John Harrison

By Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard

The purpose of this article is twofold. First, at InterNACHI, we'd like you to take measures to keep your garage free from fire. Fortunately, there are ways this can be done, some of which are described below. Secondly, garage fires do happen, and we'd like you to make sure that a fire can not easily spread to the rest of your house. While you can perform many of the recommendations in this article yourself, it is a good idea to hire an InterNACHI inspector to make sure your home is safe from a garage fire.

Why do many garages pose a fire hazard?

• Where are you most likely to do any welding, or any work on your car? These activities require working with all sorts of flammable materials.
• Water heaters and boilers are usually stored in garages, and they can create sparks that may ignite fumes or fluids. Car batteries, too, will spark under certain conditions.
• Oil and gasoline can drip from cars. These fluids may collect unnoticed and eventually ignite, given the proper conditions.
• Flammable liquids, such as gasoline, motor oil and paint are commonly stored in garages. Some other examples are brake fluid, varnish, paint thinner and lighter fluid.

The following tips can help prevent garage fires and their spread:

• If the garage allows access to the attic, make sure a hatch covers this access.
• The walls and ceiling should be fire-rated. Unfortunately, it will be difficult for untrained homeowners to tell if their walls are Type X fire-rated gypsum. An InterNACHI inspector can examine the walls and ceiling to make sure they are adequate fire barriers.
• The floor should be clear of clutter. Loose papers, matches, oily rags, and other potentially flammable items are extremely dangerous if they are strewn about the garage floor.
• Use light bulbs with the proper wattage, and do not overload electrical outlets.
• Tape down all cords and wires so they are not twisted or accidentally yanked.

If there is a door that connects the garage to the living area, consider the following:

• Do not install a pet door in the door! Flames can more easily spread into the living area through a pet door, especially if it's made of plastic.
• Does the door have a window? An InterNACHI inspector can inspect the window to tell if it's fire-rated.
• The door should be self-closing. While it may be inconvenient, especially while carrying groceries into the house from the car, doors should be self-closing. You never know when a fire will happen, and it would be unfortunate to accidentally leave the door open while a fire is starting in the garage.
• Check the joints and open spaces around the door. Are they tightly sealed? Any openings at all can allow dangerous fumes, such as carbon monoxide or gasoline vapor, to enter the living area. An InterNACHI inspector can recommend ways to seal the door so that fumes cannot enter the living area.

Concerning items placed on the floor, you should check for the following:

• Store your flammable liquids in clearly labeled, self-closing containers, and only in small amounts. Keep them away from heaters, appliances, pilot lights and other sources of heat or flame.
• Never store propane tanks indoors. If they catch fire, they can explode. Propane tanks are sturdy enough to be stored outdoors.
  

In summary, there are plenty of things that you can do to prevent garage fires from spreading to the rest of the house, or to keep them from starting in the first place. However, it is highly recommended that you have your garage periodically examined by an InterNACHI inspector.

Provided by Harrison Home Inspection LLC
John Harrison
712-326-4320
jharrison@ia.nachi.org

www.bluffshomeinspection.com

What is a Home Inspection?

Saturday July 11^th 2009 I had an inspection scheduled in Dow City, Iowa. This was a buyers inspection, the sellers whom I have not yet met wanted to be home during the inspection, I can't say that I blame them I would not want a stranger roaming around unattended in my home either.

I was promptly greeted at the door by a very friendly gentleman whom invited me into the kitchen where I was able to meet his lovely wife. As we made our introductions to each other the wife stated that she had some concerns about the inspection process. This home was build around 1914 and still had many original or old features such as doors, windows, plaster walls ect... Her concerns were "What is a home inspection about, and how much stuff are you going to make us fix, this is an old house and we can not make it new" At this point the husband stated "we simply can not and will not fix a bunch of stuff".

Many people are unaware as to what a home inspector does and doesn't do, and I realized that some might even be fearful of what a home inspections purpose is. I briefly explained to the couple "we understand that this is an old house, and as such we do not expect everything to be in new or perfect condition". Realistically at times cannot even expect that from a new house. So what is a home inspection?

A home inspector should be certified, and licensed appropriately according to their state requirements. An Inspector should have a scope or standards of practice with which they follow in performing a home inspection; however, the main points of a home inspection are to check for any structural, or mechanical damage that could drastically affect the value of the property. I explained that a house should be built according to a set standard of code. Even when the code requirements get updated or changed a house does not have to be updated or changed to meet the new code unless the house is being altered, or remodeled.

I further informed the couple that a home inspector is just there to look over the condition of the property and report on the facts to allow the client a complete understanding of what they are looking to purchase. A home inspector should make recommendations of corrections, not requirements for repairs, and whether or not items get corrected or repaired is based on the discussions between the buyer and the seller not the inspector.

The couple seemed like they were extremely relieved and happy that I was there to inspect their home.

Harrison Home Inspection LLC

Declaration of Independence

July 4th 1776

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect either Safety and Happiness.

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams

July 3 1776

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated. As the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illumination from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in the Days Transaction, even though We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

In the celebration of the 4th of July remember our history and the people that have sacrificed so much to put us where we are today. Take pride in our military and our government for they endlessly ensure that we are able to live with freedoms that are unattainable in most parts of the world.

The following is a list of safety precautions provided by the

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
• Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
• Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don't realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light one item at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

Harrison Home Inspection LLC