2001 Inspection Industry Advisory Report Archives
July 2001
Furnaces Recalled in California
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing a recall of about 30,000 furnaces sold in California. Seven firms are offering to repair or replace certain furnaces, which were sold under their own labels, but were manufactured by Consolidated Industries Inc. The units involved are gas-fired horizontal furnaces equipped with steel "NOx" rods installed above the burners and are commonly called NOx rod furnaces. These furnaces pose a substantial risk of fire.
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Is Your Home Cracking Up?
Most of us have seen cracks in our homes. Some of us may have even seen cracks appearing on the foundation of the home. But do you know how to tell if a crack is structurally deficient?
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Electrical Safety Tips That Could Save Your Life
Each year, more than 41,000 residential fires that claim about 350 lives and cause over 1,400 injuries are due to incidents that involve electrical equipment, such as extension cords, outlets and light bulbs. When was the last time you proactively looked for and corrected electrical safety hazards in your home?
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June 2001
Spotlight on Mold: Tips to Protect Your Home
A recent court ruling in Texas awarded a family $32 million after finding that the family's insurance company mishandled the homeowner's claim for black mold damage. This ruling has merely increased public awareness of indoor mold contamination. What can you do to help protect your home from mold invasion?
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Cleaning Brick Walls
Even the most diligent homeowner rarely considers the need to clean older brick surfaces -- brick, after all, seems just about permanent. But cleaning bricks enhances their appearance and adds to their longevity and preservation.
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Tips To Keep Children Safe in Backyard Pools
About 350 children under five years old drown in pools each year nationwide, and over half of these incidents occur in June, July and August. Most of these cases involve residential pools.
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May 2001
Electric Ranges Recalled
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maytag Corp., of Newton, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling about 13,000 Crosley and Magic Chef electric ranges. Liquid can enter the indicator light and can cause sparking and flaming in the light, presenting a fire hazard to consumers.
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Who Will Check For Asbestos?
A common question posed by potential homebuyers is, "Is there asbestos in this house?" Asbestos is a known environmental hazard, which has been discontinued in residential construction since 1978. However, there are still thousands of older homes that contain this potentially lethal material.
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Thousands of Dehumidifiers Recalled
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), LG Electronics Inc., of Seoul, South Korea, is voluntarily recalling about 100,000 Goldstar, General Electric, and Sears Kenmore portable dehumidifiers. These dehumidifiers have an internal electrical connection that can overheat, presenting a potential fire hazard to consumers.
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CPSC Warns Flood Victims: Replace All Gas Control Valves, Electric Circuit Breakers, GFCIs and Fuses That Have Been Under Water
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning flood victims that all gas control valves, electric circuit breakers, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), and fuses that have been under water must be replaced to avoid explosions and fires.
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April 2001
AquaStar Water Heaters May Leak Carbon Monoxide
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Controlled Energy Corporation (CEC), of Waitsfield, Vt., is recalling about 320 AquaStar natural gas water heaters. The heaters can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the exhaust gas, which can cause serious injuries and death.
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Home Inspections Increase Confidence in Home Purchase and Realtor
A recent study by the National Association of Realtors and the American Society of Home Inspectors indicates that Realtors strongly agree that a home inspection increases buyer confidence in their purchase, and increases buyer confidence in their real estate agent/broker.
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Air Conditioners Recalled
More than 17,000 air conditioning units are being voluntarily recalled due to a fire hazard.
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A Closer Look at Expansive Soil
A key component in the stability of a house, which is often overlooked by homeowners and home buyers, is the soil on which the house is built. The stability of the soil and the design of the home's foundation play an integral role in the performance of the structure. If soils move by expanding, contracting or sliding, structural damage can occur to the home.
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March 2001
How To Prevent Basement Leaks
When searching for a new home, looking for indications of water in the basement is about as common as kicking the tires of a used car -- everybody does it, but few have any idea what they are really looking for, or why.
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Buyer Beware: Synthetic Stucco Lawsuits Blocked
Two judges in Alabama have blocked lawsuits over Dryvit's synthetic stucco product that covers an estimated 8,000 homes in Alabama.
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Keep It Safe Around the Pool
With warm weather just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about pools and pool safety. According to recent studies, more than half of all pool drownings that occur in the U.S. involve children under the age of five. Attention to pool fencing and other safety issues is imperative for everyone owning or living near a pool or back yard spa.
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February 2001
Class Action Suits Pending Over Fire-Free Roofing
At least two class action lawsuits in California are pending against Re-Con, the manufacturer of FireFree® roofing products. Complaints allege that the FireFree® roofing products warp, cup, break, deteriorate and delaminate, often well in advance of the claimed 50-year warranty period.
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Natural Gas Water Heaters Recalled
Controlled Energy Corporation (CEC) of Waitsfield, Vermont, is recalling about 320 AquaStar natural gas water heaters. The heaters can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the exhaust gas, which can cause serious injuries and death.
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Should You Worry About Sloping Floors?
Surely you've come across homes with sloping floors, perhaps even your own. But do you know whether or not you should be concerned?
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Floor Lamps Recalled
Environmental Lighting Concepts of Tampa, Florida is voluntarily recalling about 1,560 floor lamps. An electronic component inside the plug can overheat, presenting a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
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12-Inch Miter Saws Recalled For Repair
More than 118,000 12-inch miter saws have been voluntarily recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Black & Decker Inc. and Dewalt Industrial Tool Company. Bolts on the saws can loosen and the blade could detach, posing a risk of lacerations to consumers.
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January 2001
EPA Issues New Standards for Lead
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced tough, new standards to identify dangerous levels of lead in paint, dust and soil. These new, national standards are more protective than previous EPA guidance and will, for the first time, provide homeowners, school and playground administrators, childcare providers and others with standards to protect children from hazards posed by lead, including children in federally-owned housing.
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Warning: Use Gas-Powered Generators Outdoors
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has warned residents in areas hit by a severe winter storm that gasoline-powered generators should not be used indoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Deaths from CO poisoning have occurred after ice storms in the past.
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Coming Soon: More Energy Efficient Homes
New home construction in California will soon be required to be more energy efficient under new California Energy Commission (CEC) regulations.
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