Before using your fireplace this year there are a few things you should do in order to ensure it is safe to do so. We will start at the top and work our way through the fireplace system.  Step one. Check The Storm Cap and Spark Arrester. Warning, if you are afraid of heights or uncomfortable climbing a ladder this process should be performed by a professional. Check the storm cap and make sure it is not rusted or become loose. If it has become rusted or paint has peeled, now is the time to apply a fresh coat of paint. The screen material should be unobstructed and free of debris. Storm Caps And Spark Arrester's Are Recommended to Help Prevent Deterioration of the Flue Liner and Damper Door!  If you have a storm cap installed already remove it and make a visual inspection down the chimney flue only If it's safe to do so. If you're chimney rises too high above the roof line this process should be left to a professional. Assuming now that you have removed the storm cap and have a clear view down the chimney look for signs of cracks in the liner. While some small hairline cracks are considered normal. They should be monitored and evaluated yearly for signs of growth or connecting cracks that may lead to chunks of the liner falling down on to the smoke shelf or obstructing the damper door. Soot and creosote buildup inside the chimney are also maintenance items that need to be taken care of on a regular basis. Consult a professional chimney sweep if you're flue liner shows signs of buildup. The picture above is taken of a chimney flue on a home that is approximately 40 years old. This chimney flue was in good to excellent condition considering its age..  Evaluating the damper is the next step. The damper door should open and close freely with little effort. At times lubrication and exercising of the damper door is needed to ensure its functionality and to prolong its serviceable life. The damper door should not have any areas that have rusted through and should open fully. The damper door should be in the full open position when in use and fully closed when not in use. If the damper door does not open all the way, this may be an indicator of a blockage or obstruction behind the hinge point. Further evaluation by professional would be needed to determine the obstruction. The fireplace should not be used in this condition.  The firebox is the next to be evaluated. Although cracks in the firebox are common they can create a breach in the fire containment envelope and should be evaluated by a professional. The firebrick should be firmly mortared in place. Bricks should be solid and not crumbling or deteriorating. There should be no missing grout or mortar around bricks. Mortar should be set firmly in the corners as well as where it meets the floor. If you find damaged brick or missing mortar, the fireplace should not be put into use until repairs have been made.  The ash pit and ash pit door are the next to be evaluated. Some fireplaces are equipped with an ash pit, where expired charcoal and ash can be swept down into the ash pit and scooped out from an exterior location. If the ash pit door in the firebox is loose or deteriorated it should be replaced by professional. If the ash pit is not to be used it should be bricked up and not used at all. The ash pit should be cleaned based on use. The exterior clean-out door should be secured to the chimney structure. It should open and close freely. The door should not be obstructed by soil or vegetation. If the door has deteriorated or has become loose to the chimney structure consult a professional for repairs or replacement.  Inspecting the log lighter and log grate. The log lighter should be inspected annually. If there are any signs of rust, deterioration or degradation of the gas log lighter pipe it should be replaced. It's recommended that log lighter's be replaced every five years or as needed depending on use. Even with gas only fireplaces the damper door must be in the open position when in use. Log grates should not be deteriorated or distorted by heat. Log grates should be elevated a minimum of 2 to 3 inches above the firebox floor and 1 inch above log lighters. Log grates should be replaced as needed. At David home inspection services. We understand that there is no substitute for hiring a professional inspector before putting your fireplace into service. This should not be used as a tutorial on how to inspect a fireplace or chimney. While there are many more components to a fireplace, we have provided you with a good starting point to evaluate your chimney and fireplace before putting into service this winter. David Salvato Certified Master Inspector. David Home Inspection Services, California 2 Comments Are All Solid Core Doors Fire Doors? 07/10/2011
SOLID-WOOD DOOR between Dwelling and the Attached Garage Section 302.4 of the 1998 CBC provides an exception to the one-hour separation requirement between Group R, Divisions 2.1, 2.2, 2.2.1 and 3 and Group U occupancies as follows: The separation may be limited to the installation of materials approved for one-hour fire-resistive construction on the garage side and a self-closing, tightfitting solid-wood door 13/8 inches in thickness, or a self-closing, tightfitting door having a fire-protection rating of not less than 20 minutes when tested in accordance with Part II of UBC Standard 7-2… The following frequently asked questions and answers are provided as a reference only Frequent Asked Questions Q1: Is a “solid-wood door” the same as a “solid-core wood door”? A1: No, the two are different. “Solid wood” means wood material from face to face throughout, as opposed to wood veneer or laminated multi-ply wood veneers. A “solid-wood door” is a door that is made of solid wood. A “solid-core wood