12 Safety Tips for the Holidays

Here are 12 handy tips for a safe and healthy holiday season. The 12 days of a Safe and Healthy Christmas!

1. When putting up Christmas lights at home for the holidays, make sure that all electrical cords are in good condition. Never run cords under the carpet, and avoid overloading sockets with many plugs; this can start an electrical fire. 

2. When visiting other people's homes, remember that their homes may not be child-proofed. When arriving at a party or friend's house, look around to make sure that there are no obvious hazards to your child. 

3. When going out to holiday parties without the children, be sure that your baby sitter knows where and how to reach you. All emergency numbers should be clearly posted so that the babysitter can use them if needed. 

4. To avoid food poisoning, always thaw the turkey in the refrigerator and not on the countertop. Also, remember that food should never be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. 

5. Children love to get toys for Christmas! It is a good idea to follow the age ranges on packages, as toys that are too advanced could be hazardous for younger children. Make sure that there are no parts of the toy that could be swallowed or can choke a child. 

6. Children enjoy stuffed toys like Teddy bears and cloth dolls. When buying these items make sure that they have sturdy seams and that the eyes, noses and other parts are very firmly attached. Loose pieces can easily be swallowed by a child. 

7. Make sure that your young child does not have access to the Christmas tree. Ornaments are often made of metal plastic or foam, and can be dangerous as they can block the child's air passage, and can also cut a child's skin. 

8. Holiday plants are quite attractive to children but potentially very toxic. Make sure that plants such as Mistletoe, Holly and Rhododendron are out of the reach of children at all times. 

9. Gift wrapping often contains toxic metals and therefore children should not be allowed to chew them. Additionally do not burn gift wrapping paper in the fireplace as this may give off toxic fumes. 

10. Toy ideas for children less than 1 year include wooden blocks, float and squeeze toys and soft animals without buttons or other parts. Do not give small toys that can be swallowed, or toys with long strings that may potentially strangle a child. 

11. Toy ideas for the over 2 year-old include developmental toys that encourage the imagination to expand. Projectile-type toys such as guns, weapons and toys with sharp edges or points are not appropriate. 

12. Merry Christmas! Christmas is a family affair, so involve the whole family! The more a child is included in the festivities the more is entrenched a sense of belonging and being loved. Enjoy and share their joy! 

For more child health and wellness information on-line, visithttp://www.drpaul.com

Kitec® Fittings

By Nick Gromicko and Rob London 

 

 

Kitec® is a brand of brass plumbing fitting that was recalled in 2005 by its manufacturer, IPEX, due to its tendency to quickly corrode. The fitting was widely installed throughout the western United States since the early 1990s.

 

How is Kitec® defective?

Kitec® was originally marketed as a corrosion-resistant alternative to fittings made from copper. IPEX manufactured the fittings with a high percentage of zinc, making them vulnerable to corrosion in a process known as dezincification. As water goes through the fittings, it corrodes the metal, and zinc leaches from the brass and creates a powdery buildup inside the fittings. This buildup can weaken the fitting, restrict water flow and, in the worst-case scenario, cause the pipe to leak or burst. Some homeowners have returned to their homes after being away for several days to find it flooded, requiring tens of thousands of dollars to replace carpet, drywall and furniture. Even small leaks, especially if they are hidden behind drywall, can lead to the growth of mold, which itself is a dangerous condition.

 

Replacing these fittings usually requires cutting into the walls and replumbing the entire house, which costs between $6,000 to $8,000, on average, although it can cost several times this amount. These costs are often paid out of pocket, as some insurers do not cover repairs to items that were recalled. Many insurers that will cover the repairs will require sizable deductibles and increased rates. 

Legal Matters

Kitec’s® Canadian manufacturer, as well as home building companies and plumbing contractors that installed Kitec® fittings, have been the target of a series of massive class-action lawsuits. More than 31,000 homeowners in southern Nevada sued IPEX in 2006 and received a $90 million settlement. Roughly 30,000 homeowners in New Mexico united to file claims as well, and California is likely to follow suit, once the scope of the problem is better understood. Builders and plumbers who installed the product have also been targeted. Nevada builder Del Webb was recently ordered to pay more than $27 million to homeowners in that state. The purpose of these lawsuits is to force the defendants to replace the Kitec® fittings and compensate homeowners who already paid to have them replaced.

Who is affected?

The exact number of homes with Kitec® water pipe fittings is difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint. Many homes will have low water pressure but never know why. Based on the lawsuits that have been filed, it seems that at least 60,000 homes in southern Nevada and New Mexico have Kitec® fittings. In addition, it is likely that tens of thousands of homes across the southwest, notably in Tucson and Maricopa County in Arizona, in Sacramento and Los Angeles, and in parts of Texas, have Kitec® fittings. 

