Unsafe Wiring
During a recent home inspection I came across this electrical wiring that was in contact with both a heating duct and the water heater exhaust vent. The wiring against the exhaust vent has the potential of melting, allowing the bare wires to come in contact with the metal vent. This could result in electrocution if someone were to come in contact with the metal vent.
Indoor flooding
Home fires will make the headlines before water damage, even though water damage is more common and often just as damaging. Water damage typically sees a surge during the first three months of the year. Pipes are most likely to freeze when it’s the coldest outside. Make sure to insulate any exposed pipes to help prevent freezing.
Power outages can cause many problems from food spoilage to basement flooding. Install back-up generators to power all of your home’s critical systems including sump pumps, security and fire alarm systems, and heating systems.
Chimney and furnace fires
While fire presents a year-round risk, certain causes of fire occur more frequently during the winter. Chimneys, boilers and furnaces are particular risks. Approximately 25,000 residential fires begin in a fireplace or chimney every year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Ice damming is another threat to your home. In the days after a snow or ice storm, ice damming can occur due to melting and re-freeze.
Each year, your average household can spend up to $2200 on energy costs. Our economy today is certainly challenging, and homeowners are looking for ways to stretch their monthly utility and household expenses. There are plenty of ways to come up with extra cash by making some simple, energy saving home improvements Here are 10 simple steps that your home inspector shares that can help you to start saving now.
* Install a new Energy Star rated programmable thermostat. Make sure that you actually take the time to program it, most people don’t. As we discuss during the home inspection prtocess, when programmed and used properly, a programmable thermostat can cut your energy costs by an average of $180 per year.
* If your furnace is more that 15 years old, you should consider replacing it. There are many state of the art furnaces introduced in recent years that can save you hundreds of dollars in heating costs. Older furnaces are typically 65% – 72% efficient, compared to today’s models that are up to 96% efficient. Your average savings is up to $800 a year
*Add some insulation to your attic. Approximately 20% of the homes built prior to 1980 are properly insulated. Adding extra insulation will keep your heating and cooling systems from having to work overtime. Having the right amount of insulation can save up to 10% on your energy costs. Average savings for adding insulation is $220 per year.
*Dial back the temperature on your water heater. Lowering the temperature from 145 degrees to 120 degrees will result in savings from $36 – $61 per year.
* Replace your 5 or so most used incandescent light bulbs with new compact florescent bulbs. These bulbs use less energy and can last up to 10 times longer. Motion sensors for your outside lights will help save by turning lights on only when needed. Average savings is $65 per year.
*Install low flow shower heads. Replacing your shower heads with a 2.5 gallon per minute low flow model and shortening your shower time by a couple minutes can save 5 gallons of water each time someone showers. Figure in less energy to heat less water and you will have an average savings of up to $145.
*Wash your clothes in cold water and save on the fuel you would need to heat that water. Make sure that you use a detergent formulated for cold water usage. Your average savings will be $24 – $40 per year.
*Fix dripping faucets. You don’t want your hard earned money going down the drain. Hot water dripping at 1 drip per second can waste 1661 gallons of water a year as well as the energy needed to heat that wasted water. Average savings is $35 per year.
* Keep your dryers lint trap clean. Increase the drying efficiency of your clothes dryer by cleaning the lint trap between loads. Average savings of $34 per year.
* Stop using standby energy. Unplug or shut down TV’s, computers and other digital equipment that consumes standby energy when not in use. Average savings $165 per year
Realize you savings by implementing a few or all of the suggestions listed. Not only do you have the potential of saving up to $1500 a year on your energy costs, you will be saving energy and be kinder to the environment.
Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942 http://www.homepro-inspection.com
Rochester MN Home Inspector Shares Tips On Keeping Your Family And Home Fire Safe
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.
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Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com
Just like any of the other systems in our homes, our air conditioners need periodic inspection and maintenance to keep them running smoothly. We want the air conditioner to work when we need it right? Too often though, people wait until the temperatures soar to find out that the old unit just won’t fire up. Summer is coming and soon we will all want our air conditioners to run at peak performance to keep us comfortable. Careful inspection of the air conditioning system prior to peak use can help you to head off problems ahead of time.
First, the more you use your air conditioner, the more often it should perform an inspection. Filters are a good place to start. Cold air moves harder that hot air. If your air filter is plugged, the fan has to work harder to move the air. If the air isn’t moving, the air conditioner has to work harder to meet the desired temperature in the home. Buy a good air filter and make sure to change them at the manufacturers prescribed frequency.
At the condenser, (outside), make sure that there is adequate clearance for air flow around the unit. Three feet above and one foot at the sides, minimum clearance will allow the air to flow freely. Also, make sure that the cooling fins are free of debris and damage. If the fins are clogged with dryer lint or grass clippings, air can’t move freely through the condenser.
Catch small problems before they turn into big problems. Noisy condenser units could be anything from a loose screw on a panel or safety screen, to a loose fan blade. Loose fan blades could also be hitting part of the unit. If everything is tight and there is still a noise, it could be the condenser motor. You should call for service if this is the case. Make sure that the unit is sitting level to prevent unnecessary wear on the motor bearings.
Noise at the furnace could mean a bad motor or loose/worn drive belt. Again, you should call a service technician for repairs.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com
If you have an old air conditioning unit, you may want to upgrade to a newer system that meets or exceeds the government energy standards. For example, it is possible to have savings of up to 47% on new heating and air conditioning costs with a newer model. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, you may be eligible for tax credits if a new air condition and/or heating system meets energy efficiency requirements.
How efficient are your exterior doors? Old doors with poor seals may contribute to higher energy usage. New exterior doors usually fit and seal better than older doors. A new energy efficient door can help to stabilize your interior temperatures and decrease your energy usage.
Some other simple energy savers… Even small acts of green can make a difference. Turning off your computer and monitor when not in use; lowering the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees; taking short showers instead of baths and washing only full loads of dishes and clothes can all add up to big savings on your homes energy consumption.
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
The only can of green beans we have in the house.. And they are way past the expiration date. I guess we’ll have to run to the store. This home inspector thinks it would have been better for the home owner to have the furnace professionaly repaired by a qualified repairman.
Canned beans supporting burner
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
Rick was very helpful and professional at my home inspection. I was pleased that the report and review came with some written and verbal suggestions on how to fix some of the problems found. Rick also made sure that I fully understood all of his explanations and and was respectful when answering my questions. Rick was dressed professionally and is very nice and pleasant. I will recommend Rick to any of my family and friends who may need a home inspection.
Judy T. Kasson, MN.
Thank you for the professional and thorough home inspection. As first time home buyers, it was wonderful that you labeled the main shut off valves, and gave us a home maintenance guide. We feel comfortable knowing that you are a phone call away! Thank you for your expertise!!
Sarah & Kirk F, Dover, MN
Thanks again Rick. I really appreciate the input you provided during my home inspection. Your recommendation for future improvements was very helpful.
Carl B. Rochester, MN.