The article I researched was “Central Vacuum System”. It was interesting to learn that the invention/use of central vacuum systems dates back to 1850 in Sweden. The article listed one of the advantages of these built-in systems vs portable units as being hypo-allergenic, because portable units recycle air back into the room, while central vacuum units exhaust to the exterior. Our family has lived in several homes with central vacuum systems and found their performance to be superior to portable units.
Oddly enough the section on appliance inspection also covered outdoor pools. Note in this pictured pool there is no safety fence directly around the pool for safety standards for children. The city required only a protective fence on the land’s property line 28 years ago.
BTW, this is where I have been doing most of my studying and tests with my laptop…sorry for the people up North, Mid west and West. Nicer climate is Sunny South Florida. Only heat and hurricanes.
The microwave in this photo was tested using a cup of water. No obvious defects in the door, the inside of the microwave or the controls were noted. This microwave was installed permanently above the oven and the vent hood. The vent hood is not vented to the outside as it is not required due to the charcoal filter installed in it.
When inspecting pools, it is necessary to make sure there are no service entrance conductors running above the surface of the pool at inappropriate levels. There must be a minimum clearance of 22’6" above the surface of the pool and 10’ away horizontally. Anything less than that should be noted as a deficiency in the report.
This inspection was performed in substantial compliance with the International Standards for Performing a General Home Inspection. The inspection shall include examination of readily accessible and visible portions of the dishwasher. The inspection is not all-inclusive or technically exhaustive. The goal if this inspection is to provide observations which may lead to the decrease of hazards associated with the dishwasher, if any.
This dishwasher was operated through a normal cycle and appeared to be in serviceable condition at the time of the inspection. All programming controls were functioning at the time of inspection.
Articles: AFCI Testers
by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard
Article details the acquisition of an AFCI tester for home inspections. The benefit and necessity of the tester are not in question. The link to purchase this, and other tools is invaluable as I was dreading the research to obtain the right setup. Price checked the tester on the internet and the InterNACHI site beat the best price found by almost 10%.
The front trim plate is missing from the dishwasher and electrical wiring is exposed. There is rust on the racks inside the dishwasher and evidence of prior water leakage on the subfloor under it. The dishwasher was not tested - recommend replacement by a qualified technician.
I researched Septic Tank Inspections. There are many good guidelines on how a NACHI inspector should inspect a system - sludge level to determine whether it needs pumping, how to calculate size vs. number of bedrooms, looking for surface liquid evidence, etc.
In this photo is a ducted vent over a stove and it has light and fan speed controls. The switches worked fine. The light has a low and high setting. The fan was noisy at the high level but the vibration level was stable.
Reading up on barn inspection in the library section. A lot of hazards exist in barns and there are factors one needs to be aware of when inspecting them. If an inspector is asked to inspect a barn they should be read up on information that needs to be addressed in a barn because of the special circumstances that a barn poses. Some of them having to do with the housing of animals, storing of hay, waste removal, fire hazards etc, all which will set the stage for what needs to done to make it safe.
For my research exercise I reviewed the article " Barbecue Safety", by Nick Gromicko. This article covers three common outdoor grill types; their fuel systems and common risks and statistics. Nick covers all of the things we need to know to work safely around our barbecues. The focus here is on safety and common sense and is essential information for anyone because too many people don’t pay attention to what their doing when they BBQ.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 500 fires every year can be attributed to the malfunction and misuse of barbeques. Tanks should not be stored near the grill or any heat source. Only 2 20lb tanks are allowed on a property at the same time. The grill should be turned off when removing the tank. Tanks should not be transported in the trunk of a car. Rusty or damaged tanks should be replaced. All gas connections should be free of leaks.
The appliance inspected showed signs of age. Unable to check operation of disposal due to electric conductor cut and electricity disconnected from appliance. Appliance showed signs of rust on top and bottom of canister. Drain lines and bottom of cabinet showed signs of prior leak. No active leak detected at time of inspection. Rubber grommet in sink has missing flaps which will allow utensils and small hands to project into unit. Recommend further inspection by qualified electrician. Advise not to attempt usage until this is completed. Probable outcome will need to be replacement. This can be decided by qualified electricianHow to Inspect the Refrigerator
A refrigerators purpose is to create a cooled environment for food and drink storage. Cooling of food slows the growth of micro–organisms which can cause sickness and spoil food. Refrigerators come in four styles; traditional, side-by-side, bottom mounted and french door. All styles come with different features. A few are; automatic defrost, chilled water dispenser, ice maker and adjustable shelving. There are many more features depending on brand and/or style purchased. An inspector is not required to inspect refrigerators per InterNACHI’s Standards of Practice. If the inspector proceeds with inspection there are certain things to check. The inspector should document style, make, model, manufacturer and year manufactured. Some items to check during inspection are:
- Is unit operational
- Rust on interior and/or exterior
- Damaged or missing shelves
- Excessive ice formation
- Does interiorlight work
- Door operation
- Water leaks inside, behind or under unit
An inspector should check interior temperature. The refrigerator should be at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Inspectors should verify stability of unit from tipping over on children attempting to climb on or inside. Refrigerators can weigh between 200 and 450 pounds.
This is my essay on the Research Articles part of this section… I read the article on Ways To Save Energy in the Home… I found it very informative. I already practice the majority of the ways to save energy… Anything to improve efficiency in my home is welcomed
Assignment “Appliance Inspections”
In this photo we see a Whirlpool Side by Side refrigerator.
It is Model #ED22TEXWW99, 25 cu ft. Manufacturered in December 1999.
Both the cold and freezer side were performing well as expected.
The water and ice dispenser could not be tested as there was no water source available.
Assignment #Research Material "
I chose for my research the article “Inspectors as Expert Witnesses”
I found this material interesting and at the same time a bit unnerving. I think one would need to be very experienced to even consider being an expert witness.
For this essay I have a photo of my dishwasher. Interior inspection showed all components, racks, wheels, soap dispenser, etc… are completely functional and normal. This unit is just a couple of years old, and is operating to specification. I also have the appropriately installed drain hose under the sink, with drip loop. The drain hose terminates at the garbage disposal.
Built-in oven shows signs of neglect and mis-use. 2 stove burner elements were loose at connection within the stove top, possible electrocution hazard. 2 knobs stripped and would not activate burners. Oven door handle is loose. Oven is not properly secured within the cabinet due to missing screws. Broiler element only working sparatically. Suggest replacing unit.
Inspecting the dishwasher for function was not able to be performed. There was a dog in the dishwasher preventing the test. Recommend removing the animal before operating the appliance. 