Home Inspection

[Habitat]

Thank you for all DX support. I need a volunteer to help me type some basic home maintenance work in chinese. I received phone call about how to trouble shoot a not-working furnace, how to light up hot water tank, etc. I have the literature in chinese or english. But I don't know how to type in chinese. I am planning to use this web site as a self-help tool for all our DX, and hopefully I can also answer questions.
Thank you.
Tom Leung 403-667-4677

[judychow]

Tom, 我可以帮你.

BTW: 多谢你在我买房过程中给予的一切帮助.在这过程中房子的原ower和你是我们新认识的两个好人.

[Habitat]

Topic #1 - No hot water supply (gas water heater)

1.Check water shut-off valve(cold water supply to tank)above hot water tank is opened.
2.Check gas shut-off valve(usually a brass fitting located along the black iron gas pipe)next to hot water tank is opened(the lever direction is parallel to the gas pipe direction means open; and when it is at right angle means shut).
3.If you smell gas, turn gas supply off, and call "ATCO GAS" 403-245-7222(english speaking only). If you smell very strong gas, open all your windows before you call. This is a free-of-charge, gas leak detection service offered by your gas company. They will come to your home, usually within 1 hour, to locate the leak, but, usually, will not fix the problem, unless the leak is part of the gas meter installation.
4.Check temperature setting(a round dial mounted on the outside face of a square metal box(gas valve unit)near the bottom of the hot water tank) is set at "WARM" or "VACATION"(means low temperature); adjust to higher temperature-"HOT".
5.Open metal access panels(below square metal box). Do you see any pilot light? If pilot light is dead(located at the end of a small metal tube near the burner), follow step 6.
6.Rotate dial knob(on top of the square metal box)to "PILOT" position. Depress the knob with finger & hold down. This allows small amount of gas to the metal tube for you to ignite the pilot light(use a BBQ lighter). Ignite it NOW! Does the pilot light stay on? If yes, keep pressing down the knob for 30 seconds, and release you finger. Replace the 2 metal access panels. Turn the knob to "ON". You should hear the burner starts burning.
7.If the pilot light does not stay on, repeat step 6. If it does not stay on after several tries, you need a serviceman(plumber or gas fitter)to do repair.
8.The above steps are in addition to the lighting instruction sticker; you can find it placed on the body of most hot water tank.

Thank you very much, Judy!

Tom Leung

[This message was edited by Habitat on February 18, 2004 at 08:39.]

[Habitat]

Topic #2 No warm air supply (forced air gas furnace system)

1. Recommend reading topic #1 before reading below.
2. Check for correct temperature setting of the thermostat. If you have a switch labeled "HEAT", "OFF" & "COOL", make sure it is on "HEAT". Also check for possible dead battery if you have a programmable LCD display thermostat.
3. Check electrical supply is on. There is a switch, installed at ceiling level or at about 6 ft from floor of a wall, near the furnace. Make sure this is switched on. This supplies electricity for the furnace to operate as well as the control thermostat installed at main floor of your house.
4. Check electrical panel, the breaker (15A or 20A) for furnace is on. If it keeps tripping the breaker, call an electrician.
5. Check for very dirty air filter (change every month in winter). The slow movement of air will cause the furnace to shut down by itself. This is a safety feature (prevents overheating) of all furnaces.
6. Check gas shut-off valve is opened. If you smell very strong gas, open all windows and call "ATCO GAS" 403-245-7222.
7. The following is for old model furnaces (mostly 1985 & older). Open front access panel of the furnace (usually lift up & pull); this will expose gas valve unit & front portion of the combustion system. Do you see any pilot light? If it is dead, follow step 8 to re-ignite. Open the lower half of the access panel; you will see the fan motor unit (sometime with an air filter below). Do you see a broken black rubber fan belt? Even if it is cracked, you should have it replaced (buy from Canadian Tire). Put the lower panel back on.
8. The gas valve unit (similar to the one at the hot water tank) has labeled "OFF", "PILOT" & "ON"; rotate the knob to "PILOT" position. Depress the knob with finger & hold down. This allows small amount of gas to the small metal tube for you to ignite the pilot light. Ignite it NOW! Does the pilot light stay on? If yes, keep depressing down the knob for 30 seconds, and release you finger. Turn the knob to "ON". With proper electrical supply & temperature setting of the thermostat, the furnace should fire up the burners within 45 seconds.
9. If the pilot light does not stay on, repeat step 8. If it does not stay on after several tries, you need repair. Usually, it is either the thermocouple (a device to keep the pilot light on) problem or malfunction of the gas valve unit (more $ to repair/replace).
10. Newer furnaces may not have a pilot light. This means the firing up of the burners is either by electronic ignition or electrical hot plate ignition. You normally see some computer chipboard inside the lower portion of the furnace. If it breaks down, you have to hire a furnace technician to trouble shoot. And normally they will replace the chipboard to correct faulty ignition of the system.
11. If you have a loosely installed lower access panel, this may shut down electrical supply to the furnace (a safety feature).
12. There may be a chance that a standard thermostat (the type with a mercury bulb inside) would fail suddenly. If you are brave enough, perform the following test (not recommended for DX without basic technical knowledge). Remove the thermostat from the wall (front cover & base unit). You will see 2 small wires connected to the back. Unscrew 1 wire and put in contact with the other (this will switch on the furnace circuit). Go down to the basement to see if the furnace will start burning. If it does, you have a faulty thermostat. Go to Home Depot, buy the same type (about $20), and replace it.
13. Good Luck!

