Mitchell Captain raised an inportant post in the Home Inspectors Q and A group...oops . You should be able to access it from here. He asked if you ever lost something when you were entering a blog or if you've tried to enter something only to find that the internet or your line is down.
A ups backup battery uninterupted backup is often the answer with computers and electrical equipment. In fact whole house units are now available if you can afford it. A small ups for your computer generally costs less than $150 bucks and can save your butt when the power glitch hits. If you are an inspector who goes home and types up field notes, this is really important. Even if your power doesn't go down a lot. I have written many a chapter over because I've stretched my leg and kicked a wire under my desk connected to the computer, or lost power in a short but violent storm.
But it reminded of something we do on most inspections when we are about to open the panel box...
You've all been taught (I hope) not to open panel deadfronts if there is a suspicion that it could be dangerous... that is wet floors, nasty wiring, scorch marks, etc.
We teach our student inspectors and interns to touch the panel with the back of their hand lightly first to avoid grabbing the door, getting zapped and having their muscles contract and not being able to let go...
I encourage inspectors to look and make note which breakers are already off...so if the inevitable removal of the cover accidentily catches on a breaker and causes it to shut off...you would then know which ones to turn back on and which to leave off...
But I think the real sign of professionalism is the inspector who explains to the home owner (working away upstairs on Chapter 6 of " How I sold my house even though the inspector was a deal killer" ) that He is about to check the electrical panel and that the homeowner should save their work or shut down their computer.
Never do you want to hear a scream from the far end of the home... "Who killed the power?"
Steve Gladstone
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