Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297

Panel Wiring 101...
As a licensed home inspector for the State of TN, there are guidelines that we must follow when inspecting a property. I cannot speak for other home inspectors in other states as each state, if licensed, has their own guidelines for inspecting. Here in Tennessee we must open electrical panels provided that the conditions are safe for the inspector. The purpose for this is that many properties have irregularities in the wiring system or panels. Most of these have been deone by creative home owners, handymen who thought they knew what they were doing, or electricians wanting to take short-cuts.
The picture to the left shows an older panel with wires tapped off the top of the main bus lugs which are leading to another panel. This is not unusual to see in older properties. As the need for energy increases, many older panels do not have the capacity to meet the demand, hence taps such as this one.
The problem here is that the wires leading to the newer panel do not meet the amp load capacity of the main breaker which is 125 amps. The wires are rated to handle 60 amps. Under the right conditions, these wires could overheat causing a fire within the panel.
The wires from the box above go into an older style fused panel. The issue with this panel is that there are holes in the tops and sides of the box. Should an electrical fire develop within the box, flames go through the holes igniting dust within the wall cavities.
I always recommend that older fused systems be updated as many home owner insurance polices will not insure homes with fused panels. If they do, they will charge an additional premium to do so.

This posting and the contents herein is the intellectual property of Michael Thornton, CEO of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. CHI gives exceptional service and provides the highest quality residential and commercial inspections in the Brentwood, Franklin and Nashville, TN real estate markets. We also service the area surrounding Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

Color Coordinating...
Every now and then I run across a home owner who likes to color coordinate. While color coordinating is okay, there are some things, such as outlets, that should be left alone. This is definitely not a good idea and especially when it comes to GFCI outlets. When these are painted over, the paint will often jam the mechanical test and reset buttons. If the buttons are jammed, the device may fail to trip resulting you going z-z-z-zt, which is not a good thing! I consider these a safety hazard and I recommend replacing the device.

This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

WDO's...
Reporting on WDO's (Wood Destroying Organisms) by home inspectors varies from State to State. In Tennessee, home inspectors are not required to conduct pest infestation inspections as this is a separate inspection conducted by licensed pest control companies. However; when inspecting a property, savvy inspectors keep an eye out for these insects that can literally eat you out of house and home.
Home inspectors are not a codes inspectors, but home inspectors must know the important local building codes to be good at what they do. “Acceptable Building Practices” or International Residential Codes (IRC) requires builders to remove all wood and construction debris from the crawlspace. This is to prevent left over wood debris from the construction phase from acting as bait especially here in the southern states where subterranean termite activity is very high.
Good home inspectors leave noting to chance when it comes to protecting your interests when purchasing a new home. As a courtesy to my customers, I note such activity in my reports even though the property must have a clear termite letter. I also recommend that all wood and foreign debris be removed to keep these unwanted visitors from coming back.

This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

Fuse Boxes - Are They Safe?
Many older properties still have fuse boxes. While, these antiquated devices are okay, fuse panels, unless altered can be deemed safe. I consult my clients to consider replacing these with modern devices. Here's why:
Older style fuse boxes serve the same purpose as circuit breaker boxes in that the fuse controls the amount of electrical current from appliances within a home. However; fuse boxes are outdated by modern standards. The advantage to having circuit breakers in a home is that instead of replacing a fuse each time it is used, circuit breakers can be easily reset. In the event of an overloaded circuit, fuses have been proven to be more reliable and will "blow". Replacing blown fuses can be frustrating, expensive and time consuming. Because it is easy to over-fuse circuits, may insurance companies will not insure fuse panels unless the S-type retro devices are installed. Even with these devices, some insurance carriers charge more to insure fuse panels.
According to studies, faulty electrical wiring causes approximately forty thousand house fires annually. Like circuit breakers, fuses are used to prevent over heated wiring and fires by interrupting electrical currents in overloaded circuits. When a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips, it is important to locate the source of the problem.
For instance, if you have lights that seem to stop working frequently, you may have too many items connected to a single power source. Sometimes an appliance may have a short circuit; it could even mean a short circuit in the home’s internal wiring. In either case, it is best to have a professional in the appropriate trade evaluate the fuse box and wiring.
As you would in a circuit breaker panel, label each fuse in the box. Labeling each fuse can make it easier to identify the suspect circuit. As a safety reminder, when replacing a fuse, turn everything off in the circuit to prevent electrocution.

This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

(not so) Speechless Sundae...
Ah-h-h-h snow. Something we have but seen a dusting of in this winter that wasn't. To me, snow is Mother Nature's blanket. It can be beautiful to look at while it covers the ground with its soft, velvety layer of white. It has the ability to transform our colorful world in to shades devoid of color. Scenes take on shades of gray that often add mystery and mystique to our lives...


Below is the Cal Turner farm with the WSM tower in the background. Sadly, the barn, having been severely damaged in a spring storm, is no more. Only the silo remains...

This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.