Tag: fire

House Issues that are Hidden

Looking at older homes to buy? There could be many issues that the seller is not aware of and some that the owner hides. While legal action can be taken after the fact, it’s inconvenient and can be expensive. A few examples of what you should look for that are easily concealed are:

Pests: They can end up causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. Pests are experts in hiding and often are infested in parts of the home that are out of the way or not in view like attics and crawl spaces. Although spotting pests–from wildlife and bats to termites, rodents, and other creepy crawlies–may be difficult, warning signs are often in plain sight. They often leave signs like small holes in the drywall, dry mud tubes along the foundation, small piles of shredded paper, sagging floors, peeling paint, or even floorboards that sound hollow. Look for droppings, odd smells, pest control products, and holes. Damaged plants outside can also signify pest breeding.

A qualified home inspector is your best option for finding any potential hidden problems with pests. Infestations never go away on their own and will decrease the home’s overall value.

Mold and Mildew:  A huge challenge that brings health risks, potential damage to the home, and a huge question like, “Do I walk away from a house with mold?” Easy to hide with bleach spray or paint and one of the biggest warning signs of dampness issues. In many states, it is a requirement for sellers to disclose any known defects of the home to the buyers in paperwork. Including the history of mold and whether or not it has been professionally handled. Another good reason to have an experienced Realtor as he/she will be able to guide you around your state’s requirements as well as the ability to recognize potential mold/mildew problems.

Aluminum Wiring: A lot of this wiring is hidden behind walls and insulation. Many sellers are not even aware of what electrical hardware is installed in their homes. Common in homes built between 1965 and 1973, aluminum wiring is more likely to cause a fire than copper wiring. If the seller doesn’t know, it won’t be listed on the disclosures. This is when a home inspection is most important. But, if you are not even at the home inspection point, you can safely look at the electrical panel and see the cables that run into the attic and basement have an AL, ALUM, or ALUMINUM on the cable jacket.

When an inspector finds this type of wiring, they are duty-bound to report it and recommend further evaluation by a qualified electrician. Sometimes, this can lead to significant decisions, like removing the aluminum wiring or employing approved repair methods.

Leaks: Sellers can temporarily plug the leak to show the home. When you are looking at the home, be on the lookout for significant cracks in the foundation, moldy odors, or any water damage on the ceilings, walls, or windows that may have fresh paint hiding the flaw. Lift rugs and move potted plants to see if they are covering water issues. Can you spot new tiling randomly placed in the bathroom and kitchen? Open the windows and the doors and see if there are any separations or soft spots that may indicate window leaks. A small separation could lead to humidity in your house, which may lead to mold. 

Some realtors advise buyers to use a general contractor to check the home as they are quick to see things that will cause problems. The seller must disclose any water damage and it can be scary to rely on them to give you the full and accurate information to decide to buy their home and how much to pay for it.

Foundation Problems: It’s a big scary red flag as a buyer to have to deal with foundation issues. Just hearing the words turns people away. While walking through the home try to notice any window or door frame gaps or cracks in the wall that might be from a faulty or unstable foundation. Sellers will try to hide the cracks or separation with more caulking and paint. Look to see if the paint is a bit uneven around windows and doors. Foundation issues can cause doors and cabinets to not shut properly and can cause beams to stress and break – don’t be afraid to open and close cabinets.

The Bottom Line:  One of the worst feelings as a new homeowner is the fear that you’ve bought a home with problems that were not disclosed. Even if you, a general contractor or an inspector have found these and other problems but still want the home, a great realtor will do some good negotiating for you to have the sellers pay for the repairs.

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Most House Fires Are Preventable

There have been many home fires on the news lately where entire families are hurt or killed. The tragedy is most fires are preventable. Actually, 95% of home fires are preventable and almost always caused by user error.

