How does a GFCI outlet work?

That outlet is called a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). It’s there to protect people from electrical shock, so it is completely different from a fuse.

The question on appliance plugs talks about fuses. The idea behind a fuse is to protect a house from an electrical fire. If the hot wire were to accidentally touch the neutral wire for some reason (say, because a mouse chews through the insulation, or someone drives a­ nail through the wire while hanging a picture, or the vacuum cleaner sucks up an outlet cord and cuts it), an incredible amount of current will flow through the circuit and start heating it up like one of the coils in a toaster. The fuse heats up faster than the wire and burns out before the wire can start a fire.

A GFCI is much more subtle. When you look at a normal 120-volt outlet in the United States, there are two vertical slots and then a round hole centered below them. The left slot is slightly larger than the right. The left slot is called “neutral,” the right slot is called “hot” and the hole below them is called “ground.” If an appliance is working properly, all electricity that the appliance uses will flow from hot to neutral. A GFCI monitors the amount of current flowing from hot to neutral. If there is any imbalance, it trips the circuit. It is able to sense a mismatch as small as 4 or 5 milliamps, and it can react as quickly as one-thirtieth of a second.

So let’s say you are outside with your power drill and it is raining. You are standing on the ground, and since the drill is wet there is a path from the hot wire inside the drill through you to ground (see How Power Distribution Grids Work for details on grounding). If electricity flows from hot to ground through you, it could be fatal. The GFCI can sense the current flowing through you because not all of the current is flowing from hot to neutral as it expects — some of it is flowing through you to ground. As soon as the GFCI senses that, it trips the circuit and cuts off the electricity.

“How does a GFCI outlet work?.” 01 April 2000. HowStuffWorks.com. 03 August 2009.

Door Damage

I found this door the other day while I was standing in the kitchen And I wanted to share this. If you look on the upper right hand side of the door you will see the gap. The frame of the door had seperated from the glass causing water to enter the home run down the door and was leaking into the basement. I did not take a picture of the underside or basement area but there was rot to the wood framing members.

Major Roofing and Mold issue

As a Delaware Home Inspector I come across all kind of problems in and around the home. On this day I went to open the door to prepare for my inspection and before I entered the property I could smell a musty odor. I new this was a vacant property so I figured the home had the odor because it had not been lived in for some time. Once I entered I saw a big problem. There was mold growing from floor to ceiling in the living room and to my surprise when I went upstairs I found that this was the case in one of the rear bedrooms. Upon further inspection of the roof and attic I found that the roof had been leaking, In addition to the roof leak the plumbing supply lines were leaking as well. So two different problems but one big mess.

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I was very pleased

Ted,

I was very pleased with your home inspection service. I felt it was handled very thoroughly and professionally. You were on time, and very patient in answering all my questions. Your advice and tips for me going forward, as a first time home-buyer, will definitely come in handy. The report was issued very fast and detailed. I will surely recommend your services to family and friends or anyone else I know. ”Quality” Home Inspections is the perfect name for your business. 

Thanks,

Marlin

GE Recalls Ranges Due to Fire Hazard

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2009
Release #09-189 Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 352-9764
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
GE Media Contact: (888) 240-2749

GE Recalls Ranges Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: GE Profile™ Freestanding Dual Fuel Ranges
Units: About 28,000
Manufacturer: GE Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Ky.
Hazard: The wiring in the rear of the range can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: GE is aware of 47 reports of overheated wiring, including 33 reports of wiring that caught fire. Of these, one fire caused structural damage to the home and there have been 14 reports of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves GE Profile 30” Freestanding Duel Fuel ranges. The ranges were sold in white, black, bisque and stainless steel. The following model and serial numbers can be found on the left inside corner of the bottom drawer.
Brand Model Number Begins With: Serial Number Begins With:
GE Profile J2B900 LD, MD, RD, SD, TD, VD, ZD, AF, DF, FF, GF, HF, LF, MF
GE Profile J2B915 MF, RF, SF, TF, VF, ZF, AG, DG, FG, GG, HG, LG, MG, RG, SG, TG, VG, ZG
Sold at: Department and appliance stores nationwide from June 2002 through December 2005 for between $1,300 and $2,000.
Manufactured in: Mexico
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the oven and contact GE for a free repair. Consumers can continue to use the cooktop burners.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact GE toll-free at (888) 352-9764 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday ET, or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.geappliances.com/products/recall/dual_fuel_09/

 

 

   

3YR OLD HOUSE WITH STRUCTURAL ISSUES

I see some crazy things from time to time and I came across this house and I had to share with you what I saw and I am surprised the county did not catch this and or let it go. The floor joist and sill plate on an exterior wall was cut and altered by the heating contractor to allow for the duct work and gas pipe. The fix two 4×4 post on either side of the cut floor joist. The post were not properly attached and or anchored to the floor all it would take is a minor bump and it would cause the posts to dislodge and cause damage. We had a structural engineer evaluate the property and he was just as surprised as I was to see this kind of handy work. I won’t tell you what the repair cost to the seller was but lets just say it was a pretty penny.

