical Code? (NEC?). If you’ve an older home and need it inspected, you also might want to consider finding an electrician who’s familiar with the NFPA 73, Electric Inspection Code for Existing Dwellings.
How much does an electrical inspection cost?
For a assortment of reasons, the price of an electrical inspection may deviate, although it’s typically low in comparison to other costs related to purchasing a home. Above all, the value of such an inspection is clear. By identifying potential perils before a dangerous situation occurs you’ll be protecting your family and your home.
My electrical outlets appear new. How do I know if there’s a problem in my home?
A recent first-of-its-kind study from the Fire Protection Research Foundation shows that substantial electrical system risks can exist and may stay out of sight within and ?behind the walls? of older homes. The best way to evaluate and improve the electric safety of your home?s electrical system is to have it scrutinized by a competent electrician.
Can I do my own wiring?
Our lives virtually depend upon the safe utilization of electrical energy in our homes. Electricity is a leading cause of home fires in the United States. Even what some might think of as a ?minor? problem can lead to fire. So, it’s always safest to consult a educated electrical professional prior to having any electrical work done.
What type of wiring should my home have?
If wiring is properly installed and maintained, even aged wiring can continue to perform effectively and safely. Troubles can occur in any type of wiring when it’s not been properly put in or maintained. Problems also come about when changes, that did not meet well accepted, established safety provisions, have been made in the electrical system after the home was originally constructed. For owners of older homes, it’s vital that their entire electrical system be scrutinised by a qualified electrician. Confer with these professionals to ascertain what wiring would fit your home best.
What is the National Electrical Code? and how does it affect my home?
The National Electrical Code?, or NEC?, is the world’s most widely embraced electrical safety code. The code is on a regular basis updated to include the latest safety provisos and is issued by the National Fire Protection Association. Homeowners should insure that all electrical work done in their home conforms to the current electrical safety provisions. To do so, work with a qualified electrician.
What sorts of electrical safety risks can I look for on my own?
* Check electrical cords to make sure the wires are not beaten-up, cracked or loose. Whenever the cords need to be repaired, take the item to a professional repair shop, employ a qualified electrician, or replace with a new item.
* Make sure cords are not coming across thresholds or below carpets and avoid pinching cords against walls or furniture. If needed, have a qualified electrician put in more outlets.
* Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) reduce the danger of electrical shock by interrupting the electrical circuit when a electric shock hazard exists. Your home should have GFCIs about kitchen countertops, in bathroom(s), near laundry and utility sinks, in the garage, outside areas, in crawlspaces, and in unfinished basements.
But remember, the recent, first-of-its-kind written report from the Fire Protection Research Foundation demonstrates that real electrical system dangers might exist and can remain concealed in older homes. The best way to assess and improve the electrical safety of your home is to have your home audited by a trained electrical professional, such as a qualified electrician.
Where are ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) required to be installed by the current NEC??
The 2008 National Electrical Code? (NEC?) mandates GFCI protection for all 125V, 15A, and 20A receptacles installed:
* in bathrooms
* to serve kitchen countertop surfaces
* near wet-bar, laundry and utility sinks
* in garages and accessory buildings
* in unfinished basements or crawl spaces
* outdoors
* near a pool, or almost anywhere else you are likely to come across water or moistness.
The NEC? also now expects that if you replace an existent outlet in a position requiring GFCI protection, you must put in a GFCI.
If your home does not have GFCIs in these areas because the electrical system was installed in accordance with prior editions of the NEC?, you may desire to look at installing GFCIs anyhow. In the United States., GFCI outlets are very low-cost. Valuate your own risk factors: Does your finished basement ever get wet? Do you have little children? Do you employ your garage outlets to power outdoor tools? Does H2O or melted snow ever pool inside your garage? If so, you had better, at a minimum, have GFCI protection in those regions.
What problems constitute a fire risk?
Call a qualified electrician or landlord if you have:
* Continual problems with blowing fuses or tripping breakers
* A tingling feeling when you contact an electrical appliance or other metallic objects
* Discolored or warm wall outlets
* A continual burning aroma or rubbery smell coming from an appliance, room, or area
* Flickering lights
* Sparks from an electric outlet
* Animal or insect infestation with the possibility of them gnawing on wiring
* Degradation due to moisture or flood damage
* Aged homes with out-of-date wiring that may demonstrate signs of cracking or damage to the wire insulating material.
Once again, check with a qualified electrician prior to doing any work on your electric system.
If my house doesn’t meet some of the rules and regulations, what should I do?