Tom Leung

[judychow]

How to help you?

[Habitat]

Hi, Judy!
I do not have the Topic #1 & #2 in chinese version. I am preparing Topic #3 (Home Safety).
I would like to get comments from all DX viewing this page. Is any DX with difficulty understanding my information? If yes, I may need Judy to do translation directly from this page, and type everything again in chinese. Or, if there is a DX aviailble to teach me how to put chinese writing in this page. I can do it again later. We can have both chinese & english versions on this same page as a cross reference.
Comments from DX please!
Tom Leung

[judychow]

意见反馈:

这里的同学读和理解上面的英文应该没有问题. 可是有可能有象我这样的同学,就是懒得读英文.所以如果是中文会好一些.

To Tom:如果你要学敲入中文,我可以来教你,或者你带你的LAPTOP到我家来.

[Habitat]

No other DX has any comments or opinions?

Tom Leung

[Habitat]

Topic #3 - Home Safety

1. Smoke detectors should be installed at each storey (at ceiling level, outside the bedroom area-hallway) of your house. Replace 9V battery if dead (last for 1 year).
2. Install carbon monoxide detector (plug-in type) near the returen air grille/opening (on main floor) of your furnace system.
3. Do not use any room without window opening as a bedroom, particularly on basement level. We need the window to get out in case of a fire. Do not install non-openable security bar/grille at this window.
4. Do not start your car to warm up inside a garage with the overhead garage door closed. Carbon monoxide poisoning. Particularly your garage is attached to the house. You can plug in block heater (only need 3 hours) of your car to keep warm. Most newer model cars do not need to plug in when park inside a garage.
5. Do not use wood burning fireplace inside your house, particularly with no immediate window/door opening nearby. This opening is for supplying fresh air for you to burn wood (even though some fireplace comes with built-in fresh air vents).
6. Do not operate gas fireplace (with glass front) with your child un-attended. They may put their hands on the HOT glass and BURN.
7. Check water temperature setting of your hot water tank. Too hot is dangerous for your young children when they play with water.
8. Make sure all handrails/railings are securely fastened at staircase. Your old parents & young children need to grab on when they go up & down the stairs.
9. Keep storage (combustible) away from furnace & hot water tank.
10. If you are leaving home for a long vacation, shut off the water main valve & turn hot water temperature setting to "WARM" or "VACATION" (do not switch off electricity supply to furnace).
11. Your hot BBQ should not get near your house wall when it is plastic.
12. Replace dirty air filter on your furnace.
13. Have a nice stay!

Tom Leung
Registered Home Inspector
403-667-4677

[Blueblaze]

意见反馈。

TOM 是一个很热心的人。他办我检查的房屋，提出许多建议。

个人认为不需翻译：可以提高英语。

祝您生意兴隆！

[Habitat]

Topic #4 - Overhead garage door opener

1. Grease the track (I-beam or rounded rod) for the glider to move freely without metal polishing metal (when the track is out of grease). Check and do this every year. The kind of grease is same as the type we use on our cars. Your opener will not function properly without grease on the track.
2. Spray "WD40" (or equivalent) on the tension spring (preventing rust build up). This spring rotates when the overhead door moves up & down. The tension keeps the door weight to minimum. Never adjust this spring yourself.
3. Disconnect power to the door opener when you let your children play alone in the garage.

Tom Leung
Registered Home Inspector
403-667-4677

[Habitat]

Topic #5 - Flushing of hot water tank

1. Refer to topic #1 before reading below.
2. If you have a rather new model hot water tank, you shall perform "flushing" to clear or flushing out sediment build-up at the bottom of the tank.
3. You need a garden hose to connect the drain valve (near the bottom of the tank), and put the other end of the hose into a floor drain.
4. Open the drain valve fully opened. Let run for 5 minutes (no matter you see clear or brown water coming out). Do this once every 6 months.
5. Do not adjust any other controls on the tank.
6. The water being flushed out is usually cold.
7. If you have hot water coming out at the very beginning, it means you probably have an old tank, and you are not getting enough hot water for your bath.
8. After the 5-minute flushing, close the drain valve, do not over tighten. There may be some dripping, but it will stop when the water heats up again.
9. The above helps to prolong the life of the hot water tank. But, could not solve the lack of hot water supply of an old tank (the sediment is too hard to remove by flushing).

To Judy: I intend to write the topics in english for now. I am still interested to learn typing in chinese. Will contact you in future (wait till you settle down at your new house). Thanks.

