Sacramento home inspector shows how to cut water cost

Sacramento Home Inspector Shows How to Cut Water Costs and save…  (ARA) - Most of us give little thought to how much water we use. Compared to other utilities, like heating, water bills are relatively inexpensive for homeowners. Renters typically don’t pay for water at all. These factors and the seeming abundance of water in many areas tend to put water conservation under the radar for most of us.

“The plumbing industry has long been concerned with making products that use less water,” says Colin Thielmann, who is part of the research and development team for Delta Faucet Company. “However, in the past, many products that saved water didn’t perform to consumers’ needs and expectations. Technology has allowed for the creation of products such as electronic kitchen and bath faucets and water-saving showers and toilets that deliver a great experience while using significantly less water.” Having the right products is only part of the answer. Changing behaviors at home can go a long way toward conserving water and energy - and at the same time preserving our environment. Here are a few ways you and your family can help: Out of Doors Wash the car using a bucket of soapy water and a bucket of clean water rather than running a hose. Use biodegradable soaps that are environmentally friendly. This keeps water that drains into storm sewers free of caustic substances. During summertime, be conscious of using hoses and water sprinklers for fun. Water the lawn early in the morning or in the evening when water evaporates more slowly. On rainy days, turn off the automatic sprinkler system. In the Kitchen Learn to reuse: don’t pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering a plant or cleaning. Don’t use running water to thaw frozen foods. Use the microwave or put them in the refrigerator to thaw the night before. Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl rather than running water. In the Bath More water is used in the bathroom than any other room in the home. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth. Make sure the drain stopper is in place before you turn the faucet on when taking baths. Take shorter showers. You can even set goals and time yourself. Install a low-flow showerhead. This will not only save water, but also will conserve the energy that it takes to heat the water. Fix a leaky faucet or a running toilet. Fixing leaks can save around 20 gallons of water per day. These are just a few of the things that can be done in everyday life to conserve water and energy. The earth may be two-thirds water, but only 1 percent of it is considered drinkable. By changing simple behaviors within the home, we can all do our part to preserve this precious resource. For more tips and information on water-saving products visit www.deltafaucet.com or call Delta Faucet Company at (800) 345-DELTA.

Sacramento, beware of Toxic Chinese drywall

This could turn into a Big Deal for Sacramento home inspectors and other inspectors throughout parts of California & Arizona.  Americas Watchdog and its Homeowners Consumer Center are saying the Chinese drywall disaster in Florida is about to become a gigantic disaster in California & Arizona. According to the group, “the Chinese drywall used in US new home construction from 2003 to 2007 & it is about to become a biblical type disaster, for US homeowners unfortunate enough to have this building product in their new home, or condominium. If it’s toxic enough to corrode AC coils and electrical wiring, our biggest worry is, what is it doing to the people who live in the homes, or condominiums? ” Americas Watchdog is calling the toxic Chinese drywall issue, “another biblical type disaster for US homeowners, that is coast to coast.” For more information, homeowners who suspect they might have the Chinese drywall in their homes should call the Homeowners Consumer Center at 866-714-6466 or contact them via their web site at Http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com

 

(PRWEB) March 16, 2009 — Americas Watchdog and its Homeowners Consumer Center are dramatically expanding their investigation of imported toxic Chinese drywall into California & Arizona.. The group has already identified numerous victims in Florida, California, Virginia, Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Georgia, Nevada, the Carolinas, Texas, and in Canada. According to the group, “the imported Chinese drywall is coast to coast, and it is so toxic, that it will corrode air conditioning coils, and electrical wiring. This mentions nothing of the health affects related to exposure.” The Homeowners Consumer Center is saying, “there is about to be a seismic shift from Florida, to the West Coast & Texas. Most people we talk to never realized the problem with their home was the drywall. This is the absolute worst environmental disaster ever faced by US homeowners.” If you are a homeowner in a new home built since 2001 in California or Arizona, that has a rotten egg, or sulphur smell, and you have charred, black electrical wires, or corroded air conditioning coils, along with health issues, you should contact the Homeowners Consumer Center immediately at 866-714-6466, or contact the via their web site at Http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com.

The Homeowners Consumer Center is begging for the California, and Arizona print news media to call the group for more information, because of the serious exposure issues for homeowners living in the California or Arizona homes. ” We did one newspaper interview for a Vancouver, BC newspaper last week. Because of this newspaper article we received over 400 calls from homeowners in the Vancouver metro; 100 of which we are sure have the toxic Chinese drywall in their homes. We need to also talk to the print media & newspapers in Texas, New Orleans, Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Oregon, the Carolina’s & Mississippi.”

According to the Homeowners Consumer Center, “we always expected to find very heavy concentrations of the Chinese drywall in California, Arizona, Las Vegas, the Pacific Northwest and the Mountain West, because most of the product was shipped through the ports of Long Beach, Oakland, and/or Seattle/Tacoma. ”

What California or Arizona communities will have large concentrations of the toxic Chinese drywall? In California: the Sacramento metro, Riverside County, Modesto, Fresno, San Jose metro, LA County, In Arizona the Phoenix metro & Tucson metro areas.

