Home Pro Home Inspections

It’s the 4^th Of July weekend, and that means grilling out.  There’s a hot fire in the grill, the brats, hotdogs and burgers are sizzling.  It’s a welcome sight and smell at any family cookout.  Don’t let that fire make your family cookout memorable for the wrong reasons.

 Safety Tips.

• Position your grill away from deck railings, siding, under eves and tree branches, and away from shrubberies.
• Place the grill safely away from foot traffic and play areas.
• Make sure pets and children are kept at a safe distance from the grill.  Declare a 3′ “safe zone” around the grill.
• Long handled tools help to keep the chef safely away from the flames and heat when flipping burgers.
• Any grease or fat build up in the catch receptacles should be removed frequently to prevent ignition
• Purchase the proper starter fluid for use with charcoal grills.  Keep the fluid stored safely and out of reach of children.
• Check propane gas grills regularly for leaks at the connections or hoses.  Use a light soap and water solution.  Leaks will result in bubbles when the solution is applied to hoses and connections.
• All propane cylinders manufactured after April 2002 must have overflow protection devices, (OPD)  The OPD is identifiable by it’s triangle shaped handle.
• Always store propane tanks outdoors, never in sheds or garages
• Never add charcoal starter fluid to coals that are already ignited
• Never use charcoal or propane grills indoors or enclosed spaces.  Not only do they pose a fire threat, you also risk potential poisonous gasses and asphyxiation.

Enjoy the Holiday!

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

What is Carbon Monoxide and why do I need a Carbon Monoxide Detector?  Yes,  Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and potentially dangerous gas produced when fuel burns without enough air for complete combustion. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea, coughing, irregular breathing, paleness and cherry red lips and ears.

If symptoms are noticed, it is advised that you immediately open windows and doors to ventilate the home or structure, call 911 and get outside into fresh air. Later, have appliances checked carefully by a qualified heating contractor.

When doing a home inspecion I look for, and note whether there are Carbon Monoxide and smoke detectors in all applicable locations. Make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home and within 10 feet of sleeping areas, in rooms over or near a garage, in the basement or other isolated area, and in rooms where space heaters are used. Detectors that have been verified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and have been manufactured after October 1995 conform to minimum alarm requirements. Those marked UL 2034 or IAS 6-96 have met the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines. Follow the directions for installing and using the detector carefully.

To help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:
 Your chimney and flue should be checked and cleaned every year.
 Have a qualified inspector check appliances and heating systems each year.
 Make sure all home appliances have adequate ventilation.
 Carbon Monoxide detectors should not be relied upon as a substitute maintaining appliances, furnaces or chimneys.
 The flames in appliances and heating systems burners should be blue, not orange.
 Never use a gas range as a space heater.
 Never run an automobile or gasoline engine in an enclosed space.
 Charcoal grills should never be used indoors indoors.

 Rick Erickson, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN.  507-202-8942