door”, on the other hand, is a composite door with wood veneers on both faces and a variety of infill in between. Q2: Does a solid-wood door have to be made of a single-piece lumber to meet the requirement in Section 302.4? A2: That is no longer the case. The UBC prior to the 1949 edition required a “solid slab wood door”, which means a single-piece solid wood construction. The subtle change from “solid slab wood door” to simply “solid-wood door” allows the door to be made of multi-strip solid wood, and thereby cut down its cost considerably. Q3: Can a 13/4-inch solid-core wood door substitute for a 13/8-inch solid-wood door? A3: As the lumber cost continues to rise, solid-wood doors are expensive and not readily available. That is why the 1991 edition of the UBC expanded the exception to allow other types of doors as alternatives to the expensive solid-wood doors. Those alternatives, however, must be rated 20 minutes or more when tested per Part II of UBC Standard 7-2. The most economical and widely used alternative is the solid-core wood door. Though the thickness of the door is not an issue, a fire-rated solid-core door typically comes 13/4 ” or 21/4 “ thick. The fire rating of a solid-core wood door ranges widely, depending largely on its core materials. Price difference between a 20-minute rated and a non-rated 13/4 -inch particle-core door is about 10%, or 5 to 6 dollars. The code only accepts the rated one as an alternative. Q4: Is the “S” rating required for the 20-minute label? A4: Yes. Part II of UBC Standard 7-2 is a test standard for smoke- and draft-control. Doors that pass the test will bear a label showing the fire rating followed by the letter “S”. A fire-door label without the letter S means that the door passed the fire-endurance test per Part I of UBC Standard 7-2, but either was not tested for smoke leakage control per Part II of the standard, or failed to pass the test. Q5: How can an inspector tell whether a door is a solid-core door or a solid-wood door if it has been painted? A5: First and the easiest, you can tell the difference by knocking on it. The uneven density of materials in a composite door tends to deaden the sound when you knock on the door. A solid-wood door sounds distinctively louder, clearer, more resonant and with a higher pitch. Secondly, a particle-core door, which is the most readily available solid-core door, is much heavier than a solid-wood door. And thirdly, as a common practice in the industry, the top and bottom edges of a door are either not painted or just painted with a thin finish coat that still allows the texture of the door edge to show through.  All Rated Fire Doors Will have A Metal Plate And Stamp.  David Home Inspection The past four years has created an army of price shoppers. Everyone is looking for the best deal for a local home inspection and sometimes overlook quality. It's true, home inspectors are becoming a dime a dozen in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties this has driven the cost of a home inspections down dramatically. Recently, I took the time to call all of the local competition and see where they stand on similar home inspections. I believe as a business owner you need to know what your competition is doing in order to stay on top. After calling ten inspection companies I could not verify the credentials of seven of them. I could not locate any online reviews of these companies. If the home inspector is not a board certified master home inspector. They are nothing more than members of clubs and organizations. These inspectors pay a monthly fee in order to use the Association logos on their websites. Warning! Some inspectors only copy and paste these logos to their website to fool the consumer. Don't be victimized by recommendations promising to save you money on the home inspection. A cheap inspection is compensation for lack of experience. Only a certified master home inspector can save you thousands by identifying the homes defects and deficiencies. Let's face it, if you're looking for a professional home inspector you're not going to find it for $200 Step 1. Checked their credentials. Most of them cannot be verified. Step 2. Check for a valid business license. None on file with the city. Step 3. Asked them how they became certified. Being a member of a club or organization does not make you certified, it only makes you a member. While some clubs and organizations do offer certifications for its members. It is important to understand which members have completed the process. Step 4. Use caution when receiving low-cost referrals for a basic home inspection. You would be surprised just how basic it is. Our Main Goal As Home Inspectors Is To Make The Buyer An Informed Buyer. We Hope Our Findings Help You Understand The Value And Importance Of A Professional Home Inspection. David Home Inspection Services 626-629-8499 New Year's Resolution to Home Ownership 12/26/2010
New Year's resolutions. Nearly everyone has one. We all start off with the best of intentions. Some will fall short while others reach their goals. Most New Year's resolutions are for health and fitness, careers and savings. But why not make a resolution for home ownership in 2011. Interest rates are expected to remain low in the first quarter. There are still great deals with short sales and foreclosures. Bank loans with as little as 3% down are still available. Let's face it, there is no better time to start shopping for a new home. While some home buyers will find homes right away others can take several months to locate a home that's just right for them. With any New Year's resolutions it is important to set your goals and create a list of things that will need to be accomplished in order for you to obtain home ownership.
