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Things to Know About Your Home 2

Reblogger C. Bartch

Home Stager

November 01, 2010 01:01 PM

This blog comes courtesy of my wise friend Jack Gilleland who owns Home Inspection Services in Clayton, Ohio.

xmas lights

With Christmas season right around the corner his timely advice about the importance of the correct tension inside the outlets in your home may save your life and home too! I've been guilty of being one those creative people he was talking about in his blog, but not anymore.

Thank you Jack for your great advice!

Please leave your comment on his original blog but you are more than welcome to let me know how you are doing today, ok?

     One of the most aggravating things at my house are having the plugs fall out of the outlets when I'm using whatever it was at the other end of the cord. In an older home you can have this happen repeatedly because the tension on the contacts inside the outlet lessens over time. If you have a new outlet you can feel the tension as you insert the plug, an old outlet offers little or no resistance to the plug being inserted.

     This is not only aggravating, but it can also be dangerous. Less tension can cause the plug to slide out and possibly create an arch that could cause a fire. Considering how cheaply this can be repaired, there is no reason not to fix this problem. If your one of those creative people that bend the prongs on the plug to create more tension, your fooling yourself. I bought 3 outlets Sat. and it cost less than 5 dollars.

            The arrow on the outlet cover points to a burnt mark that was most likely caused by a loose plug that was brought on by the loss of tension in the outlet. This WILL happen to your outlets. There is no maybe or wait and see, over time it will happen. A word of caution to the household handyman or handywoman: This is 110 to 120 volts on a 15 or 20 amp breaker and that is enough to at least burn you and at most KILL you. Seek professional help (and I don't mean a psychiatrist). If your going to ignore my recommendation then PLEASE TURN THE POWER OFF. By the way if you don't know how to turn the power off then you need to call an electrician.

Now, maybe you did know all that and if that is the case I apologize for repeating it. If you didn't then you now know something about your house you didn't know before.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection Services, Clayton

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Comments(24)

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Judy Jennings

Top Agent Plus - Middleboro, MA

Tap into Judy's real estate expertise & resources.

Cynthia - I will go let Jack know what I think of his post, and for the record I am doing great. Hope you are too. ;-)

Nov 03, 2010 05:15 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Cynthia- I'll head there in a minute but have to say 2 things: 1) glad to see the "old" you back in your photo... and 2) where's the wreath????

Nov 03, 2010 07:25 AM

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Thanks for the re-blog Cynthia and I too like the old picture.

Nov 03, 2010 08:16 AM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

Oh Gosh, I have not gotten any email notifications that anyone responded until I went in to edit my boo-boo's.

Fernando, Jack is a great source of information & thanks on the photo!

David, you're welcome!

You're so right Indera, I'm guilty of that too.

Michael, glad I could share.

Judy, Thanks for letting me know how you are, I'm doing pretty good myself! Thank you for going to Jack's blog to leave him a comment!

I am so sorry to disappoint you Roger, no wreath post yet.....but Jack's post was well worth re-blogging!

Gee Kathy, it seems EEK the skeleton scared a few people...I have to gain my weight back slowly so it's the little ol' me for now. Oh no...has rascally Roger put you p to this too, LOL :~)

Hi Jack, you're welcome and thank you & Izzy for making it available for a re-blog!

Nov 03, 2010 08:50 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Back to the little Cyn I came to know and love. That made me smile when I saw it on a comment you made over at Sheldon's post. I couldn't wait to come say hi. I'm doing geat. Now I'm off to visit with Jack.

Nov 03, 2010 09:12 AM

Nick T Pappas

Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL

Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Cynthia, I have a few good stories about working with electricity...one which involves electrocuting my father in-law...he's okay...but still a funny story and one that reminds me constantly that when it comes to electricity...don't guess!!

Nov 03, 2010 09:38 AM

Cindy Bryant

Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX

"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Fires are attracted to me, I've gone through 2, neither was my fault, not was I around for. Dangerous stuff!

