Electricity is an essential part of our lives. However, it has the potential to cause great harm. Electrical systems will function almost indefinitely, if properly installed and not overloaded or physically abused. Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, but many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances,

Clothes dryers evaporate the water from wet clothing by blowing hot air past them while they tumble inside a spinning drum. Heat is provided by an electrical heating element or gas burner. Some heavy garment loads can contain more than a gallon of water which, during the drying process, will become airborne water vapor and leave the dryer and home through an exhaust duct (more commonly known as a dryer vent). A vent that exhausts moist air to the home's exterior has a number

Are exterior receptacles required at decks? The 2008 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC) describes two requirements for locations of outdoor receptacles in one- and two-family dwellings. The previous edition (2005) includes only one of these requirements, and inspectors should be aware of this change and understand the reason it was made. The NEC also describes how to achieve adequate weather protection for exterior receptacles. Two Requirements for Locations of Ou

This is a common question we get during a home inspection, "What is that dial next to the Thermostat?" It is a Humidistat. To simplify it is a sensor designed to control humidity in a home. In our opinion it should always be left in the on position or bypassed. I'll explain why. In cold climates the humidistat is used to control a whole house humidifier attached to the forced air heat system. It senses the humidity level traveling through the vents and tells the humidifier

The purpose of this article is twofold. First, at InterNACHI, we’d like you to take measures to keep your garage free from fire. Fortunately, there are ways this can be done, some of which are described below. Secondly, garage fires do happen, and we’d like you to make sure that a fire cannot not easily spread to the rest of your house. While you can perform many of the recommendations in this article yourself, it is a good idea to hire an InterNACHI inspector to make sure yo

Testing or Sampling for Mold Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience

Mold, Moisture and Your Home Mold Basics The key to mold control is moisture control. If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem. It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Why is mold growing in my home? Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter, such as fallen leaves and dead trees. But

Ten Things You Should Know About Mold 1. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposure include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints. 2. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. 3. If mold is a problem in your home, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture. 4. Fix the source of the water problem or

This video is a few years old, however still very relevant. It shows the importance of testing for mold and not just taking someone's word for it. Testing is the only way to determine if a substance is mold or not. In some cases testing is not needed before a remediation project. These cases are if large amounts of mold are found typically with a moisture problem. Testing before remediation or if you suspect mold in your home is always a good idea this gives you more accur

What is Impact Glass and how is it tested? Impact Glass is manufactured to withstand flying debris during a major wind storm or hurricane. The double laminated panels extend deep into the window frame. This is what allows a window to hold up during an impact from fling debris. The windows are tested and certified to with stand an impact from a 9 Lb 2x4 shot at them at 34-55 mph. This is the test shown in the video above. Having these types of windows protect your home from