JW Home Inspections Blog

2011-11-16T13:22:00.001-08:00

Picture of an Anhinga bird I captured recently at Sea Pines Lakes, Hilton Head Island, SC. I edited in photoshop and added (among other things) texture finish and a drybrush effect. These birds are fun to watch drying their wings on branches around the lake. I get to work with an inexpensive camera so quality is not outstanding. My limited knowledge of Photoshop helps (I think). Hilton Head has such beauty.

Why your TV may be costing you unnecessary money

2011-11-13T12:01:00.001-08:00

Why yourTV may be costing you unnecessary money

By John M.Wickline

Click.The warm glow of your TV instantly appears with no waiting for warm up (unlikethe computer). This is a convenience we expect from our TV, and manufacturersand cable suppliers are happy to oblige us with the latest technology,including the instant on.

However,there is a hidden cost in operating the TV. The cost can be as much or morethan operating a new refrigerator and in some instances has proven to be evenmore expensive than some central cooling systems. So what exactly is the hiddenenergy goblin?

Well, thosesmall unassuming boxes that bring us so much entertainment value in the form ofdigital signals (cable boxes or top set boxes) and digital recordingcapabilities (DVR-Digital Video Recorder) are sitting there at yourentertainment center, quietly gobbling up energy and costing you money whileproviding entertainment, and costing money while you are not being entertained.Am I entertaining you yet? Currently inthe United States, this type equipment operates at close to full power when youare not watching television or recording a movie or show. The NRDC (Natural ResourcesDefense Council) partnered with Ecos (ecosconsulting.com) to research how muchenergy these devices actually use and the energy savings opportunities thatexist. Findings were staggering: in the year 2010, roughly 27 billion kilowatthours of electricity were used by set top boxes. This is equivalent to theyearly output of 9 average coal fired power plants (or the annual householdenergy consumption in the state of Maryland for one year). As I said, it isstaggering. The good news according to this study is that the potential toimprove the efficiency and reduce these operating costs is significant in theUnited States.

Europeanmanufacturers of such equipment have begun to address this problem in theirmost recent boxes. For example, Sky Broadcasting (European) offers “lightsleep” and “deep sleep” modes of operation in the set top boxes. The lightsleep mode utilizes 13 watts, with deep sleep (defaults to this mode at 11:00pm) only draws 1 watt of power. The on mode draws 23 watts. Initially service providers in the UnitedStates, (reacting to the US consumers desire to watch what they want, when theywant) offered promotions of installations with up to four DVRs in each home. Thelow energy systems in Europe generally reboot from deep sleep mode in one totwo minutes. However, the cost of electricity in Europe is often double whatrates are in the United States, which provides more incentive to conserveenergy. Hopefully we can wake up before our rates are as expensive.

As a homeinspector who is concerned about our environment and our energy consumption, Iam glad to help educate my customers and point out ways for them to safeenergy. If you have doubts about the energy usage on the top set boxes and DVRsin your home (or other appliances in your home), then I urge you to purchase asimple watt meter and do a little inspection work in your home. The watt meteris a device that plugs into a wall receptacle and has a plug for an applianceto plug into it, and records how many watts an appliance is using. You can thendetermine how much money is spent on the devices, once you plug in your ratefor power (check your electric bill or call your power company for currentrates). The watt meters also can be used for appliances and other devices thatuse electrical power in the home, and are inexpensive to own. You might besurprised to find out how much electricity some appliances are using.

The bottomline is that today’s set top boxes and DVRs operate at near full power whenconsumers are not watching TV or recording. Almost two thirds of the energy usein top set boxes occurs when viewers are not watching or recording content. The nation spends approximately 2 billiondollars each year to power these boxes when not in use. Fortunately the industry in the United Statesis moving towards multi-room solutions that are more efficient, enablingconsumers to schedule recordings once on a central DVR, and later view therecordings on any TV in the home. If the United States providers could providesimilar “power management” for the devices (as the Europeans have) and coupleit with the multi-room solutions, it would be a great start towards savingenergy. Numerous recommendations forchanging the products and usage were made by the study, as well as policychanges that could boost efficiency. For information regarding this study,please visit the following website: http://www.nrdc.org/energy/files/settopboxes.pdf

Who knows,you may be prompted to communicate with your local cable regulators and requestthey add efficiency requirements to their franchise agreements. Or you may justwant to turn your TV, set top box, and four DVRs off and go for a walk. Andthink about the money you are saving.

