home inspector panama city: Pool Alarms
- 04/18/10 09:09 AM
A pool alarm is a safety feature designed to alert adults when unsupervised children enter a pool. There are a number of different designs available, but none is foolproof. Inspectors should become acquainted with these innovations, and inform their clients of the main types available, and the potential dangers of doing without. Drowning remains the second leading killer of children under the age of 14 and, in many Sunbelt states, drowning tops the list. Approximately 350 children under the age of 5 drown in swimming pools annually, mostly in residential settings. Many of these deaths occur when unsupervised children enter a … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: The Limitations of a Home Inspection
- 04/13/10 11:22 PM
The Home Inspection Defined A general home inspection is a visual inspection for system and major accessible component defects and safety issues. The inspection is not technically exhaustive. A "general home inspection" and a "home inspection" are the same thing. A home inspection is designed to reflect, as accurately as possible, the visible condition of the home at the time of the inspection. Conditions at a home for sale can change radically in only a day or two, so a home inspection is not meant to guarantee what condition a home will be in when the transaction closes. It's … (3 comments)
home inspector panama city: Organic Solar Concentrators
- 04/12/10 11:27 PM
As reported in The Economist, Science, and other publications, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a special kind of dye that can transform ordinary glass into a photovoltaic solar panel. Although this technology, known as organic solar concentrators (OSC), is still highly experimental, inspectors may soon find windows doubling as solar collectors. OSCs utilize windows as collectors, directing light energy to solar cells in the window frames. To accomplish this, a special dye is affixed to the surface of a piece of the glass, which is then exposed to a light source. The dye absorbs incoming … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: Detecting Corrosion in Steel Encased in Concrete
- 04/08/10 12:41 AM
How Steel Corrodes Reinforcing steel bar (rebar) exposed to air oxidizes or rusts through the conversion of the iron in the steel to iron oxide or iron carbonate due to the CO2 in the atmosphere. The oxide formed is a loose material that has a greater volume than the original iron -- about 17 times greater. Because it is loose, it flakes off, exposing new steel or iron to the elements, along with the potential to corrode. The process is ongoing until all the exposed iron or steel is consumed. Rusting of reinforcing steel encased in concrete is a slightly more … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: Insulation: Rockwool
- 04/05/10 11:43 AM
Rockwool refers to a type of thermal insulation made from actual rocks and minerals. A wide range of products can be made from this material because of its superior ability to block heat and sound. Rockwool insulation is commonly used in building construction, industrial plants, and in automotive applications. The term "rockwool" is sometimes used interchangeably with "mineral wool," although the latter term is, in fact, a larger category of thermal insulators that includes rockwool, slag wool and fiberglass. Production Rockwool is produced naturally during volcanic eruptions when high winds flow upon lava streams of basalt or diabase. This was the … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: Net Metering
- 04/05/10 11:35 AM
Net metering is an inexpensive, easily administered way to encourage homeowners to invest in renewable-energy technologies. In most residences and small businesses, standard kilowatt-hour meters are capable of automatically registering the flow of electricity in either direction, to or from the building. When the customer draws electricity from the utility, the meter spins forward, and when the customer allows excess energy to be drawn into the power grid, the meter spins backward. Essentially, the homeowner is billed only for the net energy consumed during the billing period. Why is net metering important? It increases the value of the electricity produced by … (1 comments)
home inspector panama city: Login Issues resolved
- 04/05/10 07:27 AM
I had some problems login in this morning. I contacted ACTIVERAIN technical support. I got a response back with the answer. I just like to thanks ACTIVERAIN technical support for their outstanding support. I do encourage any member of ACTIVERAIN to continue promoting this site. ACTIVERAIN has been quite instrumental in helping my website to move to the top of Google page in my area. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!~! HOMEINSPECTORUSA … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: USDA Loans
- 03/17/10 11:18 AM
