Shane Stevens's (s_d_stevens) Blog

Just some information on general electrical requirement: RECEPTACLE SPACINGWithin 6-feet of the edge of any doorNot more than 12-feet apart along wallAt all wall spaces 24" or more wideWithin 24" of edge of sink, range, refrigerator, and end of counterNot more than 4-feet apart along counter topA...

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protection is a system that shuts down the protected electric circuit -- opens it -- when it senses an unexpected loss of power, presumably to ground. GFCI protection devices constantly monitor and compare the amount of power flowing from the panel on the h...

General Maintenance Advice Upon taking ownershipAfter taking possession of your home, there are some maintenance and safety issues that should be addressed immediately.  The following checklist should help you undertake these improvements:•      Change the locks on all exterior entrances, for imp...

CARBON MONOXIDE INFORMATION  What is carbon monoxide (CO) and how is it produced in the home?CO is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas. It is produced by the incomplete combustion of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. Appliances fueled with gas, oil, kerosene, or wood may produce CO. If such appliance...

I thought I would share some information every homewoner and professional in the real estate business should be aware of.Automatic garage door openers that do not automatically reverse should be repaired or replaced with new openers which do reverse to prevent young children from being seriously ...

I have come to understand that as a home inspector and I am also an educator of the public. I inspected another 1950's home today that had two prong outlets throughout the home. I spent quite a bit of time explaining to the client and agent about two prong outlets. I just wanted to share with the...

I had a 1960's home today that had a FPE panel with Stab-Loc breakers and spent alot of time explaining to the client and to the realtor about the concerns for these panels. Realtor told me that she has sold quite a few homes of this age and has never heard about these panels. So I thought I woul...

A heat pump is essentially a reverse cycle air conditioner. It can move heat from indoors to outdoors, or it can do the opposite, and extract heat from the outdoor environment to heat the interior. With a traditional split system furnace and AC, the indoor unit is referred to as the evaporator co...

What is a Temperature/Pressure Relief (TPR) Valve?  Section P2803.1 of the International Residential Code for One and Two FamilyDwellings requires the installation of a combination Temperature/Pressure Relief Valve(commonly referred to as a TPR valve) or a separate temperature relief valve and ap...