Thanks

John

John M. Wickline

JW Home Inspections, Inc.

843-681-7545

http://JWInspect.com

The Ultimate Recycle- Shipping Container Homes

2010-12-03T05:24:00.000-08:00

About two years ago, I read of a contest in California, to create the best design for a shopping cart for the homeless to use. It had to be used of a day as a cart to move around their belongings, and convert for sleeping in the cart at night (or whenever a homeless person would want to sleep). The contest went well, and numerous charities purchased carts made from the winning design.

While that was a great idea and a noble effort, on a larger scale, builders and designers have gone green in a very large way, creating the ultimate recycle. Homes, restaurants, offices, weekend cottages, tree-houses, schools and virtually everything else we find ourselves inhabiting, are being designed and constructed from large metal shipping containers, of all things. The idea of creating living spaces from shipping containers is not new, with builders and designers from all parts of the globe experimenting with them for at least 2 decades. The containers are environmentally friendly and sturdy. The cost of the containers has been minimal in comparison with other building materials, and construction being relatively simple and quick, with assembly being similar to playing with Lego toys (think modular).

And now for some inspiring images:

OK, so let's review what makes this such a fantastic concept:

1. Cost: much less than average home, thus making homes affordable for many

2. Durability (ability to stand up to extreme weather conditions)

3. Eco-friendly and Green (recycling at its' best)

4. Easily remodeled (modular units placed on top of one another or joined easily)

5. Quick Construction

6. Transportable

7. Easily relocated

With these benefits and more, it is no wonder so many of these Shipping Container Homes are being designed and built all across America and other regions of the globe.

I personally am inspired by the creativity and resourcefulness demonstrated by the builders and designers of these Shipping Container Homes. It is refreshing to see energy spent in creating simple, humble and adequate living spaces. There may be hope for us yet. With a small movement under way across America to live in smaller and more affordable housing, these appear to be a great alternative to so many large, overbuilt homes.

For more information on this topic, please visit the following websites:

http://zigloo.ca/vancouver-sun-zigloo-article/.

www.zigloo.ca

Photos courtesy of Zigloo.

John M. Wickline

JW Home Inspections, Inc.

http://JWInspect.com

Member of INTERNACHI

Attics Without Ventilation becoming more popular

2010-11-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

Unvented Roof Assemblies

by Nick Gromicko and Rob London

Unvented roof assemblies are becoming an increasingly common construction alternative to traditional vented roofs. They are designed without ventilation openings, and the attic is conditioned like the rest of the living space.

Unvented roofs operate by the principle that venting is not necessary to control moisture accumulation. The following conditions must be met in order for an unvented roofing assembly to function properly:

The building envelope must be tight, including having adequate vapor and air barriers installed, which is generally accomplished through the use of spray-foam insulation.
The building must be pressurized in order to counter the stack effect, which happens when hot, pressurized air in the upper part of the house tries to escape through holes in the building envelope.

