Tag Archives: inspection

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

HOW TO OVERCOME A COMMON HOME PROBLEM: WALL DAMPNESS (GUEST POST)

Interior designing has become a common practice for every household because people want their home to appear new and innovative for an enhanced living standard. For this reason, they invest in a huge sum of money to remodel their homes, but in some cases such as the one mentioned above, only expertise and a professional approach can do the home remodeling or renovation job perfectly. Walls are one of the important parts of your home and they require special attention while planning for your home renovation.
Damp Walls are a major issue for many American home-owners. In this article, we will highlight this problem and propose solutions to overcome it. Let us first discuss the common types of dampness for a better understanding of the issue.

1. Condensation Problem

Condensation basically refers to the water droplets visible on walls, windows or ceilings. It is caused mainly due to the moisture present in air. Warm air contains more moisture and hence the places which are badly ventilated have more chances of getting condensed. For instance, bathrooms and kitchens are prone to get affected from condensation.

2. Chinese Drywall Affect
Every American’s nightmare, the Chinese Drywall affect causes thousands of American homeowners to suffer from muscle aches, sinus attacks and other ailments. The Chinese Drywall imported from China in the 2001 contains a compound which emits sulfurous gases causing health problems and the corrosion of bathroom and kitchen fixtures.

3. Pipeline Leakage
Dampness of walls of a home can also be due to any leakage of pipelines or appliances such as washing machines or dish washers. At first, what may appear to be a small leak can become a major dampness issue if left unattended. Leakages can destruct the structure of your walls and can deform them.

4. Rising Wall Dampness
Just as a sponge soaks up the surrounding water, rising wall dampness is caused when water from the ground rises up through the bricks and they absorb this water and cause rising wall dampness. This water will keep rising unless no evaporation would be possible and gravity will take over and pulls it down again.

Rising damp mostly found below floor level, when water is absorbed by walls surface it starting displaying damp marks on walls. It occurs when the water from the ground rises up through bricks and as a result the water is sucked by the walls and cause dampness.

Guidelines to Overcome these problems:

1. Effective Ventilation and Heating System:
Having effective ventilation and heating systems can help you to get rid of the condensation problem and boost the life of your walls. Windows can also serve as a solution but installation of vents and extractor fans can help you to save your walls from becoming the victims of condensation.

2. Call for an Inspection
If you notice the signs of wall dampness in your home and you are sure that your home has become a victim of defective drywalls then it is time to call an inspection team to analyze and scrutinize the condition of your damp walls and other issues at your home. The home inspectors will detect the effect of dampness and Chinese drywall would charge you with half the price you would have to spend for remodeling your house later.

3. Hire Plumbing Service
In order to fix any leakages or cracks in your pipes it is necessary to get professional help. Only excellent plumbing services will make sure that you don’t have any leakages in future to avoid getting your walls damp again.

Author Bio:
Christina Fusano is a blogger by passion and content writer for Chinese Drywall Advisors, offering reliable Chinese drywall inspection services to homeowners.

General Safety Issues

AIR CONDITIONING SAFETY (GUEST POST)

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Last summer, a window air conditioning unit in a New York apartment fell 20 stories onto a playground at a nursery school. No children were injured, but the incident garnered public attention to A/C safety concerns.

According to the maintenance staff at the complex, it was the tenants’ responsibility to buy the window unit and install it themselves. Many tenants never knew how to properly install or maintain their air conditioners. They received no assistance from maintenance workers.

It is important to understand the safety precautions for installing and maintaining your air conditioner. While it protects us from heat-related illness and death, it can also be hazardous and, in some cases, fatal. Listed below are some helpful tips on how to properly purchase, install, and maintain your air conditioner.

Shopping

When looking for an air conditioner, check for the UL Mark. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is responsible for analyzing the safety of wire and cable, as well as electrical and electronic products in North America.

Decide whether your home requires a window unit or central air conditioner. Window units work best for small spaces. If you only occupy one room at night, you only have to use one unit. Central air works better for larger homes and costs more to install. The type of cooling system depends on your behavior and what works best for you.

Installation

When installing a window unit, mount it far away from any heat sources. Avoid damp locations and areas where furniture or curtains could restrict air flow. Also, don’t install a window unit on top of a surface that is unable to support the weight of it.

