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Thanks to Aaron Lore of Aaron's Home Inspections for bringing this to my attention!
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Garage door security
Ductless Heat Pumps - Seattle's Home Inspection Team
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They are easier to install then other types of heating. The hookup between the units is usually a single conduit requiring 1 3" hole. Since they have no ductwork there is no energy loss associated with central fan forced air systems (up to 30% alone). Overall efficiencies increases of up to 50% in the best case, making the payback faster. You may be eligible for big discounts from Federal Tax credit, (expires Dec 31, 2010 - 30%), Washington State rebate program and Utility incentive program (for another $1500) bringing the price down by nearly 2/3rds and saving energy every day! |
Getting Your Home Ready For Winter
With winter on its way a few routine steps will help keep you safe, comfortable and save you money.
Take care of safety Items first
Check your smoke detectors. If you have an attached garage, live in multi-family, or have gas, oil or wood burning appliances, you must have a carbon monoxide detector!!
All homes should have them, since there is no way to tell if you have a problem with CO. Most people never know they have a problem
until someone is make sick or they are killed.
Take any warning from a carbon monoxide detector very seriously, and call the fire department.
Check your Heat
If you have an oil furnace, have it checked annually. A very small adjustment can make a huge difference in your heating bill, not to mention reducing the pollution from poorly adjusted burners.
Gas furnaces should be checked regularly too. Our recommendations is to have the 1st service at 5 years, again at 10, then every year
thereafter for a mid efficiency furnace. (80% with metal exhaust flues)
Some high efficiency models have shorter live spans (closer to 10 years) so they
need annual checks by 7 years (90% plastic exhaust condensing furnaces) Be sure to keep up on changing your furnace filters. If you have a electric fan forced wall unit (like a
Cadet or a King) be sure to properly clean them. We have a copy of the instructions here.
Chimneys, If you heat with wood, have your flue swept and checked every year. Examine wood stoves for cracked or missing fire bricks, poor door seals, and loose or damaged flue pipes.
Prepare
the exterior
Clean gutters and check the downspouts assuring that they discharge away from the building, the further the better.
All non frost free hose bibs should be insulated to protect them from freezing. Be sure to disconnect hoses! A hose will cause a frost free hose bib to freeze when the water in the hose freezes.
Look at all trees, and other plants. They should be trimmed back so they cant touch the home. Any contact is a natural path for insects, rodents, and can contribute to structural pests.
Walk around your home and look at the bottom row of siding. Ideally there should be 6 inches of concrete below the bottom row of siding. If soil or bark is piled too high there is a much greater chance of problems with termites ants or beetles damaging the home.
Look at every window and door. Check weather stripping, repair as necessary. Look at every threshold and door sweep, if there are gaps, you will be loosing heat. Caulk all gaps in siding, trim, utility holes, etc.
If it is safe to do so, remove any leaves and other debris from the roof. Use great care to not remove the granules on a asphalt roof. (DO NOT PRESSURE WASH) Ideally on a dry day, carefully use a leaf blower, debris in valleys and behind chimney's can cause water to back up and cause leaks.
Earthquakes Survival Tips - From The Seattle Home Inspection Team
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Our Home Page - Articles and Advice - Our Reports - Testimonials - Our Company - Services Earthquakes are a part of life. You should be prepared, history tells us it will certainly happen again.Utility Shut Offs -
The main shutoff for most homes is sometimes hard to find. Since these valves are rarely used they will often leak when you turn them off. For these reasons, we recommend that you locate your main shutoff at your water meter. This valve is usually under a cover near the sidewalk or at the edge of the road. Open this cover and look for the valve, you will need a tool to turn this off. There are a couple types of valves, so it is important to look at yours and make sure you have the proper tool to turn off the water. Most of then can be turned with an adjustable wrench, similar to the valve on a gas line. Others may require a special tool available at your local hardware store. If you are on a well, familiarize yourself with the equipment in your pump house so you know how to turn off the pump and water valves. Natural Gas - If you ever smell a strong odor of gas (rotten egg smell) shut off the gas immediately, turn off the electricity (this can prevent explosions or fire) and open all the doors and windows. Call 911 for the fire department and the gas company to locate and isolate the gas leak.
If your home has a fuse box there will sometimes be a shut off above or beside the box. If there is no shut off, then unscrew each fuse and lay them out in the same pattern as they were in the box. This is so
Hot Water Heaters - Structural Concerns Anchor bolts -
Another option is to have seismic anchors attached to the sill plates and bolted into the foundation. This type of retrofit can not only strengthen the home, but may make you eligible for a reduction in homeowners earthquake insurance rates.
Pony Walls -
Most homes only have diagonal wood bracing, and this is often not strong enough to resist collapse. Shear walls have plywood nailed to them as in the diagram below.
Post to Beam Connections, Joist Hangers
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More Information and Videos - These videos by Mark Benthien-Director of Communication, Education, and Outreach, Southern California Earthquake Center have some great tips on earthquake preparedness and survival . Also see videos on: Surviving an Earthquake and Earthquake Kits
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I had a fellow home inspector share 

These units are a good alternative for homes with electric heating sources. They have 2 components, and interior air handling unit(s) and a outdoor compressor. Conduit connects the 2 parts with electrical power and refrigerant lines. Since the interior units are controlled separately, there is zonal control so you can save energy by controlling each zone. You only heat or cool the areas you need to. 
Everyone should know where and how to turn off all utilities to your home. We will often see these shutoff locations inaccessible. Never block a gas meter shutoff valve, water shutoff or breaker panel! In an emergency you must be able to shut these off or risk fire, explosion, electrocution, serious water damage or even death.
Electricity -
you can replace each fuse in the proper location and not mix up the amperages of the circuits. Most older homes also have 2 or more pull out fuse holders, so remove these also.