USDA loans are housing loans that are backed through the Rural Housing Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Purpose In the wake of the mortgage crisis in 2008 and 2009, lenders have become more cautious, so it's harder for home buyers, especially first-timers, to secure financing, especially those with low incomes or little money for a down payment. In response, the USDA has enacted changes that made millions of borrowers eligible for their rural mortgage programs, which have been around for decades. These loans are primarily used to help low-income individuals and families purchase homes in rural areas, given the challenges … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: Bloom Boxes®
- 03/17/10 11:13 AM
A Bloom Box® is a refrigerator-sized domestic power plant that produces electricity cleanly and cheaply, and may one day replace the traditional power grid. Its inventor wants to put one in every home by the year 2020. The Bloom Box® is the creation of Bloom Energy, a Sunnyvale, California-based company that promises to revolutionize energy with its "power plant in a box." While essentially a fuel cell - green energy devices that have been around for decades and have yet to compete with even marginal renewable energy sources - Bloom Energy claims to have designed a product that could transform how buildings are powered. … (1 comments)
home inspector panama city: Eco-Friendly Relocation
- 03/17/10 11:09 AM
Relocation is often stressful and time-consuming, but rarely do we wonder about the impact the process has on the environment. This is amplified when moving to a smaller house or condominium, and additional decisions have to be made regarding items that must discarded in order to save space. If we don't make these decisions deliberately, our choices can generate a lot of trash, and waste energy and natural resources. Fortunately, we have other options so that, when the time comes, we can relocate -- along with our stuff -- responsibly.
Some measures to consider before moving day: Buy less. The … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: Pesticides
- 03/14/10 11:24 PM
Pesticides are poisons designed to kill a variety of plants and animals, such as insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), and mold or fungus (fungicides). They are each composed of an inert carrier and a pest-specific active ingredient, both of which are toxic to humans and pets. Human Exposure Pesticides may enter the body in one of the following three ways, which are ordered from least to most dangerous: absorbed through the skin. People can get pesticide on their skin because it is likely to splash or mist while mixing, loading or applying the chemicals. Skin contact may also occur while … (3 comments)
home inspector panama city: Rockwool
- 03/14/10 07:00 AM
Rockwool refers to a type of thermal insulation made from actual rocks and minerals. A wide range of products can be made from this material because of its superior ability to block heat and sound. Rockwool insulation is commonly used in building construction, industrial plants, and in automotive applications. The term "rockwool" is sometimes used interchangeably with "mineral wool," although the latter term is, in fact, a larger category of thermal insulators that includes rockwool, slag wool and fiberglass. Production Rockwool is produced naturally during volcanic eruptions when high winds flow upon lava streams of basalt or diabase. This was the … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: Vermiculite
- 03/13/10 09:23 AM
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral composed of shiny flakes that resemble mica. When heated rapidly to a high temperature, this crystalline mineral expands into low-density, accordion-like strands. In this form, vermiculite is a lightweight, odorless and fire-resistant material that has been used in numerous applications, such as insulation for attics and walls. Asbestos Contamination Vermiculite forms over millions of years due to weathering of the mineral biotite. Unfortunately, biotite deposits are often in close proximity to deposits of diopside, which transform into asbestos due to the same weathering processes that create vermiculite. Asbestos can be easily inhaled because it tends to … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: Solid Brick vs. Brick Veneer
- 03/11/10 10:26 PM
Solid brick and brick veneer structures use some of the same construction materials, but their installation techniques are different. Solid brick houses (also known as double-brick and solid masonry houses) are built from either two layers of brick, or a layer of concrete block and an adjacent layer of brick on the exterior. The brick is part of the building's structural support system; if the brick were removed, the building would suffer structural failures. Brick veneer is not, contrary to popular belief, composed of thin pieces of brick, such as is found in veneer floors, patios, and decorative interior elements. Brick veneer houses look almost identical … (2 comments)