Proponents argue that, when installed and implemented properly, unvented roofing assemblies offer the following advantages over vented attics:

enhanced comfort. Wind, temperature gradients and pressure differences in a vented attic create undesirable air movement between the living space and the attic. Also, unvented attics block volatile organic compounds and other moisture-related airborne particles from migrating to the living space from the attic;
protection against certain moisture-related problems. In vented attics in cold climates, warm air can leak from the living space and condense on the underside of the roof sheathing, while humid air can easily leak from the outdoors and condense on cold metal surfaces of ductwork and air-conditioning equipment typically located in the attic. Unvented attics do not experience such problems;
energy conservation. An unvented attic is conditioned space and won’t be subject to the extremes of temperature common to vented attics. Heat is thus less likely to escape into an unvented attic from HVAC equipment, and if it does, it will remain within the conditioned space. Insulation around ducts and HVAC equipment becomes less critical, and the equipment is not forced to work as hard to compensate for unwanted air or heat loss. It might be possible to downsize the HVAC system if enough energy is saved in this manner. Also, cold air blowing through the eave vents in a vented attic can degrade the thermal performance of attic insulation;
snow and ember barrier. Openings in the soffits, gables, mushroom and ridge vents easily allow snow intrusion, especially fine snowflakes, into the attic. The snow can accumulate and eventually melt, causing damage to building materials and encouraging the growth of mold. Airborne mold spores may pass through vented attics into the living space and harm susceptible individuals. Also, blowing embers from wildfires can pass through unscreened attic vents and light the house on fire. These blowing embers often fall far from the edge of the actual wildfire, which might not otherwise have reached the house; and
expanded use and design options. Because the temperature in unvented attics is more easily controlled, they can be furnished and incorporated into the living space or used as a conditioned storage space. Also, unvented roof assembles make complicated roof geometries more viable, as they are difficult to ventilate effectively.

While unvented attics are gaining acceptance, homeowners must realize their limitations, including:

codes. Many local building codes do not account for non-standard construction alternatives such as unvented attic assemblies. They were addressed in the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC), however, which states that they must have no vapor retarder installed between the attic and the home's living space, and there must be air-impermeable insulation installed between the rafters;
asphalt shingles may fail prematurely due to increased exposure to heat; and
ice dams are more likely to form at unvented attics in cold climates.

Inspectors and homeowners should understand that unvented roof assemblies are a controversial idea. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA), for instance, has argued that the IRC's acceptance in 2006 of this design should be repealed. ARMA representative Dave Roodvoets

has stated, “Even the best researchers have only a few years of data on unvented attics in humid climates." ARMA also contends that unvented roofs may make a building more susceptible to decay by trapping moisture inside. Proponents of the design have countered this contention by pointing out that in humid climates, most moisture comes from the exterior.

In summary, unvented roofs offer certain advantages if they are designed properly.

JW Home Inspections, Inc.

"When Experience Matters"

Bed Bugs

2010-11-15T18:54:00.000-08:00

Bed Bugs: Inspecting for the New "House Herpes"

by Nick Gromicko and Rob London

Bed bugs are small, flightless, rust-colored parasites that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Inspectors should learn the telltale signs of these pests and be capable of providing information to their clients.