Nov 03, 2010 03:55 PM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

Hey there Tammy! Awwww your so sweet, yes the it's little ol' me again. I'm glad to hear you are doing great, me too, though I do miss wearing flip flop in November....not possible here as it was in GA. You always make me smile Tammy :~)

Hi Nick, My husband had a boo-boo incident with live current...luckily his hair is already curly cause if not it surely would be after his experience! Glad to read your F-I-L survived his boo too. I agree don't guess and for heavens sake turn off the source and don't stand on an aluminum ladder ;~O

Hi Cindy, Yikes you are hot stuff indeed!

Nov 05, 2010 02:00 AM

Nick T Pappas

Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL

Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Cynthia, it's a weird feeling getting zapped...I always hit the breakers, but if there just happens to be more than one circuit running through a box well that can be a real eye opener!

Nov 09, 2010 02:46 PM

Barbara Chatterton

The Stark Company Realtors, Madison WI - Madison, WI

Greater Madison Wisconsin Area Realtor

Cyndee-Your picture is just so darling! I can echo the thoughts of others, too, can't I? It is not redundant if I have never said it!

Nov 10, 2010 02:03 AM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

Hey Nick! If there happens to be another circuit running or walking through the box one's eye could be closed forevah!

I will admit to getting a little zap a few times and it was not pleasant at all.

Hi Barbara, Well shucks thanks, you are very kind....here is the entire photo below. Yikes, I know I'm a bit racy with my crinoline showing!

kids

Nov 10, 2010 11:33 AM

Mary Douglas

United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO

REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Cyn, Had to come over today and wish you a fine Tuesday. I've been guilty of pinching a few plugs together so they stick in the socket, mostly in older homes when we were renters! Thanks for the reblog, if it's a safety issue people should know.

Nov 16, 2010 02:49 AM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

Hey there Mary! Well thanks so much my, Tuesday was fine thank you, hope yours was too :~) Yeah so you are not alone in doing that pinch the plug thingy....no more for me thanks to Jack!

Nov 17, 2010 07:51 AM

Jim Frimmer

HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA

Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

In that outlet in the picture, if you look at that single hole, you can see that it’s not a complete hole anymore because the bottom section has broken off. That’s part of the reason why the plug won’t stay in the outlet. If you’re outlets have that bottom section broken off, you need to replace your outlet.

Nov 26, 2010 09:49 AM

Russell Lewis

Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX

Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Hi Cynthia, I dropped by to wish you the best this holiday...a few days late ;-O

And thanks for the perspective on one of my favorite pictures of you! Rock on my friend!

Russell's trotting Turkey

Happy Belated Thanksgiving from Austin Texas!

Nov 28, 2010 05:03 AM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

You have sharp eyes there Jim, I didn't even catch that! I agree replace those outlets pronto :~)

Hey Russell! No worries my friend I hadn't gotten around to wish anyone a Happy & safe Thanksgiving here on AR let alone a belated one! I had a great holiday and I hope you and your family did too. Thanks for the turkey photo, I bet I could use those feathers in something art related :~O

Nov 29, 2010 12:08 AM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

I hear this is the time of year that Wreath posts go over REALLY well!!! :)

Dec 08, 2010 07:41 AM

Russell Lewis

Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX

Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Hi Cynthia, just checking in! I hope all is well and that you have a very happy new year!

Dec 30, 2010 02:39 AM

Nick T Pappas

Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL

Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Cynthia, haven't heard from you in a while...hope you're just too busy with work. Anyway Happy New Year to you and yours.

Dec 31, 2010 03:51 PM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

Hellooo Guys!!!!!!!!

I have not gotten any of Ar\R notices of comments until I logged on this eve. Was up with dat? I hope everyone had a fun and wonderful Holiday Season and thanks for checking in on little ol' me :~D

I'll be back to see what everyone has been up to.

Jan 02, 2011 03:17 PM