There is a common issue with faulty HVAC systems in Older homes with modern heating equipment. Condensation can form in the older chimneys not designed for low flue gas temperatures and create water stains, efflorescence and deterioration of the chimney. The newer furnaces usually 92 percent and up require either a lining or separate plastic flue pipes exiting out the side of the house instead up a cold chimney. There are some manufacturers that may allow a liner depending on the efficiency rating and recommendations of the product.
There is a wealth of knowledge and experience that the average home buyer may not be aware of or have the time to investigate there selves. A home inspector can address many areas of concerns and safety to help consumers make a much more informed decision on one of the largest investments of there life.
I was going through my albums the other day and was sad to see this picture of myself standing at the base of the statue of Liberty. This picture was taken in September of 1996 when I took my son to visit the very place where so many of our ancestors came to make a new life in America. This is the same place where they were able to share there talents and hard work to build a greater place for all of us to live in unity. Why should we accept anything else? Unfortunately this is now a place for sorrow as we remember the life's that were loss here to a Nation that was the lender of the world.
I hope that we can look back at this and remember that we did not ask for this no matter how some may feel. I have a shirt on that is embroidered with a golden eagle that does say that I am American Made. However all of my ancestors are from Italy and this is a very memorable place to them, since the first thing that they would see approaching this bay is the Statue of Liberty, what a great feeling that must of been. There is no reason why others could. just as my ancestors did, take the appropriate measures to become a American.
The old knob n tube system was originally designed to carry very small currents. Back in the day, the most common need for electricity was for lighting. Today, the needs for the average family are considerably greater. More items will be plugged into the outlets drawing more electricity. Usually, the needed current is greater than what the knob-n-tube wiring was designed for. When you overload this old wiring, it becomes a very significant fire hazard and is one of the leading reasons that knob-n-tube wiring should be replaced in a lot of homes. However, not all homes need to be upgraded. If your home has this old system, you should hire a licensed electrician who has experience with knob-n-tube wiring to review it. Depending on the condition of the wiring, they may recommend removing all of the wiring, removing part of the system, or leaving it alone. One safety, non-expensive upgrade they may recommend is installing S-Type fuses to ensure that no one "accidentally" installs an oversized fuse in the main panel box or sub-panels. This helps prevent overloading of the wires.
Common Problems
In addition to the problems mentioned above, a professionally trained home inspector looks for insulation damage from rodents, people stepping on the wiring, and storage crushing the wiring. We also look for rolled or loose-blown insulation and debris from previous roof replacements covering the wiring. There needs to be a 3" space between the live wire and any flammables. Homes that have had insulation added in the attic over the wiring are just waiting for a fire to happen. As there are many do-it-yourselfers out there, we constantly see Romex wiring spliced into knob-n-tube to feed newly installed light fixtures, ceiling fans, or additional outlets. Remember, these lines were not designed for system additions and all of these greatly increase the risk of causing a fire.
There are two major reasons, Safety and Efficiency.
Having your furnace annually serviced is one way to help extend its life. When your furnace reaches 10-12 years, it is strongly recommended that you hire a licensed HVAC (Heating Ventilation-Air Conditioning) company to perform a heat exchanger inspection. This test should be performed annually from this point forward until the furnace is replaced. Why? Just as a piece of metal is bent over and over again eventually fatigues and breaks, a similar force is being exerted on your furnace's heat exchanger. During operation, the thin metal of the heat exchanger is being heated to high temperatures (sometimes over 175 degrees Fahrenheit) and cooled down to room temperature (70 degrees F). Each time, the metal expands as it warms up and contracts as it cools. Eventually, the metal fails and a crack is formed. A crack will always develop in a heat exchanger. How soon depends on the conditions it has been subjected to over its lifetime.
If you are buying or even selling an older house you can disclose the condition of the existing sewer line.
The sewer line is the responsibility of the homeowner from the home all the way out to the street where it taps into the city's line. Replacing a sewer line can cost the homeowner anywhere from $4000 to 8000 on an average line. If the street needs to be ripped up to replace the line, then the homeowner will have to pay for the street to be repaired also. During a real estate transaction, if a Buyer finds a problem with the sewer line after they move in, it becomes extremely difficult to place the onus back on the Seller. Many times, the Seller honestly did not know the sewer line had problems. That is why it can be so important for the Buyer to have the sewer line scoped on any home 20 years or older.
For $185-$350, you can hire a licensed Plumber to run a camera through the line. The cameras cost over $10,000 and good ones can record the entire process on videotape. This is the best way to know the true condition of that line and is irrefutable evidence to all parties involved.
Their technical name is Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant (FVIR) water heaters. The basic idea behind the design is to prevent flammable gases, such as paint thinner, gasoline, or other household chemicals from exploding and catching the home on fire if they are in the vicinity of the water heater's pilot light. This new FVIR design allows the combustion air into the base of the tank, but not back out. If a vapor ignition occurs, only the vapor inside the base of the tank will burn. The flammable vapors outside the tank will not catch fire.