Identifying Kitec® Plumbing

Identification of Kitec® plumbing must be performed by a qualified plumber. The plumber will bore small holes beneath sinks, then insert an instrument with a flexible arm to help identify the fittings. InterNACHI inspectors may be able to identify Kitec® by a yellow or neon sticker on or inside the electrical box. Inspectors and plumbers should beware, however, that stickers were sometimes used indiscriminately to warn of non-metallic plumbing systems other than Kitec®. Therefore, it is possible that a home has no Kitec® fittings even if there is a Kitec® sticker in the electrical panel box. Similarly, many homes that contain Kitec® plumbing do not have stickers in their electrical panel boxes. Also, Kitec® PEX pipes may have the "Kitec" label.

In summary, defective fittings were installed for many years throughout the American southwest, leading to class-action lawsuits. The fittings can be identified in several ways but only a qualified plumber can say with certainty if they are Kitec®.  

 

 

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Basic Waterproofing for Basements

by Nick Gromico and Ethan Ward

 

 

Water Damage Concerns

 

Basements are typically the area of a structure most at risk for water damage because they are located below grade and surrounded by soil.  Soil releases water it has absorbed during rain or when snow melts, and the water can end up in the basement through leaks or cracks.  Water can even migrate through solid concrete walls via capillary action, which is a phenomenon whereby liquid spontaneously rises in a narrow space, such as a thin tube, or via porous materials.  Wet basements can cause problems that include peeling paint, toxic mold contamination, building rot, foundation collapse, and termite damage.  Even interior air quality can be affected if naturally occurring gasses released by the soil are being transmitted into the basement. 

Properly waterproofing a basement will lessen the risk of damage caused by moisture or water.  Homeowners will want to be aware of what they can do to keep their basements dry and safe from damage.  Inspectors can also benefit from being aware of these basic strategies for preventing leaks and floods.

Prevent water entry by diverting it away from the foundation.

Preventing water from entering the basement by ensuring it is diverted away from the foundation is of primary concern.  Poor roof drainage and surface runoff due to gutter defects and improper site grading may be the most common causes of wet basements.  Addressing these issues will go a long way toward ensuring that water does not penetrate the basement.

Here are some measures to divert water away from the foundation:

 

• Install and maintain gutters and downspouts so that they route all rainwater and snow melt far enough away from the foundation of the building to ensure that pooling does not occur near the walls of the structure.  At least 10 feet from the building is best, and at the point where water leaves the downspout, it should be able to flow freely away from the foundation instead of back toward it, and should not be collecting in pools.
  
• The finish grade should be sloped away from the building for 10 to 15 feet.  Low spots that may lead to water pooling should be evened out to prevent the possibility of standing water near the foundation.
  
• Shallow ditches called swales should be used in conditions where one or more sides of the building face an upward slope.  A swale should slope away from the building for 10 to 15 feet, at which point it can empty into another swale that directs water around to the downhill-side of the building, leading it away from the foundation.

Repair all cracks and holes.

 

If leaks or seepage is occurring in the basement's interior, water and moisture are most likely entering through small cracks or holes.  The cracks or holes could be the result of several things.  Poor workmanship during the original build may be making itself apparent in the form of cracks or holes.  Water pressure from the outside may be building up, forcing water through walls.  The house may have settled, causing cracks in the floor or walls.  Repairing all cracks and small holes will help prevent leaks and floods.

 

Here are some steps to take if you suspect that water is entering the basement through cracks or holes:

 

• Identify areas where water may be entering through cracks or holes by checking for moisture, leaking or discoloration.  Every square inch of the basement should be examined, especially in cases where leaking or flooding has not been obvious, but moisture buildup is readily apparent.
  
• A mixture of epoxy and latex cement can be used to fill small hairline cracks and holes.  This is a waterproof formula that can help ensure that moisture and water do not penetrate basement walls.  It is effective primarily for very small cracks and holes.
  
• Any cracks larger than about 1/8-inch should be filled with mortar made from one part cement and two parts fine sand, with just enough water to make a fairly stiff mortar.  It should be pressed firmly into all parts of the larger cracks and holes to be sure that no air bubbles or pockets remain.  As long as water is not being forced through basement walls due to outside pressure, the application of mortar with a standard trowel will be sufficient if special care is taken to fill all cracks completely.
  
