safety: A rough winter for water mains
- 05/11/14 07:40 AM
The brutal winter of '13-'14 is finally, irrefutably over, but much of the damage still remains. Now that warmer weather's finally here, I'm enjoying long walks in my beautiful Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park. I've noticed a number of small water line leaks... several in nearby Warren Park, and quite a few in front of local residences and buisnesses. Often, the leakage is right near the street valve:
If you see water leaks around your property, call your local water company. In Chicago, you can simply dial 311, and they'll connect you to the Water Department. There are over 4,300 … (3 comments)
safety: The Nose DOESN'T Know
- 11/17/13 01:35 AM
We're headed into the poisoning season. Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning increase during the winter months, and especially around Thanksgiving. You can't smell carbon monoxide. It's a colorless, odorless, deadly poisonous gas. Carbon monoxide (CO without the 2) is produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon fuels such as propane, kerosene, heating oil, or natural gas. According to the Centers for Disease Control, symptoms of CO poisoning include "headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion." If one's asleep, there's very real danger of dying without experiencing or being aware of the symptoms. Remember: carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible. … (7 comments)
safety: Entrapment
- 11/07/13 09:35 AM
Being trapped can spell your doom. As children, we would play with trapping people and being trapped. I remember being carried in a picnic blanket by my uncle Dave, a makeshift sack with me inside, swinging in an arc as he strode across a field one Summer long ago. We often think of a house as something to keep things out. A house protects us from the rain and the cold, from wild animals, and from other people-- by keeping them out. Elementary, dear Watson. That's why we live indoors. But there are times when you really don't want to be inside … (44 comments)
safety: "Nobody ever does anything about that"
- 04/26/13 09:13 AM
"Nobody ever does anything about that." These words came from one of my favorite agents. He's a friendly guy, hard worker, aggressive negotiator. Very smart. The kind of agent I'd choose if I were in the market. At a recent inspection, my client asked me what the seller was going to "have to" fix before the deal could close. "That's up to you," I replied. As you know, I can't really get involved in the deal. I'm not there to be a negotiator. As an inspector, my role is to do the inspection, to be thorough and clear, and … (12 comments)
safety: Poison Prevention
- 03/29/13 04:27 AM
Poison Prevention Week You may have missed it, but March 17 to 23 was National Poison Prevention Week. This is the longest-running public health campaign in the United States, launched over fifty years ago in response to the tragedy of child poisonings. Every year, over 90,000 children are seen by emergency departments due to poisoning. 40 die. 90% of these poisoning incidents happen in the home. These incidents are preventable. The most common poisoning culprit is aspirin. Children are fascinated by the world, by the activities of adults, and by small objects. They don't have a very developed sense of cause … (7 comments)
That's right, I'm in love with acronym. The CPSC is the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and they're a fantastic resource for anyone concerned about safety. The CPSC website is a compendium of informative articles on safety issues. Here are just a few... you can bookmark them for easy reference! Clothes dryer safety Crib safety Window Covering Safety Carbon Monoxide Safety Despite the CPSC's efforts, a large number of hazardous products are still in use. Some of the more notable recalls over the last few years include circuit breakers, drywall, and dishwashers. If you're an information junkie … (2 comments)
safety: What is an AFCI?
- 03/23/13 01:44 PM
What is an AFCI? An AFCI is a special type of circuit breaker that provides a higher level of fire protection than that provided by conventional circuit breakers, AFCI stands for "Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter" Why are they a good idea? According to statistics quoted by the National Fire Protection Association, electrical problems account for approximately 70,000 fires annually. A large number of these fires are caused by electrical arcing ("arc faults"). Conventional circuit breakers do not provide adequate fire protection due to arc faults. What is an arc fault? An arc is the flash that occurs when the electricity … (4 comments)
safety: Mortal Danger: The TV Tip-Over
- 03/22/13 07:28 AM
Ever put together one of those "flat pack" bookcases? Ever notice how there's a strap (or a bracket) that's included in the kit, and you're supposed to use this thing to tie the case to the wall? Most folks just toss this "extra" part out. Please don't be one of those people. Top-heavy furniture, like book cases, must be securely fastened to the wall to prevent serious injury from falling furniture. Every year, nearly 13,000 children in America are injured due to top-heavy furniture. Rickety, unstable dressers and book-cases are often the culprits. A growing concern is a special type of … (2 comments)
safety: Carbon Monoxide and Combustion Air
- 03/20/13 09:01 AM
When I'm on an inspection, one of the things that I look for is the combustion air supply for the furnace and water heater. Here in Chicago, it's not unusual to find the water heater and furnace located in a small utility closet. This is especially true in properties that have been rehabbed. For the furnace to work properly, there needs to be an adequate supply of air to feed the flame. Without enough air, the furnace may still produce heat, but it will also produce carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon monoxide has been dubbed “The Silent Killer.” In the United States, … (29 comments)
safety: What is a GFCI? What does it do? Why do I need it?