Just Wanted to Let you Know

Thank You for all your help on Monday, I am feeling overwhelmed with the whole process of purchasing a new home but you made things simple for me to understand. Thank you for all the informative information.

Yvonne  Dover

Just Wanted to Say Thank You

Good Morning,

Thank you for all the hard work that you put in for the home inspection. The house is still empty as we prepare to move in, I spent some time alone and while I was looking around I knew that this was an achievement. Will definitely tell anyone who wants to buy a home about Quality Home Inspections, I can assure you that they will be well prepared before they move in.

Thank you
AB

Get an unbiased inspection of the home from a certified Delaware home inspector…

I’ve been inspecting houses for years and you’d be surprised at how many of the existing homeowners living in the house, are totally unaware of the major problems happening inside… When you think about it for a minute, it makes sense! How often do you go up in the attic to check for problems? How often do you climb up on the roof to investigate… how often do you checkout the foundation of the home? And if you did inspect these things yourself, do you even know what you’re looking for?

Well… these homeowners are in the same predicament too. Many are totally unaware of what could be happening in their own homes. That’s why having an inspection from a certified home inspector puts you in a position to know what’s going on with the property before you buy.

Having this information outlined in a detailed inspection report puts you at an advantage. Armed with this knowledge, you’re able to negotiate a better price, cover repair costs, or get a new roof, etc. For example:

Photo Description: During the course of the heater inspection we found high levels of Carbon Monoxide. The flue vent pipe was split open and damaged. This is a safety hazard. The heater was turned off and the seller was notified of the condition.  A heating contractor came out and made repair, the same day as the inspection.

There’s no reason for you having to pay these expenses out of your pocket… unless you didn’t get the property inspected before you purchased!

Weak Laws in the State of Delaware Make it Easy for Anyone to Become a Home Inspector Almost Overnight! All that’s required to become a home inspector is a business license from the local county clerk’s office. Beyond that, a few tools from the local Home Depot and you’re in business.

No experience required! No hands on training! No classroom training!

The home inspector at your front door could be unlicensed, uninsured or under insured, lacking the proper training or much worse…

And this is precisely the problem… non-regulation and no licensing of Delaware home inspectors can cost you. An inexperienced home inspector could literally cost you a fortune!

My name is Ted Hinderer and I’m the President of Quality Home Inspections. Purchasing a home can be very stressful, and purchasing one under these “conditions” is enough to cause even more anxiety. My primary goal with this website is to educate you about this process, while ensuring you end up with an Inspector that has the experience, the training, and the professional knowledge to inspect your potential house in an unbiased manner.

 

 

Before I get started, let me explain what a home inspection is, and how it could actually help and profit you even more.

The typical home inspection consists of a series of non-invasive and visual inspections of the home and its systems. Before meeting up at the closing table, it’s important that you know the conditions of the entire house… to include the foundation, the roof, the a/c and heating sytsems, the plumbing, the electrical systems, appliances and everything else in-between.

At the conclusion of the home inspection, the inspector will compile both a detailed report (for you and your agent), and a summary report outlining the findings.

How to Select the Right Home Inspector in Delaware

First… ask the inspector for a copy of an actual home inspection report. This will give you a general idea of how thorough they’ll be while inspecting your property. If they refuse to provide you with a sample copy, find someone else. In just a moment, I’ll present you with a copy of my report right here online.

Secondly… download my FREE report!

7 Ways to Avoid Hiring the Blind Home Inspector

In this report, I reveal the 7 things you must know before hiring an inspector. The report is absolutely free… Just click the link above to receive free access.

Only an experienced home inspector can provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.

Just because Delaware is an unregulated state, doesn’t mean I can’t take the initiative to go out and get the proper training, learning and experience necessary to provide you with an unbiased, and quality inspection.

We cover all three counties: New Castle, Kent, and Sussex.

• Providing a 90day warranty at no charge with every inspection
• Providing a Free Brinks Home Security System
• We carry E&O insurance and general liability
• Certified Real Estate Inspector

We are proud members of the following associations:

• NAHI (National Association of Home Inspectors)
• ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors)
• US Chamber of Commerce
• Member of The BBB
• National Institute of Fire and Safety Training
• NCCBOR – New Castle County Board of Realtors Affiliate Member
• D.A.R. – Kent County Association of Realators Affiliate Member
• InterNachi (International Association of Home Inspectors)

We proudly serve families in Wilmington DE, Hockessin DE, Bear DE, Newark DE, Glasgow DE, Middletown DE, Dover DE, Camden DE, Felton DE and Rehoboth DE. We will come to you in New Castle, Kent, or Sussex County.

Click here if you’d like to review a sample home inspection report.

Call us today at 302-893-1364

Or - Click here to schedule online

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