reading /writing assignment #1chimneys
This discussion will discuss the importance of carbon monoxide poisoning and what be done to protect our families. High concentrations can kill within 5 minutes. Since the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning are so subtle, it is important to take measures to recognize the onset and to make sure it doesn’t happen. Furnaces, fireplaces and space heaters are just some of the sources of CO emissions. It is important to make sure CO detectors are placed around the home and are in good working order.
reading /writing assignment # 2 Chimneys
Chimneys are among the heaviest components of a home. The complete inspection of the interior and exterior of a chimney should be completed thoroughly to insure safety. Items that should be inspected are the mortar between the joints. The footings any and all brick or stone work. Look for splitting, cracking, loose bricks and joints. If any of these are found. Recommend an inspection be a licensed contractor specializing in chimney or stone repair.
Chimney inspection assignment.
I inspected my chimney and started with the Hearth. Hearth was up to compliance 20" (16" min). Proceeded to the chamber and noticed the wall of pre-fab fireplace where meets with gas line is not properly sealed. the hamper lever works fine and the flue looks in mint conditions. lastly i was looking for the gas shutoff valve and to my dismay finally found it enclosed in a shelf.
So i would recommend my self fix ASAP :mrgreen:
I inspected a ventless fireplace. Ventless fireplaces are outlawed in some states, Canada and by HUD. They are legal in the area where this picture was taken. There was no evidence of a gas leak with this unit. There was also no evidence of clogged burner ports or condensation. This fireplace would pass inspection.
I read the articles titled: Chimney Inspection:Preventing Collapse and Fireplace Fuel. Inspecting for signs of damaged chimneys is especially important in areas of high seismic activity or an area that recently had an earthquake. I need to check the mortar, make sure the chimney isn’t leaning and make sure the footing is large enough for the chimney. Many fires are caused by inappropriate fuel being used in fireplaces. One of the biggest problems is using wet or uncured wood. This leads the build up of creosote which can cause a fire in the chimney.
There is no cleanout installed on the chimney. A cleanout for a masonry chimney should be made of non-combustible material. The cleanout opening for a masonry chimney must be located within 6 inches of the base of the flue. The upper edge of the cleanout should be at least 6 inches below the lowest inlet opening. And the cleanout opening should be at least 6 inches in height. Recommend installing a cleanout by a qualified contractor.
“Fireplace Fuel”
This article goes into detail what is acceptable and not acceptable “fuel” for a residential fireplace. Some of the standard forms of fuel are dried firewood and fallen tree limbs. For someone like me who doesn’t know any better, non typical fuels consist of wood collected from housing developments and pallets without the initials MB on them.
Some fuels to avoid are pressure treated wood, wet, moldy, or painted wood, allergenic plants, particle board, driftwood, trash or dryer lint. Stick to the approved fuels for a less harmful, more efficient fucntioning fireplace.
I just took a picture of a fire chamber in a wood burning fireplace. Looking at the firebrick, it shows evidence of missing mortar. This could become a problem if this continues. I would recommend the home owner to have a Masonry contractor look at it to be repaired. The damper worked and the flue was clear. It might just be cosmetic, but it may turn into more if left as is.
Just read an article on fire extinguishers, what type should we use and how to inspect them. Thinking of a home owner and what type of extinguisher they might want to have. I would suggest they use an all-purpose. ABC fire extinguisher because it can put out small house fires that someone might have. This type of extinguisher would work on combustibles, chemicals and electricals. The only downfall might be the cleanup afterword. They might consider purchasing a sodium bicarbonate, which would work on chemicals and electrical. This type of extinguisher is easier to clean up and works well in the kitchen and garage areas. Whatever type you use it is good to have them around just in case.
The photo depicted a chimney. The cap cracked and the caulking between chimney liner and cap were missing or deteriorated. Rain water may come into the chimney. It should be replaced. The unused liner were broken and maybe better cut flush with the chimney cap and block it.
The two articles I read were:
Central Vacuum Systems
Efflorescence for Inspectors
Central vacuum systems are not included in standard home inspections. But as they get more popular some clients may require to get them inspected.
Efflorescence is usually a mere a cosmetic issue, but chronic moisture intrusion may also weaken structural components.
I inspected a chimney at an open house and noted that the gas valve handle was missing. The fireplace screen was not bolted or attached and could pose a danger to young children if it should fall over when in operation. I also checked the flue dampener and it seemed to be operational. The outside chimney stack was good however I noted it was missing the spark arrestor and one should be installed prior to sale.
Upon my inspection, I checked the hearth extension fromthe fireplace and it was at the required distance. The flue was fully functional from thefireplace room as required. I also notedthat there were no flaws in the firebox.
Upon my inspection, I checked the hearth extension fromthe fireplace and it was at the required distance. The flue was fully functional from thefireplace room as required. I also notedthat there were no flaws in the firebox.
This is an image of a fireplace insert. The hearth extension extends 20" out from the front and 18" on both side making this an adequate extension. I observed no safety issues with the installation of the unit at the time of inspection. There is smoke residue on the face of the fire place. I was informed by the owner that it was from before the insert was installed, and what looks like efflorescence is residue from some type of cleaner that was used in an attempt to clean it with. There are combustible items near the unit and recommended that they be aware of keeping such combustible items at a safe distance from sparks, ambers and open flames. With the heating season over the owners only recently started hanging and placing things closer to the unit. I took a look inside and everything look clean and in good working order.
This is a gas fired decorative appliance. It is fueled by natural gas with a wall switch control. This fireplace can not burn solid fuels such as wood, paper, trash, or wood pellets. There is no cleanout for ash. The gas shutoff valve is accessible. The glass doors are a fixed panel and are is a sound condition. There is no operable flue. This is by design and is within standards. The chimney is a direct wall vent to the exterior. Thru wall clearance to combustibles’ is per manufactures installation instructions. Soot buildup on interior of the glass panel indicates incomplete combustion typically caused by a inadequate supply of combustion air. Further evaluation by a fireplace tech is advised.
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This chimney for a pellet stove is in need of further evaluation by a certified chimney sweep. During our inspection we noted a badly cracked terra cotta flue liner, cracks to the mortar on the crown, and also, vertical cracks in four consecutive courses of concrete chimney block. Don’t know if this was caused by a chimney fire or moisture. Also do not know how bad the cracks are further down the flue liner in the chimney. The chimney itself when applied pressure to had flexibility and was not rigid. Told client to have it further evaluated by a certified chimney sweep.
For our first article I read was about “Backdrafting.” It was a good refresher article. It reminded us of the different things to keep in mind on what to look for when inspecting the different fuel-fired appliances.
The second article, “Backflow Prevention” is an interesting article. I know what check valves are and how they work. I didn’t understand everything in this article, so will need to do more homework on vacuum breaks!
The picture I up loaded is a gas log burning fireplace. There is two issues with this unit, first the sides of the mantel are only 6 inches from the opening of the fire place. Second there is no hearth, the wood floor connects to bottom of the unit. The homeowner told me had done this since he never planed on using the fireplace.
The article I read for this assignment was “Ant Inspection”, by Nick Gromicko. This was a good article to help deal with ant infestations in the house, there was good information on how to locate where the ants are entering the house, and how to handle them. I will be using some of these practices dealing with my own ant problem.**
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