• If water is being forced through by outside pressure, a slightly different method of patching with mortar can be used.  Surface areas of walls or floors with cracks should first be chiseled out a bit at the mouth of the crack and all along its length.  Using a chipping chisel and hammer or a cold chisel, cut a dovetail groove along the mouth of each crack to be filled, and then apply the mortar thoroughly.  The dovetail groove, once filled, should be strong enough to resist the force of pressure that was pushing water through the crack.

Las Vegas Home Inspections

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Hiring a Home Inspector

Hiring a Home Inspector

When it comes to hiring a Home Inspector, most buyers never ask the right questions.

Here are the Top 5 questions to ask when searching for a Home Inspector:

1. Experience - How much experience does the inspector himself have? The company may have been in business for a long time, however, the inspector may be brand new.

Always ask, who will my Home Inspector be?

2. Credibility - How long has the company been in business and will they stand behind their reports?

3. License or Certifications - Is the Inspector licensed by the State and is he certified with any Professional Organization?

4. Errors and Omissions Insurance - Who is the holder of the inspectors E&O Insurance?

5. Reports - How long will it take before I receive the report and is it computer based with images?

Construction Methods and Materials for Noise Control

by Nick Gromicko and Ethan Ward

In any heavily populated area, there is enough activity going on at once during the day to generate all kinds of sounds across the audible spectrum of human hearing. Planes take off and land, traffic moves along roadways, construction crews repair roads, dogs bark, music blares, sirens sound, lawns are mowed, etc. Even within a building, mechanical noise from heating or air conditioning can be audible, phones ring, and voices, radios and TVs are heard through walls, and so on. We rely on construction practices and materials to provide a sufficient barrier from the loud goings-on that surround us every day. Inspectors may be interested to learn how building materials and techniques influence the transmission of sound.

How Sound Moves

Sound energy travels from a source through air, water and solid objects. When sound waves hit the eardrum and cause vibration, we perceive them through our sense of hearing. The path a sound takes before it reaches our ears can be either airborne or structure-borne. Airborne sounds are radiated from a source directly into the air, such as a loud jackhammer. Structure-borne sound is sound that travels through solid materials before we hear it. An example would be heavy footsteps audible from the next room. This is why structure-borne sound is often referred to as "impact noise." Sound waves radiate around the source and decrease in loudness as they travel farther away. The energy of a sound wave is reduced by half when the distance from the source doubles.

Sound has three properties: frequency, wavelength and amplitude. Frequency is the number of cycles per second the sound wave itself produces, and it determines the pitch of the sound we hear. Frequency is measured in hertz. The range of human hearing goes from 16 to 20,000 Hz, with 16 being the lowest detectable pitch, and 20,000 the highest. Wavelength is the distance between the start and the end of a sound wave cycle. Amplitude is the perceived loudness of the sound.

Systems of amplitude measurement have been developed in order to quantify sound objectively. When amplitude is measured, it is actually the pressure of a sound wave striking a surface that is being measured. The unit of measure is the decibel (dB). A larger vibration at the source will cause a larger sound pressure level and, thus, a greater perceived volume. The human voice is usually in the range of 55 to 60 dB, a loud truck or motorcycle is 80 to 100 dB, and a jet taking off or a gun firing is measured at 120 dB or more.

Reducing dB Levels in Buildings

There are several categories of sound control for interiors: sound absorption, airborne sound transmission, and impact-sound transmission.

Sound Absorption

Sound absorption is the capability of a surface, or building material, to absorb sound instead of reflecting it. Sound waves will continue to bounce around a room for a time after they are created if the majority of surfaces in a room is reflective. Surfaces that absorb sound better will not allow for reflections to bounce around as much, and will deaden the sound wave more quickly. Many common building materials, such as gypsum board, wood, concrete, brick and tile, are fairly reflective and do not absorb much sound. Softer materials, such as carpet, foam padding, and fiberglass insulation, are far better at absorbing sound.

The use of absorptive materials can be helpful in controlling sound. Fiberglass insulation is very absorptive and can be used where sound control is a concern. Thick carpet with padding is also very absorptive, and acoustical ceiling tiles are designed to absorb rather than reflect sound. Even in cases where these options are not viable, absorptive materials can be added to finished rooms in other ways: furniture with thick cushioning is extremely absorptive, as are thick and heavy curtains and drapes. Items such as these can be added or arranged in ways that will allow for greater sound absorption. Acoustical baffles with absorptive materials can be purchased for use in areas where sound is a major concern, and most are designed to be unobtrusive and visually nondescript so as to allow for installation without drastically altering the aesthetics of a room.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters
by Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard


Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are special types of electrical outlets and circuit breakers designed to detect and respond to potentially dangerous electrical arcs in home branch wiring.
How do they work?

