Fuse Boxes - Are They Safe?            
     Many older properties still have fuse boxes. While, these antiquated devices are okay, fuse panels, unless altered can be deemed safe. I consult my clients to consider replacing these with modern devices. Here's why:
     Older style fuse boxes serve the same purpose as circuit breaker boxes in that the fuse controls the amount of electrical current from appliances within a home. However; fuse boxes are outdated by modern standards. The advantage to having circuit breakers in a home is that instead of replacing a fuse each time it is used, circuit breakers can be easily reset. In the event of an overloaded circuit, fuses have been proven to be more reliable and will "blow".  Replacing blown fuses can be frustrating, expensive and time consuming. Because it is easy to over-fuse circuits, may insurance companies will not insure fuse panels unless the S-type retro devices are installed. Even with these devices, some insurance carriers charge more to insure fuse panels.
     According to studies, faulty electrical wiring causes approximately forty thousand house fires annually. Like circuit breakers, fuses are used to prevent over heated wiring and fires by interrupting electrical currents in overloaded circuits. When a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips, it is important to locate the source of the problem.
     For instance, if you have lights that seem to stop working frequently, you may have too many items connected to a single power source. Sometimes an appliance may have a short circuit; it could even mean a short circuit in the home’s internal wiring. In either case, it is best to have a professional in the appropriate trade evaluate the fuse box and wiring.
     As you would in a circuit breaker panel, label each fuse in the box. Labeling each fuse can make it easier to identify the suspect circuit. As a safety reminder, when replacing a fuse, turn everything off in the circuit to prevent electrocution.

This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

Monday Morning Motivator & Some Points to Ponder...    
Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long...
We keep moving forward. Opening new doors and doing new things, because we are curious…
And, curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
     ~ Walt Disney

     I often feel it is okay to look backwards to see where I've been. Looking backwards with an attitude of gratitude gives me a benchmark to gauge were I am, where I'm going and where I need to be. Because I am curious by nature, I often explore the paths less traveled. It is amazing what I find on these treks…

This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

(not so) Speechless Sundae...           
     Ah-h-h-h snow. Something we have but seen a dusting of in this winter that wasn't. To me, snow is Mother Nature's blanket. It can be beautiful to look at while it covers the ground with its soft, velvety layer of white. It has the ability to transform our colorful world in to shades devoid of color. Scenes take on shades of gray that often add mystery and mystique to our lives... 
     

Below is the Cal Turner farm with the WSM tower in the background. Sadly, the barn, having been severely damaged in a spring storm, is no more. Only the silo remains...

This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

The Most Dangerous Item In Our Homes...      
     53% of household fires can can be traced back to electrical problems. Fire deaths are generally higher when portable heaters and other small appliances are used. Many of these fires can be traced back to the misuse and abuse of extension cords.

     Extension cords are one of the most dangerous items we bring into our homes. Overloaded circuits, poor maintenance, improperly sized for application, trip hazards and overheating are a few of the many among perils associated with these items. 

     The attached photo is a classic example why insurance companies classify extension cords as a fire safety hazard. The home owner used an extension cord that was designed and rated for light duty use such as lamps and other "light duty" appliances to run the air conditioner unit. Depending upon the size or tonnage of the unit, these can pull any where from 12 - 15 continuous duty amps which severely overloads the capacity of this light duty cord which is rated for 5-7 continuous duty amps.

For Your Own Safety
    •    Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
    •    Frayed or cracked wires cause fires. Replace them immediately.
    •    Replace any electrical tool if it shocks, overheats, shorts out, or gives off smoke or sparks.
    •    Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters.
    •    Be mindful of electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
    •    Only buy electrical products evaluated by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or other Nationally recognized lab.
    •    Keep clothes, curtains, and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all space heaters.
    •    If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
    •    Don't allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons, and hair dryers.
    •    Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets.
    •    Use electrical extension cords wisely; never overload extension cords or wall sockets.
    •    Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.

This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

Just When You Think You've Seen it All…
     I have been doing property inspections for over almost 11 years now and I think I had seen it all - That is until yesterday. There are those out there seem to push the boundary between creative genius and pure stupidity. And while I did have to give them an "E" for effort and "I" for ingenuity, I had to give them a "F" for utter foolishness.
     The wiring used is not rated for exposed use as the insulation is soft and can be easily damaged. A protective conduit around the wiring would have been acceptable.
     As far as the perforated strapping - Oye-veh! Talk about a razor blade waiting for tender skin. Makes me shudder to think about it.
      Did this make it in my report? You can bet your Sweet Bippie it did...

