Home Service Grounding Electrodes by Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard Electrical grounding systems divert potentially dangerous electrical currents by providing a path between a building’s service box and the earth. Lightning and static electricity are the most common sources of dangerous or damaging charges that can be dissipated through a grounding system. Grounding electrodes are connected
Static Electricity by Nick Gromicko and Rob London Static electricity is the buildup of electrical charges on the surface of non-conducting materials. It is called “static” because, unlike a home’s electrical system, static electricity has almost no current. Static typically forms when two materials come into contact, and some of the charges redistribute by moving from
Electricity: Origins, Consumption and Costs by Nick Gromicko and Rob London Electricity -- the flow of electrical power or charge -- is a basic product of nature and one of the most widely used forms of energy in homes. It is generated from energy sources found in the environment, such as sunlight, coal and wind. Houses themselves are, in effect,
Electrical Terms by Nick Gromicko and Rob London Inspectors should understand electrical concepts in order to perform competent electrical inspections. This article seeks to clarify some elementary electrical terms and concepts that are sometimes confused. Basic Electrical Measurement Units Voltage, measured in volts (V), is the measure of potential energy per unit of charge.
Electrical Service Panels by Nick Gromicko and Rob London Electrical panels are boxes that house circuit breakers, which are are safety devices that stop the electrical current if it exceeds the safe level for some portion of the home electrical system. Safety Many people, even experienced electricians, have been killed or seriously injured while
Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) by Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are special types of electrical receptacles or outlets and circuit breakers designed to detect and respond to potentially dangerous electrical arcs in home branch wiring. How do they work? AFCIs function by monitoring the electrical waveform and promptly
Hot Water Recirculation Systems by Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard A hot water recirculation system is a plumbing system that moves hot water to fixtures quickly without waiting for the water to get hot. Rather than relying on low water pressure, common in most water lines, recirculating systems rapidly move water from a
Anti-Scald Valves by Nick Gromicko and Rob London Anti-scald valves, also known as tempering valves and mixing valves, mix cold water in with outgoing hot water so that the hot water that leaves a fixture is not hot enough to scald a person. Facts and Figures Scalds account for 20% of all burns. More than
Rodent Inspection by Nick Gromicko and Elise London Rodents are a problem not just because they can destroy personal property and create problems with a home's structure, but also because they can spread serious diseases to humans and their pets. Rodent-borne disease may be spread directly -- by touching rodents or their urine, feces or saliva -- or indirectly --
Termite Control in the Home by Nick Gromicko and Elise London Wood-destroying insects and other organisms can cause serious problems in the wooden structural components of a house, and may go undetected for a long period of time. New Construction All chemical soil treatments, bait systems, and chemical wood treatment must be approved by