The new FVIR design also has a sensor on the inside of the base of the tank that shuts off the gas supply if an explosion occurs. This sensor is glass and a one-time use only device. If the water heater has a vapor explosion, the glass breaks triggering the gas to shut off. However, if this occurs, you can't simply replace the glass sensor. You have to replace the entire water heater.
This would probably help discourage the storage of flammable liquids in the house and basement.
There are some simple checks that an home inspection will find that may show the need for immediate repair before usage.
For example the area between the damper and the back of the fireplace interior wall usually brick or stone should be tight. This area many times is cracked or open for flames to reach into the wall cavities.This is an inexpensive repair, however very dangerous for a chance of a fire. The mortar joints in the fire box should also be tight. The damper should be operational and the mortar around the damper not loose or cracked.
In 1998, there were 18,300 residential fires in the United States originating in chimneys, fireplaces and solid fuel appliances, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. These fires resulted in 160 personal injuries, 40 deaths and $158.2 million in property damage.
Chimneys exist to contain caustic flue gases and exhaust them onward and upward into the atmosphere. The condition of the firebox, smoke chamber, and flue are crucial to ensuring a safe home. Below are a few indicators that you have a problem and need to hire a professional:
Professional home inspectors look for these issues with chimneys everyday. However, even the best inspector will admit that their knowledge on chimneys is limiting compared to that of a Certified Chimney Sweep.
January is the deadliest month for house fires and fire-related deaths in America, according to the National Fire protection Association. While many households have smoke detectors, many consumers are unaware of the type of device they are using, which could make a huge difference in an emergency.
Two types of smoke detectors exist: an ionization alarm and a photoelectric alarm. The two have varying response times in specific fire situations.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded that ionization alarms provide a "better response to flaming fires," while photoelectric alarms provide "considerably faster response to smoldering fires," after testing thousands of alarms for two years.
However, 90 percent of U.S. homes have the ionization alarms, which usually are cheaper than photoelectric.smoke detectors.
The smoke alarms should be replaced every seven years. The dual alarm is a better choice. The detectors should be cleaned once a year and the batteries replaced twice a year. If you have a new house the standard is to have one detector in every sleeping area, however the minimum in any house should be one on every level, and one near the entrances to all sleeping areas. Avoid kitchens, and bathrooms where there is higher humidity and cooking products that could effect the detectors. There are new products out that have the ability to record your voice to alarm children, Children have been known to sleep through a protector alarm, where the voice of a parent recorded on the detector would help awaken them. 'Smart Move HomeInspection LLC'
Are you considering a Home Inspection? If you are I have a checklist for you to prepare for your Inspection. This is a simple list of ten thing's that you can do to assist and insure that the most critical areas are accessible.
An Inspector is limited to doing a complete inspection if some of these guidelines are not met.
1.Make sure all utilities are on: Water, electric and heating/cooling.
2.Nothing is in front of the electrical panel.
3.Any crawl space access door or attic scuttle is readily accessible and unblocked.
4.Sump pump and water meter locations are identified and accessible.
5.An extra 'property disclosure form' (if used) is available for the inspector.
6.The dishwasher is empty.
7.A list of any recent improvements (i.e., age of roof, furnace or boiler, replacement windows, water heater). It would be helpful if this list of any recent 'upgrades the home were available. Inspectors seek 'assets' as well as items of concern.
8.Information about any structural repairs, engineering reports, recent fires or major home owner insurance claims.
9.Information about any past radon or lead test results.
10.Personal property is moved away from foundation or basement walls.
For a more thorough inspection these guidelines will help, Thanks for reading and good luck on your next investment. ' Smart Move Home Inspection LLC '
Value and Condition go hand and hand just as faith and works. I could never understand why a mandatory appraisal would not involve a home inspection also. The average home inspection will approximately cost the investors one tenth of one percent of the total value of the house. The value of the house is usually determined by local comparisons, growth, surrounding area's etc.
If the house is in a good area and has a great curb appeal with just a few visible deficiencies, why not buy it? After all, the bank appraised it at a higher than market value. How many more problems are going to effect the buyer five years from now with outdated appliances and other overlooked deficiencies?
The objective opinion of a home inspector can take a more thorough observation and recognize the life expectancies of possible failing components. The house of interest could have a much better selling point and a more satisfied buyer with a home inspection. There are many potential clients that may not understand how thorough an inspection is. The typical home inspection takes 2-3 hours.
There are some inspectors that present the report at the time of the inspection. I take approximately another three hours on the reports. I also include digital photography in all of my reports to help visualize defects as well as assets. At Smart Move Home Inspection LLC we take as much time as necessary to give you a more concise report that could be useful for many years to come.
The value of a house cannot be completely known without knowing the condition of the house. The expenses that you pay within the first five years of your purchase date will add to the total cost of your investment. In the interest of everyone involved, get a home inspection.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
I was going through my albums the other day and was sad to see this picture of myself standing at the base of the statue of Liberty. This picture was taken in September of 1996 when I took my son to visit the very place where so many of our ancestors came to make a new life in America. This is the same place where they were able to share there talents and hard work to build a greater place for all of us to live in unity. Why should we accept anything else? Unfortunately this is now a place for sorrow as we remember the life's that were loss here to a Nation that was the lender of the world.
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