home inspector panama city: Options for Correction Aluminum Wiring
- 03/09/10 12:23 PM
Identifying Aluminum Wiring Aluminum wires are the color of aluminum and are easily discernible from copper and other metals. Since the early 1970s, wiring-device binding terminals for use with aluminum wire have been marked CO/ALR, which stands for "copper/aluminum revised." Look for the word "aluminum" or the initials "AL" on the plastic wire jacket. Where wiring is visible, such as in the attic or electrical panel, inspectors can look for printed or embossed letters on the plastic wire jacket. Aluminum wire may have the word "aluminum," or a specific brand name, such as "Kaiser Aluminum," marked on the wire jacket. Where labels … (1 comments)
home inspector panama city: Backdrafting
- 03/09/10 11:57 AM
Backdrafting is the reverse flow of gas in the flues of fuel-fired appliances that results in the intrusion of combustion byproducts into the living space. Many fuel-fired water heaters and boilers use household air and lack an induced draft, which makes them especially vulnerable to backdrafting when indoor air pressure becomes unusually low. Inspectors should try to spot evidence of backdrafting in homes. How does backdrafting happen? Fuel-fired water heaters, boilers, wall heaters, and furnaces are designed to exhaust the byproducts of combustion to the outdoors through a flue. These hot gases rise through the flue and exit the … (1 comments)
home inspector panama city: Aluminum Wiring
- 03/09/10 11:52 AM
Between approximately 1965 and 1973, single-strand aluminum wiring was sometimes substituted for copper branch-circuit wiring in residential electrical systems due to the sudden escalating price of copper. After a decade of use by homeowners and electricians, inherent weaknesses were discovered in the metal that lead to its disuse as a branch wiring material. Although properly maintained aluminum wiring is acceptable, aluminum will generally become defective faster than copper due to certain qualities inherent in the metal. Neglected connections in outlets, switches and light fixtures containing aluminum wiring become increasingly dangerous over time. Poor connections cause wiring to overheat, creating a potential … (1 comments)
home inspector panama city: Heating Units and Controls
- 03/09/10 11:47 AM
There are four common types of heating units: A furnace provides heat through a forced-air distribution system. A boiler provides heat through a hydronic distribution system. (Hydronic systems are also referred to as hot water systems.) A space heater supplies heat directly to the room where it is located. A heat pump extracts heat from the air, ground and water outside the house and usually delivers it through a forced-air distribution system. Most heating systems need air for combustion. Furnaces, boilers and space heaters that burn fuels need a supply of air to be able to burn properly, and a vent to … (0 comments)
home inspector panama city: Lighting Quality
- 02/27/10 04:05 AM
Efforts to enhance home energy efficiency have spurred a growth in a variety of alternative lighting sources that use less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs. With this improvement comes a greater variety of light quality, although this latter property has become obscured amidst the excitement generated by energy savings. How well do these new, "green" lighting sources actually render color to the human eye? They can illuminate a room at a lower cost, but is it necessary to forfeit the ability to tell whether your clothes match just to save money and energy? Many consumers and inspectors should be aware of a … (1 comments)
home inspector panama city: Clothes Closet Lighting (inspection)
- 02/23/10 07:37 AM
Clothes Closet Lighting People don't often think about the fire risks posed by the light in their clothes closet, but it's one of the few places in the house where a source of high heat can get too close to flammable materials. Lighting must be installed safely with adequate separation from clothes, boxes and other flammables stored in the closet. Additionally, the quality of the light, as well as bulb efficiency, will influence your lighting choices. The 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) on "Permitted Luminaires and Clearance from Clothing" The IRC defines a "luminaire" as follows: a complete lighting unit consisting of … (3 comments)
A pool alarm is a safety feature designed to alert adults when unsupervised children enter a pool. There are a number of different designs available, but none is foolproof. Inspectors should become acquainted with these innovations, and inform their clients of the main types available, and the potential dangers of doing without. 
;)
;)
;)