Plastic Dryer Vents - A Fire Waiting for a Place to Happen...
          Plastic dryer venting has been banned from residential usage for several years now. However; I still run into this material from time-to-time in newer and older properties. This product is considered a fire safety hazard and should be replaced if you have this present in your home.
     Most households use flexible foil as the connector between the dryer and the exterior discharge. Although not much better than it's plastic counterpart, it has been approved for residential use by Fire Marshal's in many municipalities.
     Optimally, the better product is flexible aluminum cut to the shortest length possible and the best is rigid metal adapters connected to the dryer discharge and the vent. These are more difficult to install but are worth the cost and effort in the long run.
     If it has been more than 3 years since you cleaned your vents, consider doing so. Dryer lint builds up on the sides of the duct, and will reduce the efficiency of your unit. If the build-up is extreme, your dryer could burn out.

This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

Be Safe ~ Not Sorry...
     When potential buyers look at a property, they are looking at the aesthetics not the functionality or safety features. When the untrained eye looks at the photo below, one sees a sees a cool looking stairwell, loft and a nice clean open space.

However, the trained eye of the home inspector sees something different.

     1. Even though this is an older property, the balusters (spindles) on the guardrail and handrail exceed the current 4” spacing required for child safety.
     2. The placement of the smoke alarms on both levels of the property are incorrect. Typically, they should be place within 12" of the ceiling.
     Properly placed smoke alarms are vital for the safety of you and your family. In most states, properties that have been rehabbed need to be brought up to current standards of safety. These are some of the issues found with this property:
     1. The alarms were not wired together – when one-alarm signals, all should signal.
     2. The alarms were not installed in the bedrooms. Current safety standards require all smoke alarms to be placed in each bedroom and hallway of in each level of the property.
     3. There was no function smoke alarm in the basement or the garage.

Did you know...
     · Smoke alarms monitor the air 24 hours a day, every day. After 10 years, it's been on the job for over 87,000 hours. At this point in its life, it stands a 50/50 chance of failure. Do you want to trust your life to an aged device?. If you don’t know how old your alarm is, or if it is more than 10 years old, replace it.
     · The battery back up in all alarms needs to be replaced annually.
     · Smoke alarms need to be tested monthly.
     · Vacuum the outside covers periodically to remove dust, dirt particles and insects.

Size Does Matter...
     I have been running into many 40 gallon electric water heaters in my inspections, especially in rehabs. While I understand that it is all about turning a profit; 9 times out of ten, I write these up as being improperly sized. Here’s why:
     The selection of a particular type hot water supply system for a house is determined by several factors including the utility connections available, utility rates, hot water demand, and owner preference.
     There are several methods which can be used to calculate hot water demand. Each possibly will give different results. While no one single method is a perfect indicator of the actual hot water needs, the homeowner's demand will be the determining factor as to the size. Some of these factors are as follows: The number of people living in a house, occupant ages, lifestyles, work schedules, and the number of appliances using hot water.
     Most households use the highest volume of hot water during two peak periods every day. These typically occur in a two-hour period between 6:00 - 9:00 am or 5:00 - 8:00 pm each day. Regardless of the adequacy of a water heating system during off-peak periods, inadequate hot water during peak periods will lead most people to believe that there is a hot water supply or capacity problem.
     Not all water heaters are made equal; nor, are all households and demands the same. Hence, the specific water usage patterns and water heater design and capacity specifications must be considered to determine what water heating system will be most appropriate for any particular situation.
     If you are running out of hot water at various times of the day, you may need to have to change your life style or have a specialist in the appropriate trade further evaluate the size of your water heating system.
     I have attached the following guide to give a reference for selecting the appropriately sized water heater based on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. I hope that this helps.

Coming Soon...
     This week I made the decision to forgo my weekly edition of Dielh Killerz. Not that I have run out of blog fodder, but work on getting the websites for DealKillerz.com and CVideoC.net have taken front burner for the time being.

     With real estate home inspections on the rise and video jobs coming in, I have to work on what is important or never get it done. My goal is to have the site live by the end of the month and start publishing weekly episodes to the site and here in the rain...

Williamson County TN - Market Report
     Williamson County TN continues to be very active as this area is experiencing a steady recovery as compared to other areas of Tennessee and other National real estate markets. Watch the video below for an overview of what is happening in the Williamson County TN real estate market.