Bed bugs were diminished to an historical footnote after their near-eradication in the 1950s, but they are re-emerging in a big way. At the EPA’s National Bed Bug Summit in 2009, researchers decided that the parasite’s revival is more appropriately termed a pandemic rather than an epidemic, noting its rapid spread across large regions and different continents. For those afflicted by the bug, humiliated and defeated by its persistence, many prefer to refer to the infestation as “house herpes.” The United States has seen a 50-fold increase in bed bug infestations over the last five years, according to the National Pest Management Association. An entomologist told MSNBC, “It’s like the return of the wooly mammoth,” as many of his peers had previously never seen a single bed bug in their careers. The outbreak has affected most parts of North America and Europe, especially in urban areas.
Researchers believe bed bugs have roused from a half-century of hibernation for two reasons: the termination of the use of the pesticide DDT; and a rise in international travel. DDT, a powerful synthetic pesticide, was used widely in agriculture until a public outcry concerning its safety lead to a US-ban of the chemical in 1972, followed by international bans. Unbeknownst to the environmentalists of the time, these laws would permit future outbreaks to grow unchecked, which is precisely what happened when travel increased from countries where bed bugs were never subjugated, such as India.
Hotbeds of international travel, such as New York City, have hosted the bulk of the carnage. The bugs hitch rides from country to country in suitcases, and creep into hotel rooms where other guests are then exposed and unknowingly spread the parasites to movie theatres, cabs, buses, hospitals, houses, and everywhere in between. In New York City, bed bug reports increased 800% from 2008 to 2009, a year in which the Department of Housing Preservation and Development received 13,152 bug infestation complaints.
The unpleasantness of a typical rodent or insect extermination is largely the fee charged by the exterminator. But with bed bugs, this fee is just one piece of a greater nightmare. Because bed bugs are adept at hiding almost anywhere, an alarming quantity of possessions, from curtains to books and picture frames, must be discarded or quarantined. In one posh New York City rental tower, a tenant was forced to part with carpets, bedding, curtains, 20 cashmere sweaters, an Armani suit, a couch, a headboard, a night table, a bedframe, and an exercise bike, according to the New York Daily News. Other victims have had to throw away their books unless they were willing to inspect each one, page by page. Some possessions may be salvaged if they are sealed in special casing long enough for the bed bugs to die, which can takes many months. During this time, residents may be forced to move to temporary housing elsewhere.
Fortunately, the health dangers posed by bed bugs seem to be limited to temporary skin irritation and inflammation, akin to mosquito bites. There are no known cases of disease transmission from bed bugs to humans, despite the fact that the parasites seem similar to other parasites that do transmit disease, such as fleas and ticks. Anaphylactic shock, however, may be experienced by a small percentage of the population, and measures should be taken to prevent bacterial infection of bitten areas.
Adult bed bugs are flat, apple-seed sized with rusty-colored, oval bodies. Newly hatched bed bugs are semi-transparent, light tan in color, and the size of a poppy seed. Yet, due to their elusive nature, their presence is usually discovered through peripheral clues rather than by seeing the bugs themselves. Some of these signs include fecal spots, blood smears, crushed bugs, or the itchy bumps that may result from bites. Bugs may be disturbed while feeding and leave a cluster of bumps, or they may bite in a row, marking the path of a blood vessel. The parasites emit a characteristic musty odor, although the smell is sometimes not present in even severe infestations. The bugs also emit a smell that is detectable by dogs, which has lead to the implementation of dogs in bed bug detection. Properly trained dogs can find bed bugs in wall voids, furniture gaps, and other places that humans may overlook and, in doing so, they focus on the area in which exterminators must spray.

It is best for bed bugs to be treated by pest management professionals (PMPs), not homeowners, as there is risk that an inexperienced person may spread the infestation further throughout the home. For instance, bug bombs will be ineffective and merely spread bed bugs. Even chemical sprays designed to kill bed bugs, if used by inexperienced homeowners, may make the infestation worse. PMPs can inspect for bed bugs in their immature stages of development, including their eggs, while homeowners cannot. In addition, prep work performed by a homeowner may make it difficult for the PMP to assess the extent of the infestation.

The following tactics may be useful, however, for temporary relief or confirmation of the presence of bed bugs:

Remove bed skirts, as they provide easy access for the bugs to travel from the floor to your bed. If you must have bed skirts, make sure they do not reach the floor.
Move your bed away from the wall. Bed bugs cannot fly, but they can climb walls in order to fall onto the bed.
Place furniture legs in tin cans coated with talcum powder, petroleum jelly or a non-evaporative liquid, to deter the bugs from climbing.
Place a strip of duct tape at the base of furniture with the sticky side out. This tactic can be used to confirm the presence of bed bugs because it will trap them in place.
Spray cracks and crevices with an insecticide designed to control bed bugs. Follow the label's directions carefully. However, do not treat bedding, towels or clothing with insecticide.

Homeowners can limit their chances of bed bug exposure by purchasing only new furniture, as stowaway bugs can hide in older or used chairs and mattresses. Hostels, hotels and motels host many travelers and are obvious breeding grounds for bed bugs, and many hostels ban sleeping bags for this reason. Unfortunately, person-to-person contact is difficult to avoid.

JW Home Inspections, Inc.