Tom Leung
Registered Home Inspector
403-667-4677

[Habitat]

Topic #6 - Carbon Monoxide Detector

To all DX living in Canada.
No matter you are renting a basement suite, or living in an one million dollar house, you must install a carbon monoxide detector inside your house (main floor) to protect you and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning because of accidental failure of a combustion system. There is an old couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning in their Whitehorn home just past Monday this week. Please pass on this message to any of your relatives and friends. BUY IT NOW!

Tom Leung
Registered Home Inspector
403-667-4677

[Habitat]

Topic #7 - Checking on Furnaces

If you have a customer account with ATCO Gas, you may telephone their office to set up an appointment with one of their technicians to come to your house to carry out a simple checking on your furnace. This is a free-of-charge service and that's why I called this a simple checking. Actually, portion of your monthly gas bill goes to this service (so it is not free). You can have one inspection per year. Don't expect too much from this free service, they need a coffee break afterward. People usually do this before winter comes. Appointment is usually scheduled within the following 2 to 3 weeks. (not like gas leak, they will come right away). If you do not understand any of the combustion system in your house, it is a good idea to have them come to you to ensure a safe operation.

Tom Leung
Registered Home Inspector
403-667-4677

[This message was edited by Habitat on March 03, 2004 at 9:40.]

[Habitat]

Topic #8 - Preparing for rainy months

Our rainy season is May & June in Calgary. If you are not afraid of height, climb up an extension ladder to clean all the gutters by your roof. This will improve fast & efficient draining of rain water down to the downpipes and away from your house. Check all the downpipes and extension are correctly placed to drain water away from your house foundation. Look at corners of the gutters for loose or damaged seal, they may need extra silicone caulking (buy from Home Depot) to watertight the mitre joints. Try to do this when the weather is warm enough for you. If you have large trees near your house, you should do this 2 times a year (April & October). BE CAREFUL!

Tom Leung
Registered Home Inspector
403-667-4677

[Habitat]

Topic #10 - Remote starter for your vehicle

Calgary is quite warm this year. When it is cold, I bet you all love to get into a warm car with a remote vehicle starter installed. Ha! Ha! I don't have one, and I don't want to install one. WHY????? Read below:
The remote starter is, of course, activated by a remote control. When the car is parked outdoor, there should not be any problems other than dumping exhaust gas to affect our global warming. This remote control acts similar to our remote control for vehicle security alarm system or our overhead garage door opener . We push a button, it goes on and off. Think about when the car is parked inside your garage attached to your house; and the remote starter is interfered by other radio frequency and accidently turned on. (Your naughty kid may do this. Or, some crooks try to open your garage door by emitting random radio signals; always lock the man door). The car will keep pumping carbon monoxide gas into the garage, and the poisonous gas will seep through any cracks or holes to get into the house. Your whole family may get kill because of this (sleeping through the night and never get up). Once again, you must install carbon monoxide detector inside your home. Please pass on this message to all DX.
Good luck!

For information about home inspection, please visit www.cahpi-alberta.com

[This message was edited by Habitat on March 20, 2004 at 21:53.]

[This message was edited by Habitat on March 21, 2004 at 13:32.]

[海河情深]

good job.

Pls continue!

[jennypkf]

TO Habitat:
thank you for inspecting our house this morning!
Your topics are very useful for us!

[Habitat]

Topic #11 - Razor outlet in bathroom

If you live in an old house, mostly 20 years or more, there is an electrical razor outlet for men plugging in their electric shavers. Today, it is obsolete. You can replace this outlet by a GFCI outlet we normally see in a new house.

1) Behind the existing razor outlet, there is a transformer.
2) Turn off the power (from your electrical panel, and is one of the 15A breakers) supplying to this transformer).
3) Disconnect the wiring, and connect to your new GFCI outlet ($10 from Rona/Home Depot). Read the instruction. Make sure you connect the hot (black) & neutral (white) to the proper position on the outlet. (ususally to "LINE" and not "LOAD" on the back of the outlet). Don't forget the ground connection (bare copper wire).
4) Install the outlet on the same opening by buying same size metal cover plate/bracket ($7 from Rona/Home Depot, size is about 11cm square).
5) Test the button on the outlet. If it works, you are done. If not, read installation instruction of the GFCI outlet, try again.
Good Luck!

[Habitat]

Topic #12 - Smoke Detectors

Please check your smoke detectors to see if they are working properly or not. You have only 2 types. One is battery operated, found in most old houses. The other is not using battery, but it is connected to the electricity supply of your house.
How to test? See follows:
1) if you smoke, put your cigarette smoke (or use incense) near the detector, and listen to the siren come on.
2) if the siren comes on when you cook, it means OK. You may also push the test button.
3) if the siren does not come on, it means either the battery is dead (needs replacement) or the sensor of the detector is not functioning. Or the electrical connection to the detector is disconnected for some other reason.
4) You should replace any old model of smoke detectors if they are older than 10 years, even though they may still work. It costs you only $10.
5) If you hear "beep" once every minute, it means the battery power is low. Replace battery.

Have a nice day!