HOW YOU CAN PREPARE FOR THE INSPECTION
Be certain that All utilities are on ( Gas, Electrical and Water)
Arrangements must be made for access to the home
Have home owner secure all pets
Or call us and we can make all arrangements for you
HOME MAINTENANCE & SAFETY TIPS
ROOF MAINTENANCE
Most home owners never think about their roof until it begins to leak. It's important to remember that roofs do not wear out evenly: some components deteriorate long before others. So have your roof professionally inspected every 3-5 years. It's better to catch developing problems before they can result in leakage.
Check the rain gutters around your home about once a year, particularly just before the rainy season. Gutters tend to become congested with leaves and other debris.
WATER HEATERS
Its an unfortunate fact that water heaters are only being designed to last between 7 and 10 years. Since the average replacement cost of a heater is $250.00 it's good to prolong the longevity of your existing unit as much as possible. There are two simple ways to do this:
Make sure that the temperature setting on your water heater is not turned to maximum. A mid range setting will help the fixture to last longer and will also prevent accidental scalding.
Drain your water heater at least once a year. This will help to remove the sediment which accumulates at the bottom of the tank.
SMOKE ALARMS
Test all the smoke alarms at least one a month. Most smoke alarms are equipped with tests buttons, but the best test is to hold a match a few inches from the fixture. For proper placement of smoke alarms, see the information on the prior sheet.
UTILITY SHUTOFFS
Be familiar with all the locations of electric, water and gas shutoffs. These strategic devices should be readily accessible in the event of an emergency.
Check the water shutoff valve once a year to be sure that it turns. After several years, a water shutoff valve can become stuck in the on position.
The shutoff valve on your gas meter can only be turned off with a wrench, In the event of a gas leak, you don't want to be rummaging through your toolbox. So have a dedicated wrench at the gas meter, and fasten it in place with a short chain.
GAS BURNING FIXTURES
Many people are unaware that the local gas company will conduct a complete safety check of all gas burning fixtures to be sure that they are safe, properly adjusted, and fully operational. This service is provided free of charge and is recommended as part of annual routine home maintenance.
FIREPLACES & WOOD STOVE
When a fireplace or wood stove is used regularly, annual routine maintenance should include a check-up by a certified chimney sweep. In addition to removing creosote build up in the flue, a chimney sweep is best qualified to detect other unsafe or illegal fireplace conditions.
SITE DRAINAGE
When landscaping around your home, be sure that all ground surfaces and paving are sloped away from the structure. This will help to minimize moisture conditions at the foundations and below the structures.
THERMAL PANE WINDOWS & DOORS
Thermal-pane windows have excellent insulating properties and scientifically reduce heat loss. A common problem with thermal-pane windows is moisture leakage at the seals. When this occurs, condensed moisture between the panes result in fogging. This is most often the result of manufacturing defect. Many Companies who produce thermal-pane windows will replace those windows that leak.
QUALIFIED LICENSED CONTRACTORS
When having repairs done on your home, it is strongly recommended that the work be performed by qualified licensed contractors, especially when the work involved electrical, plumbing, gas-burning, roofing, or foundations. In addition to having the knowledge and expertise necessary to perform the work in a professional manner, a licensed contractor is legally accountable for defects in workmanship.
SMOKE ALARMS
In all homes, smoke alarms are required in the following locations:
Within close proximity to all bedroom entrances, i.e. hallways, etc.
At least on each level and in basement .
Each bedroom, in homes built since 1992.
For added protection, alarms should also be installed in bedrooms. This is now required in new construction and when remodeling is performed in a home. The proper location for smoke alarms is on or within 12 inches of the ceiling surfaces. Check with your local municipality for any additional requirements.
It is advised that smoke alarms be connected directly to the electrical system. For added safety, it is advised that battery powered alarms also be installed to ensure adequate warning in the event of an electrical fire.
TEMPERED SAFETY GLASS
In homes constructed about 1973, tempered safety glass is required in the following locations:
Windows that are within 18 inches of the door and 24 inches of the floor.
Tub and shower enclosures and windows adjacent to tubs and showers should be 60 inches or more above tub or shower.
All doors that contain glass.
Exposed areas of window panes that are greater than 9 square feet.
To verify that windows are made of tempered glass, look for the manufacturers label, in one corner of the corners of the pane. The presence of this label ensures that glass is tempered .
GUARDRAILS
Guardrails are required on all decks, porches, balconies, patios, and walkways that are 30 inches or more in height. Besides being rigidly constructed these rails must comply with the following specifications.
Guardrails for residence must be at least 36 inches in height.
The railing must have spaces not wider than 4 inches.
The purpose of this requirement is to prevent children from falling. Prior to 1992, the openings were required to be no more than 6 inches.
When stairs have more than three steps, an approved handrail is required.
GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS
A ground fault circuit interrupter is a safety device that is required for outlets located near water. The purpose of GFCI is to prevent electrical shock by disconnecting the circuit when there is a short or other problem with the flow. Sometimes GFCI are installed in the breaker panel; sometimes they are built into an electrical wall outlet. GFCI protection is now required in the following locations:
Outlets within 10 feet of a pool or spa ( Required since 1971).
Outlets exposed to the weather (Required Since 1973).
Outlets in bathrooms ( Required Since 1975).
Outlets in garages ( Required Since 1981).
Outlets within 6 feet of a kitchen sink and for basement general use ( Required Since 1987).
Outlets in crawl spaces and unfinished basements. (Required Since 1990).
For outlets not installed at these locations prior to these specific dates, upgrading to GFCI would be a beneficial home improvement, effectively eliminating a potential safety hazard.
ASBESTOS
Many products which contains asbestos fibers have been used in residential construction. Some of these products have been eliminated from the market place since the mid 1970's, but nearly all homes have some forms of asbestos-containing building materials. The most common forms of residential asbestos include textured ceiling materials, cardboard insulation for forced air heating ducts, vinyl floor coverings, and exhaust vents for gas burning fixtures. In many homes, asbestos fibers can also be found in the finishing compounds used on gypsum wall board.
Despite it's useful properties, asbestos fibers have been known to cause lung cancer when particles of the materials are inhaled. But people should not become unduly alarmed; not all forms of asbestos are necessarily hazardous. According to the EPA and U.S Consumer Product Safety Commissions, "A health risk exists only when asbestos fibers are released from the materials or product " and " if the material is in good condition, it is best left alone" To determine for a certain whether a particular home definitely contains asbestos requires a specialized inspection by a certified asbestos consultant.
Copyright 2002 New England Home Inspections