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A monthly newsletter courtesy of BK Home Inspections
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Fun Time Teaser
Question:
What is more dangerous Amps or Volts?
A. Equally dangerous
B. Volts are more dangerous
C. Amps are more dangerous. |
Household Tip
Unclog a Drain
Mix 1 c. baking soda, 1 c. salt and 1 c. of white vinegar. (It will fizz) Let it sit for 15 minutes then pour down clogged drain. Pour in several cups of boiling water.
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Things To Do This Month
1. Tune up the lawnmower.
2. Check for CO detectors, (one on each level) it's the law!
3. Clean out gutters and check downspout extensions.
4. Get a pest management program.
5. Practice a fire escape plan.
6. Inspect roof for cracked or missing shingles.
7. Check all handrails.
8. Get dehumidifier set up in basement.
9. Put screens on windows.
10. Check for wood/ground contact on exterior. |
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Week's Wit
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets
the cheese in the trap.
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Fun time Teaser Answer
The answer is A.
How many times have your heard that it's not the volts that'll kill you, but the amps? While mostly true (it takes only 100mA to stop your heart), amps and volts are eternally bound together by Ohm's Law:
In plain English: volts (V) equals current (I) times resistance (R). So, assuming resistance is constant, voltage and current are in lockstep. As one goes up, so does the other, and vice versa. You can't have a lot of amps without a lot of volts.
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Contact Info
Bob Beisbier BK Home Inspections LLC S95 W32855 Hickorywood Tr Mukwonago, WI 53149 262-993-7755 Certified Master Inspector (CMI) RHI# 1035-106 ASHI# 212809 InterNACHI #NACHI08082601 DILHR Certified Infrared Certified Green Certified Member WAHI Member BBB
bkpro@wi.rr.com
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BK News
Mention this newsletter and get $20 off a home inspection!
The best time to learn about the condition and workings of a house is during a pre-purchase home inspection. We will give you valuable information about the home's operating systems and a detailed report that you can use as a reference for repairs and maintenance. When we are done you will have a clear understanding of the property conditions.
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Is there an topic that you would like to see discussed? Please let me know and I will add it into next month's newsletter. Thanks!
Sincerely, Bob Beisbier BK Home Inspections Honest, Reliable Service |
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Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral which was formed millions of years ago. An interesting material it is as heavy and dense as marble yet remains a simple nugget of silky fibers. It will not burn or rust and resists erosion. Its composition is primarily magnesia, silica and some alumina, ferrous oxide and water. Its fibers are smooth and non-tubular hence separating it from all other known types of fibres.
The concept of the asbestos shingle was born out of need. As architectural variations flourished, and the different needs of roofing conditions changed, it became apparent that there be offered roofing materials that would provide "absolute" protection from any possible weather condition. Furthermore, with the awareness of huge annual fire losses, the selection of a roofing material that could not burn or carry fire became even more of a priority than the architectural value. The mineral fiber asbestos roofing material seemed to offer it all.
The first use of the asbestos roofing shingles and siding occurred in Europe in the late 1800's and its extensive use kindled the desire and the need for the product in the United States. The first American made asbestos shingles were manufactured by the Ambler Asbestos Shingle & Sheathing Company in 1905. They had two facilities, one in Ambler, PA and the other in St. Louis, MO. They initiated sales offices throughout the eastern United States.
Like any great entrepreneurial concept, similar ideas and companies with the desire to compete sprung up and by the 1920's most major roofing supply companies such as Carey, Johns-Mansville, Century, Eternit and others were in full production of asbestos shingles, siding and simulated lumber products. Since the peculiar properties of asbestos were well adapted to commercial uses, the products created included applications for heat conservation, electrical and plumbing insulation and other conservation purposes. It eventually evolved into the auto industry, with most brake lining facilities using the asbestos processes. Regardless of the use or the location of the factory, much of the Chrysotile Fibre asbestos came from mines in Canada and Arizona.
Asbestos has always stood uniquely alone, a rock as old as the world which has remained virtually immune to the forces of heat, weather, moisture and wear. It can also be manipulated into a variety of useful forms and shapes. It is quarried in much the same way that stone is mined and except for its color it looks like ordinary rock. It is only after the process of mechanical manipulation takes place that the extracted fibres can be changed into the multitude of useful articles used throughout the years.