Congratulations on successfully completing your New Year's resolution. David Salvato David Home Inspection Services After Christmas it is important to have a recycling plan in place. Let's face it, many of the gifts we will receive will come with useless packaging. Much of it can be recycled. Things such as cardboard, plastics . Even the wrapping paper itself can be turned into recycled goods. One of the larger items on your recycling list this year should be your Christmas tree. Keep in mind most Christmas trees that have flocking can not be recycled do to the chemicals used in the process. Most cities will have a Christmas tree pickup sometime within the first week of the new year. If you're not sure if your city plans to recycle those trees find a location that does. The trees will be shredded and used as compost, wood chips and ground cover. Here your three steps to a successful Christmas recycling plan.
Recycling saves landfill space and Christmas trees can take up a tremendous amount of space. Do your part this year and recycle everything that you can. David Salvato David Home Inspection Services Five Christmas Tree Safety Tips 12/06/2010
 Tis the season for us to bring in our fresh Christmas trees from the outdoors. Often people placed their Christmas tree in front of a large window at the front of their home. Others may place their tree somewhere as a focal point in their living room or entry area. Here are 5 safety tips.
David home inspection services  This appliance maintenance tip is for the dishwasher and garbage disposal here's where a lot of people get into trouble. Take a look at this picture. You will notice a high concentration of mold in the cabinet. Many of us keep a lot of products under the kitchen sink. We hardly ever get on our hands and knees and inspect this area. It's important that twice a year you remove everything from under the sink run your faucets, garbage disposal and your dishwasher. What we are looking for are water leaks. Failure to identify any ongoing leak can lead to mold and mildew. Look for signs of corrosion around the garbage disposal. This will sometimes manifest itself as corrosion like blisters. If you find evidence of leaks around the garbage disposal it’s time for replacement. A simple dishwasher maintenance tip is to use CLR, according to the manufacturer’s instructions to clean any calcium build up in the appliance.  Refigerator Matenance Tips 11/20/2010
Our first yearly maintenance tip is the refrigerator. We sometimes take this great appliance for granted. It does its job pretty much without any help at all. What we fail to realize that the refrigerator at times literally holds hundreds of dollars in food. The most important maintenance tip I can give you is to vacuum the refrigerator coil. These are located in a few different places. The most common location is at the bottom of the refrigerator the second location as to the rear of the refrigerator. If yours is at the bottom front, you simply need to remove the base grill, place your brush attachment on your vacuum and clean away. If you're condenser coil is that the rear of your refrigerator you'll need to slide the refrigerator out of its location and get behind it. Then proceed to vacuum the coil clean. While you have the refrigerator out it’s a good time to check for any loose or leaking connections pertaining to your icemaker water line. Now your coils are clean the refrigerator will run much more efficiently and last you a lot longer   Clean Coil Six Easy Winter Home Maintenance Tips! 11/01/2010
Well it's November in Southern California and the rainy weather is upon us. As a professional home inspector I like to offer some basic maintenance tips that will help you get through winter with ease. Tip #1: Window maintenance Wood Windows: Older wood sash windows may need prep and paint of the mutton's and rails. Windowsills and stucco molding may also require prep, paint and caulking. Some wood windows will require new glazing compound for single glazed windows. This will help prolong the life and the originality of the window. This will also prevent water intrusion around the window. Aluminum Windows: These Windows also require maintenance. Cleaning of the lower window channel to allow water to drain freely from the window frame will prevent water intrusion at frame corners. At times it's necessary to re-caulk the inner corner of the aluminum frame. If you're noticing blistering of the plaster or drywall at the corners of your aluminum windows it's probably time to perform some general maintenance. Vinyl windows: Vinyl windows are are great and are known for being very low maintenance. However if you have vinyl retrofit Windows more than likely they were installed and caulked in place. It is important that the caulking be visually inspected and replaced as needed. Tip #2: Hot Water Heater November is a great time to flush your hot water tanks. This will reduce any sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank and allow the burner to work more efficiently. Tip #3: Furnace and Filters If you have an older floor furnace installed. Now would be a good time to vacuum any debris that may have fallen to the floor