BACKDRAFTING EXHAUST GAS HAZARDS - brought to you by Seattle's Home Inspection Team - 02/26/10 10:49 AM
We found this in a home in West Seattle yesterday. The furnace and hot water heater shared the same closet. The furnaces cold air return was broken, and sucking air out of the small space pulling the exhaust out of the burner chamber under this hot water heater.
What makes this so dangerous is that the exhaust gasses from this water heater are getting circulated throughout the home by the furnace! I repeat, EVERYONE with gas appliances, attached garages or in multifamily MUST HAVE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS. What you can't smell can kill you!
Read more on backdrafting at our website.
… (3 comments)

Trusting your GFCI test button could kill you! - 02/08/10 11:17 PM
A "GFCI" is a ground fault circuit interrupter. These are inexpensive outlets when they are PROPERLY installed prevent over 200 electrocutions each year. The problem is we find them wired incorrectly several times a week.

The 'TEST" button is confusing if they are installed wrong. Today, I found one with the positive and negative connections backwards, (the test button still works) and more commonly we find them connected without a ground especially in older homes (again the test button still works). While it is technically legal to install without a ground, most electricians prefer not to install a grounded-type "three … (6 comments)

 
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JJ and Suzanne Greive - Seattle Area ASHI Inspections

Seattle, WA

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Home Inspections of Puget Sound

Address: Seattle, WA

Office Phone: (206) 295-4330

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