They do not go bad in a few months. I get several years of service before the low battery chirp. I would say changing the batteries at the time change is a handy reminder vs trying to remember to change them on a certain date every year or two.
Some of these comments are real winners.
It doesn’t help newbies to home buying and home maintenance that their hired home inspector lights a match and yells fire.
Safety is relevant. How comfortable is one? I’m comfortable not wanting AFCI or GFCI. End of story, move on.
I mean, should I wear a helmet while I walk in case I trip on my shoe laces?
You don’t get to pick and choose which codes to follow. Would you advise a client to ignore the enhanced safety that could be provided?
I guess whether you wear a helmet depends on how clumsy you are and how much you value your brain.
The code of today is not relevant to half the homes I inspect. Are you going to tell someone to install GFCI protection at the kitchen sink on a split receptacle? That is going to cost a small fortune to do.
As for AFCI I have personally seen TV’s and light switches trip the breaker. The small are they create can trip it. Therefore on older homes I do not recommend them.
I recommend it as a safety upgrade.
The split circuit is no big deal.
Home Inspectors are not “code inspectors.”
I never said I was a home inspector. I just enjoy reading literature, and found this website that had me potentially interested in topics of debate.
Here’s another scenario for a newbie;
Home inspector identifies “open ground” 3 pronger. Buyer wants it fixed.
2 wire system on 3 prong plug.
The “fix”? Find a bunch of old 2 prong receptacles, rewire the entire home for 3 wire, or put in GFCI breakers.
The latter regardless if its even " code" will be a huge annoyance to the buyer.
Reality: “open ground” 3 pronged is no more “unsafe” than a 2 wire system (no ground) is, except its a '‘defect’ because there is no ground on the 3 prong receptacle.
Its just easier than using those 2 inch long adapters.
Again, all relative to ones comfort level. On comfortable.
I don’t know what they sell for in Canada, but a 2 pole GFI breaker here is around $100. Hardly a small fortune IMO. Heck, two GFI receptacles would be $30.
If the arc is tripping the AFCI I don’t think I would call it small considering the typical trip level built into the breaker. I guess some would rather the problem to continue vs fixing the problem and avoiding a fire down the road.
http://www.utexas.edu/safety/fire/safety/historic_fires.html
http://bsj.iccsafe.org/2010Dec/features/nyc_code_history.html
Codes are interesting, there is always a resistance to change and requirements, but the proof that they are important for society is pretty evident. Consider Los Angeles and all the anti seismic codes that have been imposed. Here we have a 7.0 earthquake and the death toll reaches the hundreds if that. In some third world countries or any area that don’t have similar code or building practices, the death toll for a small 5.0 is staggering in comparison.
No one is arguing that codes and safety devices are not appropriate for public spaces and multiple dwelling units.
Nice try but a different topic entirely.
This is about mandating these devices for residential single family occupancy.
Not the same thing.
Is that a professional opinion or a personal opinion…as to the unsafe component of the question.
FYI- The search feature on this website will result in a lot of these topics already discussed and answered.
My New Years Resolution…I am not going back and rehashing items that have already been hashed…with nearly 9,000 posts it has been discussed more than once…just sayin.
Its obviously my personal opinion, which you already knew before quoting my reply.
Yes, I realize the same topics have been discussed many, many times. Its how Internet message boards usually go.
If you don’t want to read the same thing over and over, uh… Don’t read it.
Considering the debate which is both normal and good, in cases like this I believe it is best to lead the client to his options and let him or her educate themselves on the topic.
AFCIs are relatively new and there are still as many pros to them as cons.
Ok I wont…;)…and it has been discussed many times on THIS message board…I don’t care about other message boards.
And don’t worry I again wont read them again…)
We need a sticky thread with “The Best of Paul threads”. Frequently asked questions with a link to some thread on the subject so it wont have to be rehashed or too hard to search for or through. 
lol…Nah…some of my responses are less than popular:twisted:
I have always recommended that homebuyers consider upgrading to GFCI protection in appropriate locations. With AFCI protection now being required in so many locations, yes I now provide information on AFCI protection and recommend upgrades. It is just another homeowner/safety concern to educate them about. Besides with so many people getting older just think how many oxygen bottles are in use, and what an arc fault might do (kidding).
John M. Wickline
JW Home Inspections, Inc.
Hilton Head, SC
JWInspect.com
These last few years the insurance companies , as well as inspectors are condemning K&T wiring in older homes.
People are facing huge rewire costs, or go without homeowners insurance, or in many cases a mortgage.
So my Q is, why can’t i just install afci’s throughout? Cheaper fix right?
By the manufacturers ,UL, CSPC , CMP-2 claims , one should be protected no matter what vintage wiring one has
~S~