grill. If you have a forced air unit now's a good time to replace the air filter and dust the interior of the unit. We recommend that you unplug the unit prior to doing any dusting. Tip #4: Fireplaces and chimneys Homeowners should conduct a visual inspection of the fireplace and chimney prior to putting them into winter service. Cleaning out the ash pit along with inspecting the firebox and brick for signs of cracking or damage. The storm cap and spark arrestor at the top the chimney should be inspected to ensure that they are installed properly and in good condition. Log lighter's and gas valves should also be tested for gas leaks. We recommend that a professional chimney inspection be done every 2 to 3 years to ensure that these items are in good working order. It's always best to bring in a professional to make recommendations and evaluations if you don't feel comfortable or confident to conduct this type of inspection. We do not advocate that homeowners climb on roofs or using tall ladders unless they have been properly trained to do so. Tip #5: Roof and gutter maintenance. Now is a great time to make sure your rain gutters and downspouts are not clogged. Make sure that your downspouts are extended 3 feet from the homes foundation, take a moment and observe your roof valleys and flashing's. Consult a roofing contractor if cleaning or maintenance is necessary. Tip#6: Smoke detectors This is also a good time to change any smoke detector batteries and retest smoke detectors for proper operation. David Salvato David Home Inspection Services Serving Los Angeles San Bernardino and Riverside Counties 626-629-8499 909-908-7494 How Much for a Roof Inspection? 10/20/2010
How Much for Roof Inspection? We are in late October and Southern California has started get it's share of rain. If you've waited till now to have your roof inspected, understand inspection costs have gone up, along with repair cost. If you're already experiencing water leaks in your home there is probably no real reason for an inspection, it's time to call a local roofing contractor and get it fixed. Don't waste anymore time! The longer you wait, the the higher the likelihood for moisture related damages such as mold & mildew, insulation and drywall damage. Let's Say You Need a Roof Inspection. There are a couple different types of roof inspections one can get. A visual inspection or a water test inspection. We will discuss them both in this article. A visual roof inspection: Is exactly that. A trained Professional will visually inspect the roof for proper installation techniques. The fee for a visual inspection normally runs from $100 - $299, depending on the size and type of roof system. A visual assessment of the shingles or roofing material will be made and determine its expected service life of the roof. The roofing flashing and valleys will also be investigated to determine if proper installation techniques were met and the likelihood of possible roof leaks. The Roof Inspector should at this point be able to make recommendations for the roofing system. Whether it need a general roof tuneup, sectional replacement or complete replacement. We do not recommend that roofing contractors be consulted when it comes to roof inspections. There is a conflict of interest and money is to be made by the contractor. Seek the advice of an independent home inspector with an extensive background in roof inspections. A license roofing contractor should only be consulted after the determination for repairs have been made. Be sure to get three estimates and check the status of the contractor's license with the California State Contractor's License Board. The Water Test or Leak down Test: This test is considerably more involved and therefore the fee for the test is usually more expensive. The fee for this type of inspection usually runs, $169 two as much as $299, depending on the size and style of roof system. In my professional opinion this is the most thorough way to determine if the roof is leaking in a given area. This type of inspection usually requires two inspectors to be present one to direct the water from a garden hose to a specific area of the roof while the other inspector watches for leaks in the attic area. This is done around all critical areas of the roof and a report is generated from the findings. This information can then be given to a roofing contractor in order for bids to be obtained. We do not advocate that these type of tests or evaluations be done by the homeowner. Working from a roof can be dangerous! A fall from a roof can be critical or fatal. So for less than $300 you can get a full evaluation of your roof system and know how long it will last and how much it'll cost to repair. The roof is a very important part of a complete home system. As such, it will require maintenance and repairs to last and keep you dry! David Salvato David Home Inspection Services. Serving Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties Ca 626-629-8499 909-908-7494 | CategoriesAll AuthorDavid Salvato Father of Three, Blogger, Twitter nut, Builder and Repairman of stuff my kids break! All round happy person. |
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