Useful Tip -- Heating

As the industry leader in professional home inspections, our certified inspectors know what is required for a home to function efficiently and properly according to local building standards. This month learn about furnaces!

How to Inspect the Furnace:

• Locate the furnace. Is the furnace even there? Don't laugh; theft for scrap metal is pretty big these days!

• If possible, identify the manufacturer along with the make and model of the furnace. You then want to determine, based on the manufacturer's sticker and the age of the house, how old the furnace might be. All peace of mind certified inspectors will recommend that with any unit fifteen years or older should have the heat exchange checked for any cracks or leaks of carbon monoxide, this service is typically offered for free buy your local utility company.

• Check around the furnace's location for noticeable water stains, this could potentially mean the furnace condenser is leaking.

• Check the thermostat. The thermostat should be located out of direct sunlight (i.e. hallways). The thermostat should be level and attached properly to the wall to work properly.

• Test the thermostat by turning on the furnace. Upon turning the system and listen for unusual sounds while feeling how warm the air is and how strong the air flow is from the vents. Move around the house, verifying the vents are pushing adequate air throughout the home.

• Look at the air intake located indoors to verify the filter is properly installed and the cleanliness of the filer itself. If the filter looks unclean, the filter most likely needs to be cleaned or replaced. Make note of the filter type, there are many types of filters to choose from.

How to Perform Regular Maintenance on Your Furnace:

Seasonal furnace maintenance is essential to make sure your furnace is running efficiently and safely. We'll walk through some of the steps in maintaining your furnace. It is also a good idea to locate a Carbon Monoxide detector badge at the furnace to monitor its safety.

• Turn Off Gas and Electricity to Furnace -- As with all home repairs, the first step is to turn off the power and in this case, the fuel. There should be a switch near the furnace, if not, check the electrical service panel and shut off the appropriate breaker. The gas line will be connected to the furnace in a black pipe and will have a shut off valve nearby. Turn the valve so it is perpendicular to the gas line to shut it off.

• Vacuum the Furnace Interior -- Open the furnace door. With a vacuum cleaner having a long snorkel attachment, vacuum out the base of the furnace and the gas burners. Get all the crevices cleaned of any loose dust or debris.

• Change the Air Filter -- The furnace filter is the one component that needs to be checked and possibly changed monthly during the heating season. Replace it as part of this seasonal maintenance.Watch the step by step video below by Liberty Home Builders!

• Check the Fanbelt -- Just as on your car, fanbelts wear and get loose. Check the fanbelt on your furnace that drives the blower. Inspect the belt for glazing, cracking or fraying. If any of those signs are evident, replace the belt. Also check the belt tension. By pushing down in the center of the belt, it should feel taut and only deflect about 1/2" - 3/4". If it deflects more than that, tighten the belt by loosening the attachment bracket. Then, move the motor assembly so the belt tightens and hold the motor assembly in place while maintaining tension on the belt. Tighten the attachment bracket.

• Lubricate Oil Bearings -- If your furnace is older or if it has a motor without permanently sealed bearings, the bearings will need to be oiled. Find the oiling caps. They may also be on the bearing shaft. Drop a few drops of lightweight household oil in the oil spout below the caps. Don't over oil.

• Replace Furnace Cover and Reconnect -- Once completed, replace the furnace cover and turn the electrical power back on along with the gas. Relight the pilot if necessary.

Source: About.com Guide

How to Change Your Furnace Filter:

To learn more about Peace of Mind Home Inspections, please visit http://www.peaceofmindhi.net.

Copyright © 2011 Peace of Mind 

New Law Requires Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Homes!

Agents, expect to see a new safety concern cited in your next home inspection reports identifying the presence or absence of a working Carbon Monoxide Detector in your next real estate transaction. Just like home inspectors have to report on items such as smoke detectors, and water heater strapping, the new legislation requires homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors in every California home.

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, each year claiming the lives of an average of 480 people and sending more than 20,000 people to emergency rooms across the nation. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced from heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and many types of appliances and cooking devices. The best way for homeowners to stay protected from CO is to have a carbon monoxide detector installed on every floor and outside each sleeping area.

Though previous laws only required newly-constructed homes to have CO alarms, the state’s new Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act (Senate Bill 183) requires owners of all existing single-family homes with an attached garage or a fossil fuel source to install CO alarm devices within the home by July 1, 2011. Owners of multi-family leased or rental dwellings, such as apartment buildings, have until January 1, 2013 to comply with the law.

Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Carbon Monoxide Detector

How to Keep Your Home Safe During Holiday Travel

How to Keep Your Home Safe During Holiday Travel
By GrannyGoodEarth, eHow Member

It's that time of year when most of us are thinking about the holidays and seeing our loved ones. For some, that may mean traveling. While we would like to think that this is a time of "peace and good will" for all, we are realistic enough to know that it isn't always the case. The number of robberies and home invasions are up, perhaps due to the poor economy. You need to take some common sense steps to protect your home while you travel.

Instructions

1. A good first step is to make it harder for a burglar to get into your home. Remove items like ladders and garbage cans away from the house and locked up in a garage or shed. Placing items like this close to the house gives the burglars a "leg up" into your second story windows; a common break in location.

2. You've probably heard this one before: if you are going to be gone for awhile, have a neighbor or friend, pick up newspapers and mail. Better yet, put a hold on such deliveries.

3. Purchase timers to control lights and televisions throughout the house. Have the timers set at different times so that it appears that someone is home.

4. Here is an internet hint: don't post that you are going on a trip on Face Book or Twitter. The whole world is reading what you write including burglars.

5. If you have a home security system, check that it is working properly and that it is activated when you depart for your trip. You would be surprised how many homeowners forget to activate their system!

Tips & Warnings
• Depending on where you live, you may be able to notify your local police department of your absence and have them do drive-by observations.
• If you are leaving a dog behind be sure to put their collar on them. If you don't have a small ID tag on the collar, you can write your name and phone number inside the collar. Should there be a break in, burglars often set the dogs loose. You want to be sure that your best friend gets back to you.


Read more: How to Keep Your Home Safe During Holiday Travel eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5684298_keep-safe-during-holiday-travel.html#ixzz18xtBsQgY