You should have a professional install your central air conditioner. While you can begin the installation process yourself, there are laws regarding refrigerant handling, so have a contractor finish the job. Be sure that the contractor is licensed and get estimates from a few companies. Check the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before contacting anyone.

You can try to camouflage the outside unit, but keep all plants and shrubs at least two feet away from it.

Maintenance

Have your air conditioner inspected and cleaned before every summer. If you don’t know how to properly clean it, call an expert. If cleaning the units yourself, be absolutely sure that the power is turned off and refer to your owner’s manual.

Change out filters on a monthly basis during the months of heavy-use (April through August).

Don’t allow your space to become hot and then set the A/C on maximum power; instead, run the unit early in the day and allow it to gradually cool your space.

Other Tips

Use your exhaust fans in the kitchen to avoid adding unnecessary moisture and heat. Your air conditioner doesn’t just cool your space, it also dehumidifies.

Keep your attic well-ventilated. During the summer, temperatures can reach up to 140 degrees in the attic.

If using a window unit, don’t connect it to an extension cord. The power strip cannot handle the heavy flow of electricity.

 

 Marie Ortiz
Staff Writer
http://www.diymother.org

General Safety Issues

HOW TO DO A BASIC SAFETY INSPECTION WHEN LOOKING AT A HOME (GUEST POST)

By Alan Brady.

When looking to buy a house,  you’ll always need to hire a professional inspector in order to obtain a mortgage. When you’re first out looking for a house to buy you’ll want to be aware of a few of the most important safety concerns that a house might have, and how you can find them, so that you don’t waste your time on a house that the inspector will later warn you away from anyway. Here are the most important things to check.

Outside

Before you enter the house, go and take a walk around the outside. Take note of any large trees that are close to the house. Massive root systems can lift up the ground under the foundation of the house and destabilize it. Additionally trees with large branches hanging over the house pose a risk. As the tree ages branches will grow larger and eventually die off, which can result in one falling onto and breaking through your roof. Also examine the exterior walls for any obvious cracks or mold.

Crawlspace

The crawlspace is a good litmus test for the general health of the house. Always ask to see it and bring a flashlight with you. You don’t need to crawl down there necessarily, just poke your head down and shine the light everywhere that you can see. Inhale and smell the air for anything strange. Everything should look dry and relatively unremarkable.

Living Room

If the floor is not carpeted it should be relatively easy to spot any warping or in the floor. Discoloration in on the walls, carpet, or ceiling, or bubbling and peeling paint mean that there is moisture in your walls and floor. This can mean mold, which is extremely hazardous, and even deadly to the young, old, and sickly. What it definitely means is that there is water damage to the home, probably meaning rotted wood, and eventual loss of structural integrity in the home, which is dangerous as well as extremely expensive to fix.

Kitchen and Laundry Rooms

Open all of the cupboards and check them for mold or strange smells. Turn on the water and give it a taste test to see if there is anything obviously wrong with it. Open the cabinet underneath the sink and check to make sure none of the pipes are leaking and that everything looks to be in good order.

Bathroom

Bathrooms are especially prone to molding and water damage. Turn on the water to make sure that everything drains properly. Turn on the fan to ensure that it works and moves a sufficient amount of air. Closely examine the toilet, the sink, the piping underneath the sink, and every nook, cranny, and corner that you can find.

General

An important rule of thumb is to go by your nose. Many of the problems that a house can have are related to decomposition, mold, or pests, all of which smell fairly unpleasant. Another thing to keep in mind is to open and close all of the doors that you come across. If any of them don’t open or close properly a part of the house may have shifted and the ground that it’s sitting on might be slowly moving.

Alan Brady is a real estate and financial enthusiast who loves to blog about personal finance, renting, home ownership and responsible practices for mortgage lawyers for attorneys.com.

 

General Safety Issues

ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRACTICES FOR INSPECTING AND PROTECTING YOUR HOME (GUEST POST)

We received this very informative article written by Tom Gillece of Gillece Services, and hope you pay attention to this and other posts that have warned us about possible electrical hazards in our homes. pb

A licensed electrician can conduct a thorough electrical inspection of your home to look for possible hazards, signs of damage, proper electrical capacity, and more, to ensure the safety and efficiency of electricity throughout your home. An electrical inspection is important especially in older homes and in cases where the electrical capacity is not great enough to meet the demands of a home’s electrical needs. Having your home inspected and inspecting what you can on your own, as well as taking steps to avoid possible electrical danger, can help to prevent potential electrical damage and fire.

