Carbon Monoxide Prevention

Since things are starting to cool down and you may be thinking about starting that furnace up for the first time you might want to think about the silent and sometimes deadly killer. Carbon monoxide. It is colorless and odorless but at high levels it can kill you. It can be especially dangerous as you sleep since you’ll never notice the symptoms until it’s too late.

Carbon monoxide can be given off by anything that burns. From having a fire in your fireplace to your gas stove to your gas or oil furnace. If your appliances are working correctly or you’re using them correctly then there should be no issues. Idling cars in their garages is one of the major causes for carbon monoxide poisoning.  But there are a few effects that you should be on the look out for. Headaches, dizziness, nausea and mental confusion are a few symptoms. Fetuses, infants and the elderly are especially susceptible to the effects are carbon monoxide.

Over 400 deaths are reported each year due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The good news is that there are ways to help prevent and detect carbon monoxide.  Have your furnace and/or fireplace routinely checked and cleaned.  Make sure all flues are properly connected and cleaned. Also, having good ventilation in your home is crucial; having a tight home will only trap the “bad” air. There are also some Don’ts. Don’t start your car in the garage in the winter to warm up, even with the garage door open, the fumes still can quickly gather and even possibly enter your home. Don’t sleep in any room with an unvented fuel burning appliance.  Installing carbon monoxide detectors in the proper areas is very important. Follow the instruction manual very carefully. Place a carbon monoxide detector outside sleeping areas so if they sound you will wake; also place one on every level of your home. Do not place them too close to furnace or cooking appliance, normally not within 15 feet.

If you do feel like your suffering any of the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, open all the doors and windows to your home, turn off all fuel burning appliances and get out to the fresh air. Call 911 or go to the emergency room and tell the doctors you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning; it can be confirmed through blood tests if soon after exposure.

                        Remember prevention is the key!

What Should You Expect at your Home Inspection

If you’re a first time home buyer nothing is more confusing or daunting than the home buying process.  After looking at many different properties and finally putting an offer in you have come to the home inspection part of the process. 

Who do you choose and how do you find a competent inspector? First, your inspector should belong to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) which is the only association to have their inspectors certified by a third party. http://www.stlashi.org/ is your portal to find a local inspector. Make sure to ask your potential inspector what their fee will be, if you should attend the inspection, how long they have been inspecting and if they are an ACI or ASHI Certified Inspector.

Now that you’ve chosen you’re inspector make sure to review the sellers disclosure and make a list of any questions about the property you may have. Now on to the actual inspection, you and your family may be present at the inspection but try not to invite everyone, like your friend the contractor. This will just distract your inspector away from his task and this won’t serve you the client very well.  Your real estate agent should be present so they can help guide you through the process after the inspection.

Your inspector will inspect everything from the roof all the way down to the basement and almost everything in between. Your inspector will check the furnace, the electrical panel, run lots of water to check for leaks, open and close windows and doors, check outlets and look for safety issues such as missing handrails and lack of GFCI’s (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters). Your home inspector may not inspect pools or septic systems, those usually require specialized inspections. Your inspector will also show you how to operate your systems and where your water shutoff is. During the process you should ask your inspector all of your questions you may have had, other questions will probably come up during the inspection and you should ask your inspector those as well.  

After all this your inspector will produce a report and typically most will email you the finished report either the same evening or the next day. Take your time and read the entire report no matter how boring and time consuming it may seem. The report will contain all the pertinent information on the house and should also contain pictures of a lot of the defects. Depending on the inspector he may also include a summary, this is usually all the defects and is primarily for the real estate agent which they may use as a part of the negotiations. Once you receive the report and have questions make sure to contact the inspector and ask your questions as this is all part of the inspection process.

Now comes the time where you and you’re real estate agent get together and figure out what your next step is, whether that is negotiation or choosing your paint colors. This is by no means a complete tutorial on the inspection process but may give you some insight into the process. As you can see getting an inspection is very important and although may seem like a scary process shouldn't be skipped.