In 1988, the state of Illinois passed the Smoke Detector Act. This law required all dwellings to have working smoke alarms. In order to be compliant, the alarms could to be either battery-operated or hard-wired. Effective January 1, 2023, newly-installed smoke alarms...
Your gas-powered water heater is probably not at the top of your list of homeowner concerns. For most of us, water heaters seem to work fine, until they don’t. And, when they fail, oftentimes the result is an extended period of cold-water showers followed by a costly...
Do you own an older home? If so, you may be aware that builders used lead pipes and solder to plumb older homes. These materials can transfer lead particles to the water that passes through them. Since then, we have learned more about the dangers of lead in our...
What is an HVAC filter? An HVAC filter, or furnace filter, allows air to flow through while collecting particles or contaminates such as dust, dirt, dander, allergens, and other pollutants. The type and amount of material the filter collects depends on the quality of...
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are safety devices used to protect people from shock and electrocution. There are two types of devices. One is a a receptacle, commonly called an outlet, which has a test button and reset button. The other device is a special...
House and Attached Garage Fire Separation In my last two posts on garages, I discussed hazards found in the garage and proper operation of the garage door. The third area I'll focus on is the fire separation wall between the house and its attached garage. I'm not...
In my last post about garage hazards, I wrote about many parts of a garage that can create hazards. Today I'll focus on the hazards of the vehicle entry garage door and its automatic door operator. The purpose of this post is to help you understand what a home...
One area many homeowners overlook is their garage. Mike Stephans, ACI discusses potential garage hazards and their impact on home inspections.
Carbon monoxide has no odor or taste. If it gets into your home, it can result in serious illness or even death. Read Mike’s post on carbon monoxide alarms and why they’re important.
The water heater is a key component of a home’s plumbing system. Because of that, it's also important part of a thorough home inspection. One thing a home inspector should check is the temperature setting on the control valve. You use the control valve to set the...