One of the first steps to fire prevention is ensuring that you have the correct number of smoke alarms in your home. You should have a smoke alarm on every level of your home and in every living space, basement included. Your smoke alarms should then be checked monthly and batteries replaced two times a year. Additionally, fire extinguishers should be located on every floor of the home, in a place that is readily accessible in the event of a fire.

A home fire escape plan is essential because when a fire breaks out, every second counts. A fire can turn life-threatening in 30 seconds. And the majority of fires break out late at night or early in the morning when everyone is asleep, so your family needs to know what to do before an emergency happens. Create multiple escape plans and practice them. Your plans should include escape routes from different areas of the house, tools for exiting the building (escape ladders, items to open, break out windows), and a designated meeting place. It’s very important to practice fire safety with your kids, so be sure to familiarize your children with the sounds of the alarms.

Faulty electrical outlets and outdated appliances cause most electrical fires. If your electrical outlets are old, have them replaced by a master electrician. Tips to help identify issues:

  1. Warmth or Heat. Use your hands to feel the outlet. If you detect any warmth or notice signs of scorching or melting on the plastic, replace it immediately.
  2. Smoke. Smoke from any electrical outlet is an indicator it’s a significant fire danger.
  3. Loose Connections. If any outlets are loose in the wall or they no longer hold a plug tightly (the plug falls out when plugged in), replace the outlet.
  4. Sounds. If you hear buzzing or popping sounds coming from an electrical outlet, turn off the power to that part of your home and immediately call a licensed electrician.
  5. Frayed Wires. Take off your electrical outlets’ plastic covers and examine the wiring. Wires can crack or fray from age, heat, or bending. Nails or screws can also pinch them. If you see any damage to the outlet’s wires, call an electrician.

Gas appliances should be maintained. Check your water heater, gas stove, furnace and dryer once a year to make sure all the appliances’ connections to gas lines are in working order, and that the gas lines themselves are in good condition. Many homes use natural gas for cooking, heating water, and powering the furnace. A leak in the natural gas lines or fittings could result in an explosion. Natural gas has no odor of its own, so they add an odorant that smells of rotten eggs for safety.

If you smell natural gas, get your family out of your home immediately and call 911. Never call for help while still inside the home. The sparks generated from the phone could cause an explosion.

2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Dryer lint that accumulates in your dryer’s removable filter is flammable. If the lint isn’t removed on a regular basis, it can cause a fire. Also, check for and remove lint buildup around the dryer’s exhaust hose at least once a year.

Cooking fires are a huge cause of home fires as well as home fire injuries. The majority of cooking equipment fires start with the ignition of common household items (i.e., wall coverings, paper or plastic bags, curtains, etc.).

  1. Stay in the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. If you have to leave the room—even for just a moment—turn off the stove.
  2. Keep anything that can catch fire, such as food packaging, oven mitts and towels, away from your stovetop.
  3. Make sure you have the correct type of extinguisher and know how to properly use it.
  4. Crumbs in a toaster, built-up grease on the stovetop, and excess dust behind your appliances are fire hazards.
  5. Let grease cool before disposing of it in the garbage. Never pour grease or oil down the drain

Each year, candle fires account for hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage and hundreds of unnecessary injuries and deaths.

  1. Never leave candles unattended.
  2. Don’t use candles in the bedroom, or anywhere else where you may fall asleep.
  3. Don’t use candles when there are small children or pets around.
  4. Keep candle wicks trimmed to about a quarter of an inch.
  5. Use sturdy candle holders that won’t tip over, and don’t let the candle burn right to the end.
  6. Be very careful if carrying a burning candle. Hold it away from your clothes or anything else flammable.
  7. Make sure the candle is not too close to a window, where curtains can blow near the flame.
  8. Use battery operated tea lights. They look just as good, but aren’t dangerous.

Fires are fast! Protect your house and your family from a fire at all costs. Implementing these fire safety practices around the house is just a start, but protecting your home doesn’t stop here.  Learn how to avoid fires and conduct preventive maintenance the proper way. The first and most important thing you can do is make sure everyone in the household is educated on fire safety measures, including children.

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