Home fires are dangerous and devastating.  Each year fires cost nearly 347 billion in the United States. Costs can include medical treatment, property loss and damage, fire department costs, and lawsuits, just to name a few.  Even worse, some 3200 people, including 85 firefighters lose their lives each year.  Clearly, fire protection and prevention is essential to you and your family.

You can help to make your home safe and secure by using a few precautionary steps.  You can start by using the checklist below.

*Perform a thorough inspection of smoke detectors once a month by pressing the test button.  Change your smoke detectors batteries twice a year, when you reset the clocks for daylight savings time.  There should be one smoke detector in each bedroom, and a minimum of one detector on each level of the home.

*Put together a list of emergency fire, police and medical phone numbers and keep it near your house phone. You could also program the numbers into the cell phones of adult family members in case you have to leave the house before placing the call. Teach your children how to call for help in case of an emergency.

*Keep your house or rural fire number clear and visible from at least 20 feet away. If trees or bushes are obscuring the house or rural fire number, trim the foliage back.  It is important that emergency personnel can readily see these numbers.

*Flammable liquids should be kept away from heating sources. During many home inspections I find Paints and thinners stored in the area of the furnace and water heater. Store them in a cool location away from paper products and cloth materials. Storing flammable liquids and materials in the utility area around the furnace or water heater should be avoided.

*Although a newer concept in residential homes, consider investing in residential fire sprinklers. If your home already has them, they should be inspected by trained professionals on a regular basis.

After completing your Inspection checklist, it is important to sit down with your family and create a detailed emergency plan.  Determine at least two ways of escaping from every room in your house.  If you have upper floors to your home, you may want to consider purchasing chain link safety ladders for each bedroom.  Also, take the time to determine a safe meeting place outside of your home that everyone would go to in case of an emergency.  Have your family practice a couple of times a year and make sure that everyone has memorized how to get out of the house, and where to meet. Knowing that everyone in your home knows how to escape a fire emergency, and where to meet will help you to rest easier. 

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

On a recent home inspection near Rochester MN,  I came across what appeared to be a blocked chimney flue.  Both the furnace and water heater were functioning properly with nice blue flames.  I was however getting back draft Carbon Monoxide exhaust from both appliances.  Carbon Monoxide does not smell or taste and can lead to death if occupants are over exposed.  I recommended to the homeowner that they immediately get a qualified Plumbing & Heating contractor to resolve the condition.  In addition, it was recommended that Carbon Monoxide detectors be installed on all levels of the home.

If you enjoyed this video, and would like to see more like it, please leave a comment.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Bathroom Vented To Attic

Bathroom and Kitchen improperly vented to Attic Roof Vent

You can see from the pictures above that it is important that the home inspectors do a carefull inspection of the attic areas to insure that all venting exits through the roof.  These pictures are from two separate home inspections that I did over a couple of weeks.  In each case, the home owner had added either bathroom and/or kitchen exhaust vents and terminated then in the attic. They were all aimed at a roof vent in an effort to exhaust to the outside.  You see in the one picture that the handy work failed and the duct never even made it to the roof vent. 

To insure proper ventilation of bathrooms and kitchens it is important that all vents exit the roof through proper roof vents.  Venting to the attic adds moisture to the attic area which can result in icing and excess moisture in that attic area.   

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Furnace Vents

The recent heavy snowfall and drifting brings one more thing that Rochester and Southeastern MN homeowners need to keep an eye on.  Home owners with High Efficiency, direct vent furnaces and water heaters need to check to see that the venting has not been drifted over with snow or blocked.  These systems typically vent through the sill plate of the home, close to ground level through a white PVC piping like in the photo above.  Drifting snow has the potential to block these vents, causing your furnace or water heater to not operate.  These systems have sensors that will detect blockage which will shut down the system.  This home inspectors recommendation is to go out and check to make sure these vents have adequate clearance after a heavy snow fall.  If they are blocked, simply clear the snow out of and away from the vents, and you should be good to go.  If there are still problems, call your local Rochester MN heating contractor to resolve the issue. 

I was discussing this with a client recently at a home inspection.  The client’s Realtor spoke up and said that he learned this lesson last year.  Cost him $75 to have someone come and clear the snow away from the venting. 

 Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Dirty Air Filter

As a home inspector, I take the time to discuss the furnace filter with the new home owner during the walkthrough at their home inspection.  It is crucial that you change your furnace filter regularly to help keep the air clean in your home.  The filter in the picture above had to be at least a year old.

The filter is designed to remove the dust and particles from the air flowing in and through your home.  A clean filter will allow the air to move freely.  A dirty and clogged filter will cause the furnace fan motor to work harder to move the air.  That along with poor air exchange will cause your yearly utility bills to be higher. 

According to the company that replaced my furnace this year, the “blue, fiberglass looking” type furnace filter is the best balance for air flow and particle removal.  The 1 inch thick accordion type filters do a great job of removing particles, but can plug up rather quickly.  If air flow is restricted it will slow air movement as well as cause your furnace fan to have to work harder to move the air in your home..  Change your filter once a month to keep your furnace system running at its peak performance. 

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Dirty Furnace

It’s getting cold and you are starting to close up the house for the season.  Contaminants that are in your furnace, home, and duct work will circulate through out your home all winter long.  Your HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning) system can collect molds, fungi, dust, bacteria’s, pollens, and other allergens, that can cause irritation to some or all who live in your home.  Believe it or not, the air in your home can be 2-5 times more polluted that the outdoor air according to the EPA.

Having complete inspections, cleaning and tune up done on your HVAC system can help to clean up the air in your home.  Your system will run more efficiently, and in the end save you money on your yearly heating and cooling bills. A clean HVAC system also helps to increase air flow in your home, resulting in added comfort to you and your family.  

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Deteriorated Chimney Cap and Mortar

After years and years of exposure to the elements, the mortar and wash cap around your tile chimney top can start to crack and deteriorate.  These types of defects should be noted by your home inspector at the time of your home inspection. 

Cracks in your chimney cap should be caulked or sealed in order to prevent damage form freeze/that cycles during the harsh Rochester MN weather.  When water is trapped in the masonry or mortar joints, freezing literally starts to break the chimney apart. 

Small cracks can be sealed with masonry caulk, or silicone.  The best choice would be a urethane or one part epoxy product.

After inspecting your chimney mortar and cap for cracks and deterioration, clean the cracks with a brush or air spray.  Fill the cracks with caulk and/or sealant.  Caulk should only be used if the cracks are relatively small.  You should inspect your chimney cap at least once a year.  If it is too high or dangerous for you to attempt yourself, contact a local Rochester MN  chimney contractor to perform an inspection and repairs.

Larger cracks or major chimney repairs should be handled by professional masons or certified chimney sweeps.  If the chimney cap is in real bad shape, the long term solution would be to have the cap replaced with poured concrete.  The concrete mix used should be formulated to withstand the weather extremes and moisture.  Caps should have adequate expansion joints between the concrete and the clay chimney flue tile.  This expansion joint should be sealed after the chimney cap is cured.  Pre cast chimney caps may also be available in various sizes from you local chimney contractor.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Replacing your furnaces air filter at regular intervals is the first step in keeping your furnace running properly.  The furnace filter’s main purpose is to keep soot, dust, pollens and other particle contaminants out of the air in your home.  Clogged and dirty air filters result in your furnace blower having to work harder.  This makes your furnace more costly to operate and will shorten its lifespan.

Check your owner’s manual for the proper size and type filter for your furnace.  Furnace filters vary in size, and it is important that you use one that is sized for your furnace.  If you do not have access to the owners manual, you can sometimes find the filter information on the inside panel of the furnace.  If the information is not provided on the furnace, you can try contacting the Rochester or Southeastern MN heating company that supports your furnace brand.  Purchasing your furnace filters by the case changing more convenient.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

The attached video is from a home inspection I did recently in an older home where it was obvious that the home owner did a good job of maintaining their heating system. 

There’s not a furnace out there that can, or will continue to operate efficiently without periodic maintenance. It’s important to keep your home’s heating system clean, lubricated, and properly adjusted.  Replacing the filter regularly will extended life of your heating system and will help the furnace to heat efficiently.  In addition, you will save energy and expense.

Ideally, your furnace should be inspected and serviced by a professional heating contractor on a yearly basis.  It’s best to have the system checked before each heating season begins. Your local Rochester, and Southeastern MN  utility and heating companies offer maintenance service at a reasonable price. If you do your own maintenance, you should have your heating system checked by a professional every three to five years.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com