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Closet Safety

By
Home Inspector with King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. Home Inspector Lic #207

In older homes it is common to find sockets with bare light bulbs in the clothes closets. Many years back nobody though much about this.

However, over the years, there have been some serious fires the result of incandescent bulbs coming in contact with storage, such as fabrics. These combustibles might smolder for some time but, when the fire breaks out, the consequences can be devastating.

In closets, old or new, light fixtures should be covered and approved for the application.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

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Posted by

Steven L. Smith

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Geoff ONeill
John L. Scott Medford - Medford, OR

I thought you'd have a picture of one dangling down, like the one I saw the other day in an attic.

Mar 21, 2010 01:15 PM
David Obbee
Obbee.com - Agoura Hills, CA

Steven: Great post, thank you for sharing- My mom actually started a fire, when she was in college, by leaving a robe too near a lamp, so a bare bulb in a closet could certainly do it, too!

Mar 21, 2010 01:30 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Uh Steve, dare I admit this? No light in my closet, LOL. The house was built in the 30's... and... no lightbulb in the closet. Sad state of affairs if you ask me.

Great info though. We have many older homes here and I know that is a typical offense.

Mar 21, 2010 01:48 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Bare bulbs are common in older properties in this area. I tell them to replace the bulb with a CF or install a globe. Thanks for the reminder...

Helping you, help others, live their American dream...

Mar 21, 2010 08:51 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Or you reach in and the bulb is 6" off the shelf!

Mar 22, 2010 10:19 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Steven, I had a listing a bunch of years ago that had been rebuilt by State Farm after a light bulb got left on.  It rubbed a pile of sweaters and poof! 

Mar 23, 2010 01:58 PM