- 03/16/13 11:59 AM
Q: What is a GFCI? What does it do? Why do I need it? A: A GFCI is a type of outlet. The initials stand for Ground Fault Circuit Interruption. It's a nifty little device that can save your life. Q: Why do I need one? I got circuit breakers already. Why should I get something on top of that? A: Circuit breakers don't do the same thing as a GFCI. The circuit breakers are over-current protection devices. They trip when too much current is being drawn through a particular thickness of wire. The smallest breakers in the house are … (34 comments)
Sometimes, it's the little things. Like these little breaks in the electrical conduit. Don't look like much, do they? Actually, these little breaks are a pretty big deal. In and around the Chicago area, we use the conduit to carry ground. In other parts of the country, they do it differently, typically using a bare copper wire. Since we're using the conduit as part of the circuit, it is essential that the conduit is properly bonded together throughout its entire length. These three photos show conduit that's pulled apart. When that happens, you have an electrical hazard. … (3 comments)
safety: Strangle Cords
- 03/13/13 03:00 AM
One of the things that I look for in a home inspection is the presence of loose window blind cords. The cords present a serious life safety hazard to small children. It has been estimated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that a small child dies from strangulation in a window blind cord every two weeks. Millions of window blinds have been recalled by the CPSC. Despite this, there are still millions of hazardous window blinds and roman shades that are still in use. The strangulation deaths often occur where parents think their children are safe: in their crib or playroom. When entrapped, … (4 comments)
safety: When should I change my batteries? When should I change my ALARMS?
- 03/12/13 12:27 PM
How often should I change my smoke alarm batteries? According to the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), you should change the batteries on your smoke alarms at least once a year. Many people get into the habit of changing their batteries when they set their clocks forward in early Spring.
I'm sure that you remembered to set your clocks forward last weekend. Did you remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarms? If your smoke alarms are more than ten years old, they should be replaced. They are much more likely to fail after they reach … (7 comments)
The TPR. The little thing that keeps your water heater from turning into a bomb. Think I'm being alarmist? Deadly steam explosions were routine back in the 19th century. They're not nearly as common today, thanks in part to the invention of the safety device known as the TPR - the Temperature Pressure Relief Valve. The reason a water heater can explode without one is this: When you heat water in an enclosed vessel (such as a water heater tank), you can actually heat it past the boiling point. Now, normally this doesn't happen … (4 comments)
They can be easy to miss... the inspector is often looking for things that are THERE. Things that can be seen. Things you can touch, hear, or (ugh) smell. Loose toilets, leaking roofs, rusting lintels, cracks in the foundation. But it's also important to make note of what isn't there. If you don't have a smoke alarm system, that's a big problem. Smoke alarms should be placed on every floor and in every sleeping room. Carbon monoxide alarms should be … (0 comments)
safety: Help Prevent Clothes Dryer Fires
- 03/04/13 03:55 AM
About two weeks ago, Inspector Jay Markanich wrote a great article about an attic vent that looked like it was made from jiffy pop. That must be a home inspector's universal term; we talk about jiffy pop from time to time here in Chicago as well. Often, when I call out jiffy pop, it's in connection with vents coming from clothes dryers. I frequently see dryer vents made from the thin, foil-like substance, which is nearly as bad as vinyl, in terms of fire risk. What I much prefer is to see smooth, straight duct work assembled without screws. The reason … (6 comments)
Related Links:
Tom Jansson
Chicago Area Home Inspector - InterNACHI Certified
The brutal winter of '13-'14 is finally, irrefutably over, but much of the damage still remains.
;)
;)
