Giving you the information you need to improve the safety, comfort and value of your living space. .
Superior Home Inspector Team
8 Jan 2014 | No Comments | posted by Lisa | in All-Technical, Basements, Electrical, Environmental, Heating, Plumbing, Roof, Ventilation
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
I have the pleasure of announcing that my company, Meticulous Inspections, has joined forces with Robert Kin of Superior Home Inspectors, to provide expanded services to our clients.
Robert has a B.A. from University of Toronto, is a graduate of the Carson Dunlop Home Inspection Program, and also trained in mold and IR inspection techniques. He has conducted hundreds of home inspections in the Toronto area, and is particularly talented at communicating to help clients feel comfortable and well educated during the home inspection process.
Together, Robert and I will be conducting home inspections under the banner of
This business synergy will provide our existing and future clients with increased services, expertise and availability.
Our combined expertise includes mold inspections, infra-red camera services, new home warranty inspections, condo inspections, home maintenance inspections, radon testing, and commercial inspections.
With two professional inspectors (more in the future), we can offer you more choice of appointment times, especially in the busy seasons.
Call us for your next home purchase or sale.
647-287-1962 Lisa
416-528-1443 Robert
If you know someone who is buying or selling a house or condo, or a home owner who needs to get a better understanding of their place, please tell them about us!
What are you Plugged into? GFCI and AFCI explained
31 Jul 2013 | No Comments | posted by Lisa | in All-Technical, Electrical
GFCI Receptacle
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are usually found on receptacles (aka plugs) in your walls near sinks and on exterior walls of newer houses.
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) are usually found in electrical panels on the breakers for bedroom receptacles of new houses.
AFCI breaker in panel
Sometimes a GFCI will be installed at the panel and sometimes an AFCI will be installed at the receptacle, but this is less common.
GFCI’s detect leaky current. If the current going out from the panel is not the same as what is coming back to the electrical panel; say it is being diverted elsewhere (shorting) through water, or your body, the device will shut the power off very quickly to protect you from shock.
AFCI’s detect arcing. Say there is some frayed wire and the current is still going through but making a spark across the gap. The device will trip off, protecting against electrical fires.
Years ago, these features didn’t exist, hence many houses do not have all the latest receptacles. The electrical code is frequently changing, and so the requirements for AFCI’s and GFCI’s have been evolving.
There are many ways to upgrade to GFCI and AFCI protected receptacles; consult a licensed electrician. The electrician can use my home inspection report as a reference to save time in finding what to fix or upgrade to make your home safer. This is where my home inspection report will save you money.
As a homeowner, test your GFCI and AFCI circuits monthly, and here’s how you do it:
1. PRESS the TEST button,
2. Check to see the receptacle has no power (ie plug in a nightlight)
3A. For receptacles with test buttons – PRESS the RESET button
3B . For AFCI breaker in panel – push the breaker all the way OFF first, then back ON.
4. Check to see the receptacle has power.
If it doesn’t respond correctly, the unit has failed and would not likely have protected you in case of a problem. Have it replaced by an electrician.
You can find certificed electricans at ESA’s website: http://applications.dmtispatial.com/esa/
LED lights take the load off!
25 Jun 2013 | No Comments | posted by Lisa | in Electrical
LED LIGHTS FOR HOMES
Globe style LED bulb
Many older houses haven’t had the electrical system updated in 30+ years, and have fewer circuits than newer homes. How can LED’s help you be safer with older wiring? Here’s what’s happening – We are now using more lighting fixtures than just the older floor and desk lamps, or 2-bulb ceiling fixtures from days gone by. Today’s families have a million things to plug in, and we love pot lights everywhere.
Older electrical systems have fewer circuits. A circuit includes all the things that are connected to one breaker or fuse. Some circuits may have only 1 or 2 items on them, like a dryer, or furnace, but others may have many more, like a whole series of plugs (aka receptacles) and lights. The average homeowner has no idea how many plugs and lights are connected to each breaker or fuse in the panel. (Your electrical panel directory can help – if it’s properly labelled).
With the addition of power bars which multiply how many things you can plug into one wall receptacle, it quickly adds up. If many things are turned on at once, the load is high. If the load is too high, the breaker or fuse may shut off, which means it’s doing it’s job. OR worse, FAIL to do it’s job and NOT shut off, in which case you have a very hot wire in your wall which can become a fire hazard.
LED Lights draw less power
You can reduce this load and heat by switching to LED bulbs. For instance the equivalent to a 60 Watt Incandescent bulb (the kind we’ve been using for decades), is a mere 7 Watt LED bulb. LED’s use only about 10 – 20% the amount of power that the incandescent draws and generate much less heat. The heat from an incandescent or halogen style bulb can get so hot that it will deteriorate materials around it, and be dangerous if installed improperly, especially in pot lights which are very enclosed with little air circulation to disperse the heat.
CFL bulb
Generally CFL bulbs have taken over from incandescent. While CFL’s save power (ie. a 15 Watt CFL bulb could replace a 60 Watt incandescent) , these bulbs have mercury in them, hence require careful handling and special disposal. CFL’s are also susceptible to temperature and humidity, and don’t like being installed upside down. CFL’s last about 8 times as long as incandescents, but LED’s last about 40x as long.
More advantages of LED’s
LED’s work cooler, last longer and use less power than CFL’s. While early selection was limited, now you can get them in many styles, including cool and warm colours of light, dimmable, spot lights and diffuse lights, and varieties to also replace halogen bulbs, such as you see in track lighting. The warm or cool colour varieties of the bulbs can significantly change the colour and feel of your room. Next time you are in the hardware store, take a look at the LED selection.
LED combined bulb
Are you moving into a different house?
When new owners move in, often their power usage patterns will be different. Circuits may see more demand than previously. If you switch to LED’s, your older, hard working wiring may breathe a sigh of relief.
FIND OUT WHAT NEEDS ATTENTION IN YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
With older wiring systems there are often a number of mostly smaller fixes that need to be done. This is where the value of a Meticulous home inspection report comes in; I find a bunch of electrical items in my home inspection, then I recommend the client call an electrician to address the list and have them look at the electrical panel while they are there. That’s one service call for electrician, then your home is much safer.
Call today to learn more about how Meticulous Inspections can help you take care of your place! 647-287-1962