While you may not be a professional, licensed electrician, there are still some basic signs you can look for and rules to follow when it comes to electrical security in your home. Detecting red flags ahead of time and utilizing your electrical connections appropriately can help you to keep your home safe and functioning properly.

What to look for:

Outlets and Switches:

Are your outlets or switches hot to the touch? Or do you notice a tear-shaped dark mark forming above an outlet? If so, you will want to stop immediate use of either. High heat and discoloration could indicate a serious problem with internal electrical wiring. Unplug anything in the outlet and turn off the coordinating switch. Outlet and switch cover plates, as well, should not be cracked or broken, as this could lead to exposed wiring. A professional electrician can fix or replace wall plates in addition to upgrading outlets, if suitable, from two-prong to three-prong outlets.

Power Cords and Power Strips:

Electrical cords need ventilation so that they don’t overheat. This means that cords around your home should not be placed under rugs or on furniture, nor nailed or stapled onto walls. Nails, staples, etc. can damage cords. Extension cords may be a good solution for extending electrical use, but only on a temporary basis. If your home is in need of more outlets or electrical capacity, consult with an electrician to address these problems for a permanent solution that is safer and more sufficient. Power strips fall under the same situation; they only provide more access to one source of electricity rather than increasing the power supply. So there is still a risk of a power surge or shortage occurring, which can lead to damage or fire.

Light Bulbs and Appliances:

Light bulbs and appliances should be used according to directed instructions and with proper size and operation in mind. Light bulbs should not exceed the unit’s wattage requirements in which they are being used. Bulbs should also be firmly screwed into place as loose bulbs can overheat. Other appliances that consistently blow a fuse or cause an electrical shock should be replaced as well as unplugged and turned off if in operation.

For further electrical protection and fire prevention, consider these solutions:

  • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter:

A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) automatically turns off power to a circuit when any problem or difference in electrical flow is detected. They prevent possible deadly shock that can occur from contact with a leakage current. GFCI’s are recommended for rooms with high water usage such as the bathroom or kitchen, and they should be tested monthly to ensure their operation.

  • Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors:

Each of these detectors is highly important in any home to alert occupants of impending danger. Smoke alarms are recommended to be installed in every bedroom and on every level of a home. It is best if they are all connected so that when one sounds, they all sound. They should be tested monthly and replaced typically every ten years, though sometimes sooner. Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to sound before life-threatening levels of carbon monoxide are reached in a home. They are recommended to be placed in hallways outside of bedrooms or in each of a home’s sleeping areas.

A professional electrician can inspect your home in all areas to address your concerns, provide options and solutions, or to reassure you of your home’s safe electrical condition. Upgrades may be necessary where more electrical capacity is needed or if electrical sources are damaged, outdated, or otherwise unsafe. Both a professional and personal evaluation of your home can help to prevent electrical damage and fire and to keep your home’s electricity secured and sufficient for ongoing use.

Gillece Services has been in business for over 30 years. They’re Pittsburgh’s one-stop-shop for Pittsburgh Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electrical, Indoor Air Quality, Water Quality, and Waterproofing services.

Find out more at http://www.gillece.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

SCISSOR LIFTS SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH CARE!

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OSHA describes scissory lifts as machines that are “movable scaffolds.”  They can lift large, heavy loads that are well balanced, as well as employees, and are capable of moving them safely to and from high elevations.  There are several different safety requirements that apply to the maintenance and use of scissor lifts, because they are classified as heavy equipment. 

OSHA issued a hazard alert about the dangers of using scissor lifts to film events and functions.  These machines are commonly used to film events and functions of colleges and high schools, such as athletic and band activities.  High winds or bad weather; overloading the equipment with heavy objects; removing the guardrails during operations; and driving the lift on eneven or unstable gound can cause devestating accidents.  The alert recommends precautions to reduce the risk of these hazards. 