Having been a mere curiosity of the ages it eventually became a widely used mineral with a wide range of useful and technologically related applications. And, as time went on the eventual dangers of the product also became apparent. Today, while asbestos still has beneficial and practical uses, the way it is used and handled has become paramount and any type of handling must be performed according to the specified standards. |
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Spring Checklist
- Replace your furnace filter
- Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter
- Check your electrical system
- Always have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible.
- Make sure the light bulbs in all your fixtures are the correct wattage
- Review your fire escape plan with your family
- Consider installing a lightning protection system on your home
- Protect all your electrical appliances from power surges and lightning
- Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer
- Check for damage to your roof
- Run through a severe-weather drill with your family
- Repair all cracked, broken, or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface
- Protect your home from sewer or drain back-up losses
- Check all the fascia and trim for deterioration
- Check your water heater
- Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function
- Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer
- Replace all extension cords that have become brittle, worn, or damaged
- Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
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White Linoleum That's Now Yellow
"I purchased Armstrong Congoleum linoleum in white 7 years ago and it is turning yellow. It is no wax and I don't use wax on it. I like the flooring but don't know how to remove the yellow. Please help.
"Well Cheryl, you may be in a world of hurt. My first questions to you are do you have a blacktop or asphalt driveway? Is the yellow in distinct pathways on the floor? If so, there's a 99 percent chance the yellow is caused by oils from the asphalt you're tracking in on your shoes. I say this assuming you don't take off your shoes after you enter your home.Now, if you don't have asphalt, or you take off your shoes at the door and/or the yellow is uniform throughout the entire floor, it's possibly something in the cleaner you're using. If this is the case, contact Armstrong and see if they have a chemical that can bleach out the color that's in the clear protective layer.
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Things you might not know
Actual old written laws:
- Whenever two trains meet at an intersection of said tracks, neither shall proceed until the other has.
- As people used to smuggle it in from Illinois, all yellow butter substitute is banned.
- Condoms were considered an obsene article and had to be hidden behind the pharmacist's counter.
- At one time, margarine was illegal.
- State Law made it illegal to serve apple pie in public restaurants without cheese.
- The state definition of rape stated that it was a man having sex with a woman he knows not to be his wife.
- While all cheese making requires a license, Limburger cheese making requires a master cheese maker's license.
- It is illegal to kiss on a train.
- It is illegal to cut a woman's hair.
- Margarine may not be substituted for butter in restaurants unless it is requested by the customer.
- The government may not prohibit manual flushed urinals.
- One may not camp in a wagon on any public highway or risk a fine of up to ten dollars.
- It is a class A misdemeanor to wave a burning torch around in the air.
- It is illegal to throw rocks at a railroad car.
- Livestock have the right-of-way on public roads.
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 Reverse Osmosis
First we need to understand the process of osmosis. The basic fundamental of osmosis is: the less concentrated solution will seek to dilute the more concentrated solution. If we place a semipermeable membrane between, say, more salty water and pure water, osmotic pressure will occur and cause the pure water to seek to dilute the salty water. This is why drinking salty (ocean) water will kill a person. When you put salty water in your stomach, osmotic pressure begins drawing water out of your body to try to dilute the salt in your stomach. Eventually, you dehydrate and die.
In an RO water treatment system we reverse normal osmotic pressure by forcing water through a semipermeable membrane with higher pressure on the more concentrated side of the membrane than the less concentrated side. The semipermeable membrane has pores large enough to allow water molecules through but small enough to block most of the larger contaminant (salt, minerals, etc.) molecules. The "purified" water is stored in the tank beyond the membrane to be used on demand through the sink top tap. To help prevent the membrane from clogging quickly typically one or more pre-filters are installed to catch the larger particles.
RO systems need a lot of water. Obtaining 5-gallons of purified water requires about 45 to 90 gallons of input water. On the input side of the membrane there are an inlet and outlet for the water. Since only about 5-15 percent of the "purified" water makes it beyond the membrane, there is a lot of reject water. This water contains rejected contaminants and is usually evacuated to the house DWV system. Modern RO systems have a built-in air gap in the glass filler on the sink top for this drain to pass through to prevent a direct connection between potable water and the sewer system.
