Washington State Carbon Monoxide Law

January 1, 2011, Washington State law required CO detectors to be installed in all new single family homes and residences, including condominiums, apartments, hotels, and motels.

The state law requires CO detectors be installed in existing condominiums, apartments, hotels, motels and single- family residences by January 1, 2013. 
 
Owner-occupied single-family residences, legally occupied before July 26, 2009, are not required to have CO detectors until they are sold. The seller of the home is now required to supply the residence with CO detectors before any other person legally occupies the home.

If your home does not currently have carbon monoxide detectors you will be required to install detectors when any major modifications, alterations, repairs or additions occurs. This includes HVAC, plumbing and electrical work.
 

Local code officials will check for compliance with the CO detectors installation requirements when a permit is required for new construction and most modifications, alterations, repairs or additions.

Carbon Monoxide Detector Installation Requirements

1. Alarms must be located outside of each separate sleeping area, in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom and on each level of the residence.
2. Single station carbon monoxide alarms must be listed as complying with UL 2034, and installed in accordance with the code and the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Combined CO and smoke alarms are permitted.
   
   
   NOTE: Carbon Monoxide is a heavy gas. Most CO detectors need to be installed as low to the ground as possible. Always refer to the manufacture safety information when installing CO detectors in your home. More information can be found here: Washington State Carbon Monoxide Law

What were they thinking?

From the "Inspection Nightmare" file...

 

"Double Lugged" Breakers...how many wires can you fit in one breaker?

One of the most common electrical issue we find during a home inspection…we normally call a “Double Lugged” breaker. In this case…we can call this more than double lugging!

What is a double lugged breaker? Simply stated it is a breaker that has two wires connected to a single breaker connection. Some breakers may be rated and/or designed to hold two circuits. However, if a circuit breaker is not specifically rated or designed to accommodate two wires then it is considered to be double lugged. This could cause the breaker to trip if both circuits are used at the same time.  Hot spots have also been known to occur at the breaker connection due to improper contact or torque because of the size of the second wire, this can lead to arcing within the panel.

Some electricians offer a few methods of correction for an improperly double lugged breaker.  If there is additional space in the electrical panel an additional circuit breaker can be installed for the second wire, sometimes a mini-double breaker can be added to replace a full sized breaker. If no room is left in the panel for an additional breaker, a single wire (pigtail) can be attached to the breaker and the other two wires attached to that connection with a wire-nut. Whichever method is used, you should ALWAYS use the services of a qualified and licensed electrical contractor. 

So...What's inside your electrical panel?

Special Alarm Offer from ADT

Alarm Offer from ADT

Provided by:

WIN Home Inspection

Tacoma & South Sound

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

$99 Preventative Home Maintenance Inspection

$99 Preventative Home Maintenance Inspection 

Is Your Home Ready For Winter?

If you want to make sure you're monitoring your home's different systems properly, or a are unsure whether you need to replace systems in your home, you might benefit from WIN Home Inspection's preventive home maintenance inspection services. While you might diligently check your home's structure on a regular basis, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between minor wear and tear and signs of major trouble. Fortunately, many home repairs and danger signs can be easily or inexpensively alleviated. The trick comes in knowing what the trouble is. A WIN Home Inspection (WIN) inspector can help you identify trouble spots and solutions to problems. Check this link for a list of common home repair needs and the costs to complete them: http://houseandhome.msn.com/improve/top10homerepairs.aspx.

Like a buyer's inspection - only you already own the home... 

A Preventative Home Maintenance Inspection from WIN Home Inspection Tacoma & South Sound can help you identify situations that need immediate attention and help you prioritize less pressing repairs or replacement needs. During a home maintenance evaluation, our highly trained and professional WIN inspectors review hundreds of potential trouble areas and recommend repairs or preventive measures that can save you money down the line. Our WIN inspectors will examine your roof, structure wiring, plumbing, as well as heating and cooling systems. WIN inspectors also check for common sources of gas leaks, potential electrical hazards and moisture intrusion and any other preventative home maintenance items. 

Creating a priority list for repairs... 

WIN inspectors consult and assist homeowners in prioritizing repairs or improvements based on their findings. Homeowners receive a detailed report of the condition of their home to help plan for needed repairs and upgrades. When you decide to sell your home in the future, you won't face any unexpected surprises and you will have a valuable resource to show potential buyers that you maintained the home over time.

Schedule your Preventative Home Maintenance Inspection

from WIN Home Inspection Tacoma& South Sound!!

Call us TODAY...or...schedule On-Line @ www.wini.com/tacoma

Tacoma ~ 253.720.0390   South Sound ~ 360.280.0344 

Toll Free ~ 866.540.3125

                                                                    

$99 Preventative Home Maintenance Inspection

Fighting Hunger...The WIN way!!

We are fighting hunger...One Inspection At A Time!

In 2010, one in seven households in Washington struggled to provide enough food for their family. This year, the state’s budget crisis will result in the elimination or significant reductions of critical services that help struggling families meet their basic needs, like keeping food on the table.

WIN Home Inspection Tacoma & South Sound is committed to helping those members in our community who are in need...

During the months of October & November, WIN Tacoma&South Sound are donating $10 from EACH Home Inspection to Northwest Harvest...PLUS...Each customer who donates a bag of non-perishable food items at the time of inspection will receive $20 off the inspection fee!!!

Help us Fill the WIN vans...    

All three of our WIN vans will be dropping off the donations during the 11th Annual KING 5  Home Team Harvest on Saturday, December 3rd at one of their Puget Sound locations!

Northwest Harvest can feed a family of three a nutritious meal for 67 cents  with 93% of their total operating budget going directly toward food distribution in Washington. They are Washington’s own statewide hunger relief agency and their mission is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger.

Their vision is ample nutritious food is available to everyone in Washington State. Northwest Harvest is committed to nutrition and is the state's first food bank distribution center to focus on fresh produce. Northwest Harvest has decades of experience in promoting healthy eating while reducing hunger.

For other ways you can help fight hunger in Washington State please visit  www.northwestharvest.org