A 20-year old University of Notre Dame student employee was killed during a football practice while filming the football team from a scissor lift that was blown over by high winds.  The worker raised the lift more than 39 feet into the air on a day in which winds exceeded 50 miles per hour.  After investigating the incident, the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the university $77,500, and cited it with the most serious safety violation allowable under Indiana law.  It was reported that the student employee was not trained well enough to properly operate the equipment.  Hazards can be further reduced by training workers on how to operate scissor lifts properly, making sure that the scissor lift has a guardrail system for fall protection, and operating and maintaining the lift according to the recommendations of the manufacturer.

Employers can minimize scissor lift hazards by establishing safe work practices, including inspecting them before use; safely moving, positioning, and stabilizing the lift; selecting safe work locations; and identifying weather conditions that might delay use.  Other key safety practices include putting the scissor lift on a firm level surface, setting brakes and stabilizing the lift before raising it, and maintaining a 10′ clearance from electrical power sources and overhead hazards such as tree branches. 

Although scissor lifts are not enclosed, they are required to obey the same safety standards as scaffolding to ensure that employees do not fall from the lift while in use.  Guard rails should be placed around the perimeter of the lift, slip guards, and a lock must be engaged on the entrance to the lift platform while the lift is in use.  It should also be designed with an emergency stop button, both on the lift platform and with controls at the bottom of the lift.  This will allow either the worker on the platform or the lift operator to stop the lift in case of an emergency.  There should also be emergency brakes on the wheels.

There is more guidance on the hazards and requirements for using scissor lifts on OSHA ‘s Scaffolding eTool and Safety and Health Topics page on Scaffolding.

Source: OSHA; eHow.com

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

STAY OFF THE “TOP TEN” LIST!

The Number 1 most frequently violated standard on OSHA’s list for fiscal year October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010 was: Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451).  Working with heavy equipment and building materials on the limited space of a scaffold is difficult.  Without fall protection or safe access, it becomes hazardous.  Falls from such improperly constructed scaffolds can result in injuries ranging from sprains to death. 

Scaffolds must be constructed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  Guardrail systems should be installed along all open sides and ends of platforms.  If workers on a construction site are exposed to vertical drops of 6 feet or more, OSHA requires that employers provide fall protection in one of three ways before work begins: 

  • Placing guardrails around the hazard area.
  • Deploying safety nets.
  • Providing personal fall arrest systems for each employee. 

Most times the nature and location of the work will dictate the form that fall protection takes.  There are several types of scaffolding: 

  • Suspended scaffolds – Those that are suspended with ropes or other non-rigid means from overhead structures equipped with methods to permit platform to be raised and lowered.
  • Supported scaffolds – Those with one or more platforms that are supported by beams, brackets, poles, legs, frames, or similar rigid supports.  Frame scaffolds are the most common type.
  • Other scaffolds such as hydraulic scaffolds on bucket trucks. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict provisions in place for scaffolding use, but when construction companies are more concerned with producing quick results than ensuring the safety of their workers all too often they try to work around these regulations.  Depending on the size of the scaffolding, OSHA requires that:

• Scaffolding be moved, constructed, and altered by a competent person who has had significant training in the erection of scaffolding.
• A frame must be able to support four times its weight.
• Guard rails be used to block access to areas where the plank extension over the end support is less than 12 inches.
• Horizontal security and vertical tie-ins be placed every 20 feet.
•  The space between scaffolding planks not go beyond one inch.   The use of ties, bracers, and outriggers.  

When the safety requirements put in place by OSHA are not followed, injuries can easily occur.   The most common causes of scaffolding accidents are:

• Improper construction of the scaffolding.
• Improper inspection of the scaffolding.
• Inadequate securing of the scaffolding deck.
• Inadequate guard rails, toe boards, screens, and safety netting. 

These oversights can lead to injuries from being hit by falling objects, to slipping and falling off the scaffolding,  to planking or support giving away.   According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics study, 72 per cent of workers were hurt  in scaffolding accidents in one of these ways.  The study also reports that an average of 88 deaths occur each year as a result of scaffolding accidents.  Regretably, these injuries and deaths could have been avoided if only proper safety regulations had been followed. 

Tomorrow’s “Top Ten List to Avoid” subject is the #2 violation and #1 highest penalties assessed: Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501).  In the meantime, stay safe! 

Source: OSHA