"When Experience Matters"

50 Ways To Green The Planet

2010-11-08T21:18:00.000-08:00

JW Home Inspections, Inc. presents
50 Ways to Green the Planet

HOME
If you can't afford a new home or a large remodeling
project, there are still plenty of things you can do to be
environmentally friendly and save money.

1. Update your lighting
Make it a policy to buy energy efficient compact
fluorescent light bulbs. You can now get a variety of
shapes and perfectly match the color hue and lighting for
each room. They look good and use at least two-thirds
less power than regular lighting.

2. Buy Energy Star
When you are ready to buy new home appliances, buy
smart. Check for the Energy Star rating. These more
efficient machines can reduce your utility bill as much as
30-percent. Deb Snoonian, Managing Editor of Plenty
Magazine said, "Energy Start is a program sponsored by
the EPA and the Department of Energy. Essentially, it's a
way for them to recognize the companies and the products
that are most energy-efficient. On average, an Energy
Start appliance -- whether it's a computer monitor, a
refrigerator, a washer or dryer -- is going to be about
30-percent more energy efficient."

3. Wall Warts
Those clunky power adaptors draw energy from the wall all
the time. Unplug them individually or attach them to a
power strip and turn off the whole switch when not in use.
Around 75-percent of all electricity in a home comes from
appliances that are turned off, but are still plugged in.
Make sure that you only have those appliances plugged in
where you're actually using the electricity. You will save on
bills and we as a society will save on energy.

4. Dormant Appliances
Practically every appliance uses electricity even when it's
switched off. Unless it needs power to retain programming
memory, hit the switch. Better yet, make it a family practice.
Amy Schachter, an Upper East Side resident, said, "My
family reminds each other constantly. That's partly money,
partly the fact that we know now that we're creating energy
usage that is totally unnecessary."

5. Energy Audit
You can find out how much energy your home uses each
year with an energy audit. Many utility providers and state
energy departments will audit your home free or at low cost
to help you find ways to be more energy efficient.

Read All 50

Night Light Safety

2010-11-08T19:21:00.001-08:00

Nightlights

by Nick Gromicko and Rob London

A nightlight is a small, low-powered electrical light source placed for comfort or convenience in indoor areas that become dark at night.

Facts and Figures

Before they were powered electrically, nightlights were usually long-burning candles placed in fireproof metal cups, known as tealights in some countries. (Tealights in the U.S. refer to very short and wide candles that can be purchased within or without an aluminum tin cup that are commonly used inside a decorative glass holder. They are also known as votive candles.)
There are roughly 90 million nightlights purchased each year in the United States. In 2001 alone, more than 600,000 of them were recalled by manufacturers for safety reasons.
Defective nightlights can cause fires, burns and electrocutions.

Uses
Nightlights are typically installed to create a sense of security and to alleviate fears of the dark, especially for children. They also illuminate the general layout of a room without causing the eyestrain created by a standard light, helping to prevent tripping down stairs or over objects. This is an important safety measure for older adults, for whom falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths, according to the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. Nightlights may also be used to mark an emergency exit.
Types
A wide variety of nightlights is available to homeowners; bulbs vary from incandescent to energy-efficient options, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), neon lamps, and electroluminescent bulbs. Some of these devices are equipped with a light-sensitive switch that activates the light only when it’s dark enough for them to be required, saving electricity and the effort needed to manually turn them on and off. Some designs also incorporate a rechargeable battery so they will continue to function during power outages.
Nightlights present the following hazards:

fire. Nightlights can become excessively hot, causing them to melt and pose a risk of fire if they come in contact with flammable materials, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC receives roughly 10 reports annually of fires that were caused when nightlights ignited toilet paper, pillows, bedspreads and other flammable materials. In many of these cases, the nightlight was installed so close to the bed that falling blankets or pillows made contact with the nightlight and started a fire. For this reason, nightlights should not be plugged in next to bed coverings, curtains, and other potentially flammable objects and materials. InterNACHI inspectors can also make sure nightlights are not covered with tape, cardboard or any other material that might cause them to overheat. Homeowners may consider using nightlights equipped with mini neon bulbs instead of higher-wattage bulbs;
poisoning. So-called “bubble" nightlights are special, decorative nightlights that contain a dangerous chemical called methylene chloride. If the vial breaks, the unit should be thrown away immediately and precautions should be taken to avoid skin contact with the leaking chemical; and
electric shock. Nightlights pose the risk of electric shock when used outdoors or in locations that may become wet, such near sinks or hot tubs, or in garages or covered patios. They should never be plugged into an extension cord, surge-protector strip, multiple-outlet strip, or other movable types of receptacles. Electric shock is also possible if the nightlight overheats and melts.

The following are a few of the many nightlight models that have been recalled due to electrical and fire hazards:

Molenaar™ brand, model numbers 2017 and 2019 that are shaped like a rectangle and a house, respectively, and include the etched engraving "71980 U.S.A": 315,000 units recalled;
Forever-Glo™: 35,000 units recalled;
LED Rocketship PalPODzzz™ Portable Nightlights: 26,000 units recalled; and
Energizer™ Light-on-Demand Wallplate Nightlights: 3,000 units recalled.

Additional Tips

Plug the nightlight into an exposed wall outlet where it will be well-ventilated.
Do not repair any nightlight yourself. Only replace the bulb.
Avoid installing nightlights in locations where they might be exposed to excessive sunlight, as UV rays will degrade the plastic.
Never let children handle nightlights. If you have small children, avoid purchasing or installing a nightlight decorated with cute or funny figures to which they may be attracted and that may be easy for them to reach.

In summary, nightlights are used for comfort and safety, although homeowners should take precautions when purchasing and using these devices.

Ten things you should know about Mold

2010-11-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

Ten Things You Should Know About Mold

1. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposure include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.

2. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

3. If mold is a problem in your home, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.

4. Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.

5. Reduce indoor humidity (to 30% to 60%) to decrease mold growth by:

a. venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside;

b. using air conditioners and dehumidifiers;

c. increasing ventilation; and

d. using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dish-washing, and cleaning.

6. Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.

7. Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials that are moldy (such as carpeting and ceiling tiles) may need to be replaced.

8. Prevent condensation. Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof and floors) by adding insulation.

9. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting.

10. Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, provided moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.

Hot Water Heater: Save Money and Be Safe

2010-11-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

Water heaters use a lot of energy and should have the thermostats set to 120 degrees. Not only will this save energy, but dramatically reduces the risk of scalding injuries. What many home owners fail to realize, is if it is set higher, you will be using a lot of cold water to bring the temperature down. Gas hot water heaters have their thermostat on the exterior and are easy to set, electric heaters are under cover and should be set by a professional.

Toxic Drywall from China

2010-11-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

It appears there is no shortage of defective products arriving on our shores from China. Recently, attorneys at Morgan & Morgan filed a class action complaint against the manufacturers / distributors of defective Chinese drywall that has allegedly caused electrical damages and health problems for Florida residents.
Shortages in American made drywall products (between 2004 and 2006) prompted some Florida building companies to import drywall from China. It is thought that the drywall was used in new home construction.
As much as 10 million square feet of this defective drywall may have been used in Florida new homes. The defective drywall supposedly emits sulfur compounds, leading to electrical damages and health problems (including respiratory problems, nose bleeds, headaches, and irritated eyes). The drywall emits a strong sulfur (rotten egg) odor.
More information on the Class Action Lawsuit
Thanks, and be careful what you hang on your walls. Be safe.
John M. Wickline
JW Home Inspections, Inc.

John is the president of JW Home Inspections, Inc., serving the Low Country of South Carolina, Hilton Head, Bluffton, Sun City, Beaufort, Hardeeville, Ridgeland, Callawassie, and Daufuskie Island since 1998. He is licensed in South Carolina and a certified member of InterNACHI.