Home Inspection Related Posts

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms save lives. Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. The number one safety hazard we find during a home inspection has to do with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. 9 out of 10 homes we visit each week will have defects with the homes fire alarm system. Did you know that Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms have a limited lifespan? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends every smoke alarm be replaced after 10 years, that regular batteries be replaced every six months and the units be tested monthly. What if there was a better way?

Let me introduce you to Nest Protect. The smoke alarm that thinks, speaks and will even alert your phone if it detects a problem. It has a Split-Spectrum Sensor, tests itself automatically and lasts up to a decade.

This alarm will even tell you where the danger is, when one speaks, they all speak. So, the alarm in your bedroom can tell you there’s smoke downstairs. Tired of getting woken up a 2 A.M. by your smoke alarm? Long before it has to chirp, Nest Protect tells you its batteries are running low with a message on your phone. The Split-Spectrum Sensor uses two wavelengths of light to detect smoke from both fast-burning and smoldering fires. Nest Protect checks its batteries and sensors over 400 times a day and it uses what they call Sound Check to quietly test its speaker and horn once a month.

Knowing that the devices I have mounted on my wall, which are there to protect me and my family can do all this, words simply aren't enough. If you have ever lost a family member to a house fire you know how important it is that these devices are present and working. With technology being what it is today, the old-style alarms just don't cut it anymore. Anyway, I just wanted to share with you one of the many safety hazards we discover each week while performing our Essential Home Inspection.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that since 1990 there have been 60 electrocutions and nearly 50 serious electrical shocks involving electrical hazards in and around swimming pools.

The risk associated with swimming pools is that of electric shock, due to a reduction of body resistance because a person is wet, and also the possibility that a person is in contact with earth potential.

Too many people (most of them children) are getting killed in swimming pools. Having laws and Code rules is important, but if they are not respected and followed, they will not keep your pool safe. The answer lies in understanding and knowing how to recognize and fix the hazardous wiring errors and ground faults that exist in older pools, and even in newer installations.

Before you consider jumping into your new pool without having it inspected, please ensure that you understand electrical fundamentals, grounding versus bonding, NEC requirements related to swimming pool bonding, Neutral-to-Earth (NEV) voltage related to utility wiring, and how to troubleshoot to ensure your swimming pool is properly bonded.

When looking for an individual to evaluate your home for potential indoor mold growth it is important to use someone that is not involved in the remediation process. That is exactly what Westbrook Homes offers; unbiased mold screening without a conflict of interest.

According to the EPA, molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as there is a food source, appropriate temperatures, and a source of moisture. This means that it is virtually impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment.

However, mold growth can be controlled indoors by controlling moisture indoors. Stop the source of the moisture, and you stop the growth of mold.

NOTE: If a mold-like substance is discovered during a Mold Screening or other visual evaluation, the only way to know POSITIVELY if it is mold would be to send a sample to a lab for analysis.

Mold testing is appropriate when a mold-like growth needs to be identified absolutely (is it mold or not?) OR when a hidden mold problem is suspected. Red flags that typically indicate the need for testing: • Visible mold-like growth • Musty odor anywhere in the home • Family member with allergies or other illness • Construction or Plumbing defects • Poorly maintained or dirty heating and air system • Evidence of past or present water infiltration (moisture intrusion) • Cracks in bath tile, missing caulk, failed toilet seals, or leaking drains

If you suspect mold, STOP. Do no work before calling Westbrook Homes for guidance! In order to confirm that mold has been eliminated, it's important to test BEFORE work begins, then AFTER work has been completed. This will give you a comparison to gauge whether the work was successful in cleaning the mold issue. If you are concerned about the possible presence of mold in your home, please call us to explain the situation so we can guide you to the best solution - we're here to help! .

A term for naturally occurring fibrous minerals. Asbestos includes chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite asbestos), tremolite asbestos, actinolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, and any of these minerals that have been chemically treated and/or altered.

Asbestos is a health hazard in many homes. Asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer. An estimated 20,000 people will die each year for the next 30 years from asbestos exposure. Our laboratory evaluated test identifies asbestos fibers to as little as 1% content by weight and is more sensitive than EPA guidelines. Our LAB utilizes Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM). Typical turnaround time is 4 business days.

The mere presence of asbestos in your home is not hazardous. Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibers and disturbing it may create a health hazard where none existed before.

The best thing to do with asbestos material in good condition is leave it alone. The danger comes from asbestos material that has been damaged over time. Asbestos that crumbles easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder is likely to release asbestos fibers and create a health hazard.

If you suspect a part of your home may contain asbestos, check periodically for tears, abrasions or water damage. If you discover slightly damaged material, limit access to the area and do not touch or disturb it. If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged, or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, professional repair or removal is needed.