Home Improvement : Escape Mechanism on Security Bars Is Vital
QUESTION: I am considering the purchase of security bars for my home, but am worried about getting out during an emergency. Are these bars safe enough to get out quickly during a fire?
ANSWER: Every home is required to have a legal exit, operable from the inside without any special tools or effort. Also, each sleeping room must have a second emergency escape, typically a window. Blocking these exits with non-movable security bars may be a deadly mistake.
The only security bars that are marginally safe include a quick-release foot mechanism, usually hidden behind the curtain. You must carefully weigh the benefits of security devices such as dual-keyed locks and bars with the ability to rapidly escape in a fire, especially if small children or elderly people will occupy the home.
Are Septic Systems Part of Inspection?
Q: Do you inspect septic systems?
A: No. Most home inspectors do not inspect septic systems, in fact, a full inspection would require excavation of the entire system. However, a major problem is usually highly visible, such as bleed-out into the yard or a strong septic smell.
It is always recommended that the septic tank be pumped out, and a qualified company experienced in septic systems evaluate the entire system. They should be able to determine if further investigation is necessary. Note: Average expected life of a septic system is about 20 years. However, this depends on the number of persons in the house, and if proper maintenance was performed over the years.
False Alarms Set Off by Cooking in Kitchen
Q: I keep taking the battery out of my smoke detector because of false alarms when I’m cooking. Are there brands of detectors that are not quite so sensitive?
A: Your solution may be to take a cooking class. Seriously, your smoke detector is designed to be a sensitive device that detects smoke in the air. Try moving the detector farther away from the kitchen. Detectors should be installed outside sleeping areas, within 6 inches of the ceiling.
Each separate sleeping area should be protected by additional detectors. One should be installed inside rooms occupied by smokers. If your hallway is longer than 40 feet, two detectors are needed. Some new detectors have a silencing feature that momentarily deactives the detector without having to remove the battery. That’s a real convenience if you love to singe your food.
Worried by Cracked Tiles in Entryway
Q: I have several cracked ceramic tiles in my entryway. Does this mean my concrete slab has a crack in it?
A: Because ceramic tiles are inflexible, they will reflect any movement that occurs in the underlying slab. Don’t be alarmed just because your slab may be cracked. Nearly all concrete slabs will have cracks from normal shrinkage during curing. Cracks that continue to grow or are offset from one side to the other more than one-eighth inch should be checked by a qualified soils engineer.
Turbine Ventilators Need Year-Round Use
Q: My neighbor places plastic bags over his mechanical turbine vents every winter. Does this help keep the house warmer during cold weather?
A: Mechanical turbine ventilators should be allowed to operate year-round, since stale air in the attic during winter is often moisture-laden. Excessive moisture in the attic reduces effectiveness of insulation. It’s important that your attic get a breath of fresh air both winter and summer.
Don’t Insulate Over ‘Knob and Tube’ Wire
Q: My home has the old-fashioned wiring that is installed on ceramic insulators in the attic. Can I put insulation in the attic and bury this wiring?
A: No. Your wiring is probably “knob-and-tube” wiring and must be kept at least 2 inches away from any insulation. If it is buried, the wiring may overheat and cause a fire. You should contact an electrician to replace the wiring if you intend to insulate the attic area.
Bill Ross is the public relations chairman for the California Real Estate Inspection Assn. (CREIA), a statewide trade association of home inspectors. Readers may send their comments or questions on home inspection topics to Bill Ross, CREIA, 1100 N St., Suite 5-D, Sacramento, Calif. 95814.
NEW COLUMN More and more Southland home buyers are hiring home inspectors to check out their prospective abodes before they make the biggest purchase of a lifetime. In 1988, about 165,000 of more than 550,000 existing homes sold in California were inspected, up from 8,000 homes in 1983, according to the California Real Estate Inspection Assn., a statewide trade association. To help readers better understand the home-inspection field and the problems that inspectors encounter, the Real Estate section introduces a monthly column called “Ask the Inspector.” The column will feature questions from readers and answers provided by CREIA members throughout California. Information on where to send questions or comments may be found at the end of today’s column.