Electrical Box Openings

Take off as many electrical panel covers as I have and you are bound to see something out of the ordinary. When this electrical panel stuffed with insulation pieces was shown to the owner, he said he observed it some time ago and thought the insulation was placed there on purpose by an electrician.  He was a bit surprised when I informed him that in fact it was a mouse nest that needed to be removed. A mouse can slip through an opening as small as a dime and a mouse had taken advantage of such an opening in this electrical box.  

Again this was a rare find.  However, it is an important reminder to make sure there are not any unsealed openings in an electrical panel or uncovered outlets or light switches that expose electrical connections.

The obvious reason is to ensure that small children who may be prone to sticking things in openings aren't exposed to an electrical shock hazard.  Other reasons include keeping out the occasional unwanted pests that are looking for a nice warm place to call home but may damage electrical connections. Of course, anytime you have an electrical concern, you should always contact a licensed electrician to evaluate the problem to keep everyone in the home safe. Electricians have the special training and know-how to fix the problem properly.

Did you know that January is National Radon Action Month?

I'm sure you've heard how radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America. You can’t see, smell, or taste radon. Having your house tested for radon gas is a voluntary action and a strong recommendation for consumers by the US EPA and many real estate agents.  The EPA has designated January as National Radon Action Month so that people can learn more about the national effort to take action against radon.

Sometimes we do an inspection for a client and their prospective house has a radon remediation system already in it. It's still recommended by the EPA to routinely have the system evaluated to be sure it is working properly. More information about this and the national effort can be found at:  http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram/ 

The following story reinforces that recommendation for routinely having a radon system checked. We did a home inspection and in the corner of the house's basement was a radon mitigation system and a sump pump installation.  The sump was an amateur installation because the pump was just setting in a hole in the floor that was created by breaking out a section of basement concrete floor slab.

 In affect, the system's effectiveness of removing radon from the house had been compromised. How badly compromised would not be known without someone doing a radon test.  Either way, repairs were needed for proper operation of the radon mitigation system and sump pump.

Whether your home has a radon mitigation system or not, regular evaluation is recommended to insure that your home adequately addresses current radon exposure to your family.