RO systems generally require maintenance a couple times a year. Of course this all depends upon use and/or the amount of contaminants in the feed water. You should contact the manufacturer and inquire with the seller regarding the recommended maintenance and costs. Additionally, many of these systems are "rented" from a water treatment company. You should inquire with the seller regarding whether the system is owned or leased and costs. |
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Mosquitoes
 Mosquitoes are blood sucking insects that develop in standing water. They undergo a complete metamorphoses including the egg, larvae, pupae and adult in about 10 days. The female feeds on blood, while the male feeds on flower nectar. Mosquitoes spread many diseases such as Malaria, Yellow Fever, Encephalitis and Heartworms. Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets...Best thing ever used in Louisiana..just wipe on & go...Great for Babies
Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October . He said it works. He was right. The odor the tablet gives out through your skin (YOU can not smell it) repels mosquitoes, black flies, no seeum's, and knat's. It does not work on stinging insects. Hasn't had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Try it. Every one he has talked into trying it works on them. Vitimin B-1( Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)
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Energy Tips
Energy Consumption of Central Air Conditioners
Central air conditioners are more efficient than room air conditioners. In addition, they are out of the way, quiet, and convenient to operate. To save energy and money, you should try to buy an energy-efficient air conditioner and reduce your central air conditioner's energy use.
In an average home, air conditioning consumes more than 2000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, making its operation responsible for 3500 pounds of power plant-produced carbon dioxide emissions.
Today's best air conditioners use 30%-50% less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid 1970s. Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, cooling costs may be 20%-40% lower with a newer, more efficient model.
Energy Rating Of Air Conditioners
Central air conditioners are rated according to their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). SEER indicates the relative amount of energy needed to provide a specific cooling output. Many older systems have SEER ratings of 6 or less. The minimum SEER allowed today is 13. Look for the ENERGY STAR label for central air conditioners with SEER ratings of 13 or greater.
New residential central air conditioner standards went into effect on January 23, 2006. Air conditioners manufactured after January 26, 2006 must achieve a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 13 or higher. SEER 13 is 30% more efficient than the previous minimum SEER of 10.
SEER ratings are not always listed on labels. At times, determining the SEER rating will require research using the model or serial number.
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More Energy tips
Water Heaters and Water Usage
Purchase an energy-efficient model. The initial cost may be more but operating costs are less in the long run. Consider a tankless or instantaneous water heater, which uses energy only when hot water is needed, rather than maintaining 40 gallons or more of hot water all the time.
Purchase the correct size. Consider your family's hot water needs. If your water heater is too large, it uses more energy than needed. If it is too small, you may run out of hot water.
Purchase a natural gas water heater. If you currently have an electric water heater, consider replacing it with a natural gas water heater. When it comes to heating water, natural gas is less expensive than electricity, and it heats more water faster during heavy use. Consider a sealed combustion or an on-demand water heater. Both types use less energy.
Install your water heater near the kitchen. The kitchen is where you use the hottest water. When the water heater is located near the kitchen, hot water doesn't have to travel as far and less heat is lost.
Insulate water pipes. Use half-inch foam or pipe tape for insulation wherever pipes are exposed. On cold water pipes, insulate four to five feet nearest to the water heater. Pipe insulation can save you up to $25 annually.
Set the water temperature to 120° F. It takes less energy to heat water to a lower temperature. If you have an electric water heater, you'll have to remove the cover plate of the thermostat to adjust the temperature. For safety reasons, remember to turn off the water heater at the circuit breaker/fuse before changing the temperature.
Repair dripping faucets promptly. If the faucet leaks hot water, the energy used to heat it is costing you money. (One drop a second can waste up to 48 gallons a week!)
Install a heat loop or in-line trap. If you add a new water heater to your home, consider having a heat loop or in-line trap installed. These mechanisms can be inexpensive to install and keep hot water from moving into the piping system when you are not using hot water. Ask your plumbing contractor for details.
Reduce deposits and build-ups. Drain a bucket of water from the bottom of the water heater once or twice a year to reduce mineral deposits and sediment build-up. This increases water heater efficiency. Don't drain the water heater, though, if you've used it for a year or more and have never drained it. The faucet may have corroded shut and could break if you force it open. Before draining the water from an electric water heater, turn off the water heater at the circuit breaker/fuse.
Install water saving devices. Use low-flow showerheads on all showers and faucet aerators on all faucets to reduce your hot water use.
Install a water softener. If you have hard water, install a water softener to prevent mineral deposits from coating the elements. This helps prolong water heater life and saves energy and money.
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