If you’re planning to modify your wiring, first check with your local building department about the licencing, permitting, and inspection necessities that may apply in your community. Prior to doing electrical work, we recommend that you have your home?s electrical system visited by a trained electrical professional person, such as a qualified electrician. And, make sure that work done in your home meets the most current electric safety requisites.
Electrical Safety Training – Best Electrical Safety Tips For Your Home
1455 days
Electrical Safety Training – Best Electrical Safety Tips For Your Home
By Joseph Celestine 
Every home has electricity flowing through it and normally safe however, if you have young children or are planning to do work on you home, you must make sure you have some basic electrical safety training and electrical safety rules. Electricity is a part of modern society however without the proper precautions electricity can kill very easily. This article will give you some very basic electrical safety tips.
Small children love to learn by exploring and touching. Parents and caregivers must diligently remove any electrical hazards in their home and keep their children safe. First remove or repair any loose electrical lines. If you have loose electrical sockets or frayed wires protruding from the wall, you should have the issues fixed by a trained electrician. You can easily find one on the Internet. Also, replace any frayed power cords on electrical appliances you use. In some cases you can have a frayed power cord repaired but you should also consider replacing the appliance completely.
After any electrical wiring issues in your home have been repaired, take some time to learn about electricity and what to do in the case of an emergency. When there are small children in your home you must know what to do in the case of an electrical emergency. Purchase a training DVD that will explain electrical safety in an easy to understand detail. If learning from a DVD is not for you, some communities offer electrical safety training for free through the electrical power company. The goal of learning about electrical safety is to not become an expert in electricity or electrical repair but to gain enough knowledge to be able to react in an emergency.
Now that you have training and the most pressing electrical hazards in your house resolved. Start childproofing your home. Cover all electrical sockets with plastic electrical socket covers to prevent your child from poking items into the sockets. Be sure that the covers you choose to use cannot be removed easily by your children and are large enough that they are not a choking hazard.
Finally, prepare for the possibility of an electrical fire by purchasing a fire extinguisher specially designed for electrical fires. Water should never be used on an electrical fire because the water has the potential to cause the fire to spread. Knowing about electrical safety means being prepared for the possibility of an electrical fire by purchasing a chemical fire extinguisher and checking the charge on your extinguisher yearly.
While chances are you will never need to use your electrical safety training or use your fire extinguisher the knowledge of electrical safety tips in the home is vital to protecting your children. Take the time to take electricity and electrical safety rule serious and your house will be happy and healthy for years to come.
Learn more about electricians in Lake Mary Fl, electrical safety training, electrical safety tips and electrical safety rules quickly and easily by visiting http://www.lakemarybusinessdirectory.com a very popular website that provides resources, articles, and Seminole County consumer information and business reviews.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Celestine
Wood Burning Fireplace
Wood-burning fireplaces are becoming less and less common due primarily to their lack of efficiency. They are still romanticized by many and a fairly common amenity in older homes. As an inspector, my primary focus, as with many things, is 1-functionality and 2-safety. Functionality is typically pretty simple, as long as the flu and chimney are free of obstruction, the flu lining is intact, the chimney chase (typically masonry) appears to wearing reasonably well, and the firebox is free of significant cracking, generally speaking you should be okay. Obviously I’m skipping over a few things here to get to the area I want to showcase, safety. The most significant hazards typically noted in association with wood-burning fireplaces and chimneys are a cracked flue and or significant creosote build up.
A cracked flue presents an opportunity for carbon monoxide to enter the living space. One of the most common indicators that this may have occurred is creosote build up on the exterior of the chimney below the roofline. Creosote typically presents as a black residue that could easily be mistaken for mold. Replacing the terra-cotta flu typically associated with wood-burning masonry fireplaces is a potentially costly proposition.
Creosote build up occurs naturally from the combustion of wood. This is why it is suggested that wood-burning fireplaces are cleaned annually when used with any regularity, by a professional chimney sweep. Creosote is very flammable and potentially combustible, this can be a significant fire hazard especially when concentrated over an open flame, as with a fireplace.
Junction Box
1578 days
I wouldn’t expect the average layman to know offhand, what a junction box is. However I must say I was rather flabbergasted to hear a Realtor say this. The quote actually went something like this – “I’ve been in construction and real estate for 30 years, and I’ve never heard of a junction box!” This was towards the beginning of my career, and I suspect it was simply an attempt to get me to modify a report, but I’ll be happy to share an explanation with the rest of you.
A junction box is simply a metal or plastic enclosure, where electrical wires meet to be spliced together. It is not uncommon to find a junction box missing the cover, this is a really simple and cheap to fix, but maybe an actual safety concern if not addressed.
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