YOU SHOULDN'T NEED AN ELECTRICIAN TO FLIP A BREAKER.

Tripping the Breakers is Fairly Common. 

Why Didn't The Home Owner Know Why There Was No Juice??

This post is far more important than the limited distribution it will receive. 

Jay has demonstrated what I have observed for many years.  The average home owner has little knowledge about how their home works.

Why should they??  Even a simple electrical appliance comes with a simple operating manual. 

A home doesn't.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Via Jay Markanich - Northern VA Home Inspector (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC):

While sitting in the car, listening to the radio and waiting for my next client to arrive I received an email.

It said, "Jay, not sure if you remember us, but you inspected our home about one year ago.  I hope all is well.  Do you have an electrician you could refer to us?  The electrical outlets in the kitchen are all out :(   Lulu Belle"

Well, that could be any of many things.  So I probed a bit.  This began a string of emails.

"All of them?  How long has this been so?"

"A couple of days ago one side of the kitchen went out.  So we moved all the appliances to the side that worked and now, today, that side is out."

"Lulu, this sounds like your GFI outlets have tripped.  Your kitchen should have two of the outlets with the push buttons.  Push in both of the red (or stuck-out) buttons hard, or until they snap.  Then try the outlets for power."

"They work!"

"You must have overloaded one side while using the appliances one day.  By moving them to the other side you probably overloaded it too.  The next time just look to see if one of the buttons has popped out and push it in."

"Thanks Jay!  I called around to electricians and you probably just saved us $300!  U ROCK!"

Another day of doing good and doing right!  Just then my client arrived and I was off to save Lil' Nell from SNIDELY FLIPPERLASH!

My recommendation:   when you have a problem, don't be embarrassed to call your home inspector for advice!  The solution to your problem may be easier than you think!


 

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com



_______________________________________________________________________________________________________


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11 Comments on They Went From, "We Need An Electrician," To "Thanks! U ROCK!"

MAY
10
2012
669,471 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hi Lenn.  Common sense is not all that common.
4:38am • #1
151,840 Points

Not much of that "common" going around these days.  But we all have our days.
4:48am • #2
1,980,564 Points 484 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Conrad.  Is it common sense?  Where is that common sense supposed to come from???

Rose Mary.  Or not.
4:51am • #3
1,030,237 Points 67 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ditto * I love when residents e-mail and dictate what needs to happen for them to get electrical service * PLUG it IN and/or FLIP the BREAKER usually work 
4:53am • #4
997,594 Points 363 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

As you know, I do explain GFI outlets and the breakers to people during the home inspection.  But I hit them with a thousand things during the inspection and typically it is information overload.  However, they do leave the inspection with a copy of our great book and could always look it up there! 

If they read it or can find it that is...

Had that not worked I would have sent them to the panel box.  And if that didn't work I would have sent them to the hardware store!  And then walked them through replacement.

Thanks for the reblog!
5:08am • #5
1,980,564 Points 484 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Wallace.  You know that.  Why didn't the tenant know that???

Jay.  Sadly, not every home owner has the benefit of a good home inspector, nor the book.
5:19am • #6
1,003,510 Points 117 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Last weekend I mentioned to a buyer that the deck was in good condition, just needed to be pressure washed.  He asked me "How do I pressure wash the deck?"  I replied: "You GOOGLE it" because I'm sure he was able to accomplish that. 
10:17am • #7
230,893 Points 1 Featured Post Called Shot Master

Thankfully, my Dad was a do-it-yourselfer. We all learned how to fix cars, lawnmowers, blenders, drains, etc. Pretty handy skills, and I intend to pass them along to my kids.
10:36am • #8
1,980,564 Points 484 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Carla.  Mother Google knows all.

Tim.  Your father was a treasure.
1:11pm • #9
MAY
11
2012
1,101,534 Points 203 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I was scanning through your recent posts and I read this as "Needing an Election" and then I read it more carefully. I guess it must be wishful thinking or perhaps even an obsession on my part, LMAO. 
4:32pm • #10
1,980,564 Points 484 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

William.  I understand completely.  I too am obsessed with the present political scene.  Totally obsessed.
4:34pm • #11

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