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You make the call......

This issue strikes a cord with me, because when I was a kid, my mother got badly burned when her pajama sleeve caught on fire at the gas range----perhaps reaching across the burners. In the "good-ole'-days" kids were often spared the gory details of things----so I never really knew "exactly" what happened.

Take a look at this picture.

Switch in the wrong place

See how far it is across the stove top to reach the ceiling-fan switch? This is not safe in my opinion----and yet as far as I know----there is nothing against it in terms of the building codes (If anyone can provide some information to the contrary----I would love to hear it). I suppose I should be grateful that it is an electric range instead of a gas range.

What do you think?

What would you tell your buyer?

You make the call.

Charles Buell

PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.

Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector on 09/02/2008 08:53 AM

Comments (25)

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Originally posted at: Seattle Home Inspector's Blog: You make the call......

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25 Comments on You make the call......

SEP

2008

Charles, Although there is nothing wrong with the application as there is no "code" against it, sometimes common sense dictates. Until people get injured or killed there will not be a change in this trade practice...

Good Morning,

I agree that it's not the best place to put one and certainly inhibits one's ability to safely use the switch at any particular time. I also think it's obvious to any buyer and I would not point it out necessarily. Have a great week !

I agree with Kelli. It's not like we walk around the house and flip every single switch to see what it does or doesn't do. We will turn light switches on, and if lights are on, there usually are not other reasons to try to find other switches. The inspector does that. Plus, there are so many phantom switches that don't do anything that usually mean you have to plug in a lamp to get the switch to work, but I'm not going to move a sellers' furniture around to figure that out.

Inconvenient for sure. Probably something I may not notice but if the buyer is a cook they might.

This is an ecellent use for one of the old wooden 'Yard Sticks". Just get that stick out to throw the switch for ya, that way you don't have to REACH over the cooking food and hot plates / pans, etc.

Sean Allen

Ah yes Bubba----the illusive "common sense"

Kelli, these are the kinds of safety concerns that I would always point out as an inspector---it is just too easy to fix to not say anything.

Donna, figuring out what switches control can be time consuming for sure:)

Gary, you can bet the first time they want to use the exhaust fan they are going to notice:)

Sean, or maybe have it wired to a remote control?

Hey Charles that a good one. I've would of taken this picture with the burner on, HIGH LEVEL.

But your are right, there is no code. So let go with a recognize safety hazard, reaching over a range to reach a wall switch. the statement would go like this. There is a wall switch directly across the electric range, when in use can cause severe burns, this is a recognize safety hazard. Recommend removal and/or relocating of wall switch to prevent any future accidents.

Did not have to use the word code or code related statement and you covered yourself. LOL

~Newbie

I wouldn't mention this. She/he can turn on the fan before cooking begins or after cooking ends. My mother cut off two toes with a lawn mower when I was young. She got over it but it traumatized me. I never used a lawn mower and didn't like for my kids to mow. I understand what you mean but I wouldn't point out to everyone that a lawn mower can be hazardous to toes!

Not good - i am also a safety freak when it comes to these kind of things.

SEP

2008

this must be where mistaken hot flahss come from. [think mrs doubtfire.]

LOL

Chris the implementer

Roy, I wish I'd of thunk o' that!

Barbara, would you really have been mad at me for bringing it up with my buyer?:)

Carol, I really couldn't imagine not bringing it up, once I saw it.

Chris, are you trying to get me in trouble:)

Charles, you shouldn't burden your buyer with your hang-ups! LOL

One more thing.....I need points!.....you sound like a real estate agent referring to "my buyer"...You and that buyer's agent may have a fight over whose buyer it truly is!!!

Barbara, I wasn't aware I had a "hang-up" going on here:) I think the fact that most appliance manufacturers no longer put the control knobs behind the burners says something to the wisdom of not reaching across burners (also if they do---they are high and as far to the sides as possible). Regarding who's buyer it is, I think one could make an argument for them being "our" buyer. If their is no agent involved----are they not my buyer? The appraisers buyer? The lender's buyer?

Just a misunderstanding, Charlie. I thought you had the hang-up because of your mom's being burned and I had the hang-up from the toes! Real estate agents often refer to "my buyer" and you sounded just like one!! : )

Charles - good catch. A lot of HI's wouldn't write it because it isn't a code issue and only a judgement call. In my mind it is a safety hazard.

BTW - They are your client, so strictly speaking they are your buyer.

Barbara, we're cool:)

Jack, so much of what we write-up are not code issues.

SEP

2008

Charlie B,

There you go outdoing the IRC guys. That will not make them happy.

I agree it's a hazard and worth mentioning. It may be difficult to get a Seller to fix it, if it isn't a code violation bet mentioning it allows the buyer to decide if they want to take care of it themselves.

SEP

2008

Charles

This is a stretch but I could enforce it:

404.8 Accessibility and Grouping.

(A) Location.
All switches and circuit breakers used as

switches shall be located so that they may be operated from

a readily accessible place.

I could say that it is NOT readily accessible. Why if the stove is use it is NOT readily accessible.

SEP

2008

Mike, I totally agree.

Even though there appears to be no code violation the location of the fan switch is in a positon that is potentially dangerous. Granted, it is an electric range; however, reaching across to throw the switch could cause you to upset cooking food on the range. Depending on what is on the stove and in the pans (i.e., hot water, grease, hot sauce, etc.) there is a potential for causing burns, fires, etc.

Jon

I am calling it a 'code' violation.

Wow, I don't even think I would notice something like that. I can see where that could be a big problem

SEP

2008

I would certainly bring it up. Agree that a gas cooktop would make more dangerous, but tell that to someone who got badly burnt from the electric burner on high or a pot of boiling liquid or grease.

Kent Keith

Fort Worth Home Inspector

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