In other states, what big metro areas will have large concentrations of the toxic Chinese drywall? Texas: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio & Austin. Colorado: Denver, Boulder & Colorado Springs. New Mexico: Albuquerque, Santa Fe. Nevada: Las Vegas, & Reno.

What should homeowners in these cities who have a new home built between 2001 and 2008 be looking for with respect to the Chinese Drywall?

* The house has to have been built or remodeled after 2000.Most homes that will have the toxic Chinese drywall were built between 2004 & 2007

* There may be a rotten egg, sulfur-type, or acid type smell in the home or condominium.

* Sacramento homeowners, building owners, or occupants in most cases will have seen continuous failures of their air conditioning coils, or HVAC units beyond anything normal.

* Sacramento homeowners, building owners, or occupants may have noticed corroded, or black electrical wiring in their walls, in properties built, or remodeled since 2001. Homeowners who suspect their home may have the Chinese drywall can remove electrical receptacle plates to see if the cooper ground wire has turned black. If the wiring inside the receptacle boxes have turned black it is a strong indicator of the toxic Chinese drywall. If a homeowner in any state see’s this, they should call the Homeowners Consumer Center immediately at 866-714-6466.

* Sacramento homeowners, building owners or occupants may have experienced mild to severe upper respiratory problems, nose bleeds, headaches or other potentially serious medical conditions.

* Oven, or stove elements, or refrigerator coils may have failed in the homes, or condominiums a number of times.

* Silver jewelry or silver plated utensils may be tarnished

Note: Americas Watchdog’s National Mortgage Complaint Center has been taking regional & national homebuilders for years, with issues ranging from appraisal fraud, predatory mortgage lending to title insurance scams. Http://NationalMortgageComplaintCen ter.Com

A repeat special call out to our friends in New Orleans, Texas and all Gulf Coast States. “We were in New Orleans before, during and after Hurricane Katrina. If you know, or suspect the toxic Chinese Drywall is in your house, please call the Homeowners Consumer Center at 866-714-6466, or contact the group via their web site at http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.com.

Americas Watchdog and its Homeowners Consumer Center are trying to get the word out about the Chinese drywall and the group is intensifying its state by state and national investigations to increase public awareness. According to the group, “if you have friends, family, co-workers or loved ones, who live in a new home built after 200, that has a sulphur, or rotten egg type smell, and or if the homeowners

Sacramento home inspector tips on a/c fuses

Sacramento Homeowners. Do not use foreign objects to replace you’re A/C fuses!

 

 

Step1

At the beginning of the Sacramento summer months, it is a good idea to pick up some replacement fuses to have on hand just in case you need them. They are relatively inexpensive and when the temperature is in the 90s, you do not want to wait too long before you get the central air conditioning back up and cooling. The fuses can be purchased at your local Sacramento hardware store.

 

Step2

Before you pick up your new fuses you have to have an idea of what kind you will need. In most central air conditioning installations there should be a disconnect switch located near the compressor outside. This is where the fuses are located. Before you open up the door on the disconnect switch, turn OFF the circuit breaker delivering power to it. It will usually be a two-pole, 30-amp breaker in your electrical panel, but not always, so be sure to check. In addition, turn OFF your thermostat before you begin troubleshooting your air conditioning unit.

 

Step3

With the circuit breaker and the thermostat OFF, head over to the disconnect switch, turn the switch OFF and open the door. Inside you will see two cartridge fuses with wires connected to terminals above and below them. Take your voltage tester and probe the two wires coming into the disconnect switch which are connected above the fuses (touch one probe to one terminal and the other probe to the other terminal). If you get no reading, probe the bottom wires as well. If you get no voltage readings on any of the wires, then it is safe to proceed.

 

Step4

Use the fuse pullers to pull out the cartridge fuses. There should be an amperage listed on the fuse (typically 30 or 40amp). You will also want to know whether your unit requires standard, fast or delay-rated fuses. For easiest replacing, take one of your fuses to the hardware store and choose one with the exact specifications. Do not temporarily replace fuses with a foreign object like tin foil or nails like the photo above.

 

Step5

Now that you have your new fuses in tow, test the existing fuses for continuity (see link in Resources below for how to test a fuse). It is possible that only one fuse may be bad, but even if that is the case, I would replace both fuses so you are not in the same position next week.

 

Step6

If the fuses are in fact the problem, then install the replacement fuses. You should use the fuse pullers to insert the new fuses into their clamps. Make sure that the fuses are fully seated into their clamps. Close the door on the disconnect switch and turn the switch back on.

 

Step7

Turn the circuit breaker back on, and lastly, turn the thermostat back on. Dial down your thermostat and you should hear the wonderful click and hum of the central air conditioning kicking on. Ah, the sound of heaven.