Inspecting the
Home's Electrical
System
The home inspector is required to observe
service-entrance conductors, main distribution panels, grounding equipment, main
overcurrent devices, grounding receptacles (within six feet of interior plumbing), and
samplings of lighting fixtures, switches, and receptacles outside the house. He or she
must also describe the location of the main and its distribution and report any aluminum
branch circuitwiring.
The inspector is not required to insert tools or testing devices inside panels, test any
overcurrent devices except ground-fault circuit interrupters, or observe low-voltage
systems, smoke detectors, or telephone, security, or TV wiring.
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Insight into Heater Sizes |
Heater efficiency is
based on burner efficiency, transmission losses to the heat exchanger or boiler, and flue
losses.
Evaluating heating systems is all about matching the unit to your needs. A general rule
for the proper heater size is to allow approximately 50 BTUs for every square foot of
living space. This rule applies to average homes with standard heaters.
A small heater will work if it's more efficient or if the house has effective energy
improvements. For example, if you replace a typical heater that is 60-70% efficient with
one that is 90-95% efficient and add an outside air supply for combustion, you could buy a
heater sized at approximately 25 BTUs for every square foot of living space. Effective
energy improvements would allow you to reduce the size even more.
The very efficient heaters (rated at 90-95%) will cost about $1,000-1,400 more than a
standard unit but will pay for themselves within two to six years depending on the size of
the house. |
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| Old Cedar Roofs |
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An old cedar roof worries many a home buyer, |
especially if it appears to need
replacing. Old cedar roofs may not require immediate replacement.
Fortunately they're one of the easiest types of roofs to evaluate for approaching failure.
Observe the underside of the roof and look for white stains - that's where the leak is or
where it will first develop. Don't worry if you can see light through the cedar shingles,
just worry about white stains. |
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