AFCIs function by monitoring the electrical waveform and promptly opening (interrupting) the circuit they serve if they detect changes in the wave pattern that are characteristic of a dangerous arc. They also must be capable of distinguishing safe, normal arcs, such as those created when a switch is turned on or a plug is pulled from a receptacle, from arcs that can cause fires. An AFCI can detect, recognize, and respond to very small changes in wave pattern.
What is an arc?

When an electric current crosses an air gap from an energized component to a grounded component, it produces a glowing plasma discharge known as an arc. For example, a bolt of lightening is a very large, powerful arc that crosses an atmospheric gap from an electrically charged cloud to the ground or another cloud. Just as lightning can cause fires, arcs produced by domestic wiring are capable of producing high levels of heat that can ignite their surroundings and lead to structure fires.
According to statistics from the National Fire Protection Agency for the year 2005, electrical fires damaged approximately 20,900 homes, killed 500 people, and cost $862 million in property damage. Although short-circuits and overloads account for many of these fires, arcs are responsible for the majority and are undetectable by traditional (non-AFCI) circuit breakers.
Where are arcs likely to form?

Arcs can form where wires are improperly installed or when insulation becomes damaged. In older homes, wire insulation tends to crystallize as it ages, becoming brittle and prone to cracking and chipping. Damaged insulation exposes the current-carrying wire to its surroundings, increasing the chances that an arc may occur.
Situations in which arcs may be created:
electrical cords damaged by vacuum cleaners or trapped beneath furniture or doors.
damage to wire insulation from nails or screws driven through walls.
appliance cords damaged by heat, natural aging, kinking, impact or over-extension.
spillage of liquid.
loose connections in outlets, switches and light fixtures.
Where are AFCIs required?

Locations in which AFCIs are required depend on the building codes adopted by their jurisdiction. Inspectors are responsible for knowing what building codes are used in the areas in which they inspect.
The 2006 International Residential Code (IRC) requires that AFCIs be installed within bedrooms in the following manner:
E3802.12 Arc-Fault Protection of Bedroom Outlets. All branch circuits that supply120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-amp outlets installed in bedrooms shall be protected by a combination-type or branch/feeder-type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed to provide protection of the entire branch circuit.
Exception: The location of the arc-fault circuit interrupter shall be permitted to be at other than the origination of the branch circuit, provided that:
The arc-fault circuit interrupter is installed within 6 feet of the branch circuit overcurrent device as measured along the branch circuit conductors, and
The circuit conductors between the branch circuit overcurrent device and the arc-fault circuit interrupter are installed in a metal raceway or a cable with metallic sheath.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) offers the following guidelines concerning AFCI placement within bedrooms:
Dwelling Units. All 120-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in dwelling unit in family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, sun rooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms or areas shall be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter, combination-type installed to provide protection of the branch circuit.
Home inspectors should refrain from quoting exact code in their reports. A plaintiff's attorney might suggest that code quotation means that the inspector was performing a code inspection and is therefore responsible for identifying all code violations in the home. Some jurisdictions do not yet require their implementation in locations where they can be helpful.

What types of AFCIs are available?

The four most common types of AFCIs are as follows:
Branch/feeder—installed at the main electrical panel or sub-panel.
Outlet circuit—installed in a branch-circuit outlet.
Combination—complies with the requirements of both the branch/feeder and the outlet circuit AFCIs.
Cord—a plug-in device connected to the receptacle outlet.Nuisance Tripping

An AFCI might activate in situations that are not dangerous and create needless power shortages. This can be particularly annoying when an AFCI stalls power to a freezer or refrigerator, allowing its contents to spoil. There are a few procedures an electrical contractor can perform in order to reduce potential “nuisance tripping," such as:
Check that the load power wire, panel neutral wire and load neutral wire are properly connected.
Check wiring to ensure that there are no shared neutral connections.
Check the junction box and fixture connections to ensure that the neutral conductor contacts a grounded conductor.
Arc Faults vs. Ground Faults

It is important to distinguish AFCI devices from Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) devices. GFCIs detect ground faults, which occur when current leaks from a hot (ungrounded) conductor to a grounded object as a result of a short-circuit. This situation can be hazardous when a person unintentionally becomes the current’s path to the ground. GFCIs function by constantly monitoring the current flow between hot and neutral (grounding) conductors, and activate when they sense a difference of 5 milliamps or more. Thus, GFCIs are intended to prevent personal injury due to electric shock, while AFCIs prevent personal injury and property damage due to structure fires.
In summary, AFCIs are designed to detect small arcs of electricity before they have a chance to lead to a structure fire.