Owning a home is a dream come true for many, but it comes with responsibilities that extend beyond mortgage payments and maintenance. One of the most critical aspects of homeownership is ensuring the safety of your property and loved ones from potential hazards, such as house fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), thousands of house fires occur each year in the United States, with a significant portion of them being preventable. At Smith & Smith Home Inspections in Murfreesboro, TN, we believe that awareness and proactive measures are key to minimizing the risk of fire. Let’s delve into some of the most common causes of house fires and how you can protect your home.

Electrical Malfunctions:

Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and old appliances are common culprits behind electrical fires. Signs such as flickering lights, frequently tripped circuit breakers, or outlets that feel warm to the touch should not be ignored. Ensuring your home’s electrical system is up-to-date and not overloaded can significantly reduce the risk of an electrical fire.

Heating Equipment:

During colder months, heating equipment like space heaters, furnaces, and fireplaces become essential. However, they also account for a significant number of house fires, especially if not used correctly. Keep space heaters away from flammable materials, have your furnace inspected annually, and ensure chimneys are cleaned regularly to prevent creosote buildup.

Cooking Incidents:

Cooking is an essential daily activity, but it also poses one of the highest risks for house fires. Leaving cooking unattended, grease buildup, and flammable items near stoves or ovens can easily ignite and lead to a dangerous blaze. It’s crucial always to stay in the kitchen while cooking, use a timer as a reminder, and keep flammable materials away from heat sources.

Smoking Materials:

Carelessly discarded cigarettes, cigars, or other smoking materials are a leading cause of fire deaths in homes. Smoking should be restricted to designated areas outside the home, and proper disposal methods should always be followed to prevent accidental fires.

Candles:

While candles create a cozy ambiance, they can also ignite curtains, furniture, or other flammable items if left unattended. Opt for flameless candles whenever possible, and never leave burning candles in rooms where no one is present.

Flammable Liquids:

Products like gasoline, propane, or even cleaning solvents should be stored in well-ventilated areas away from heat sources. Improper storage or handling of these substances can lead to disastrous consequences.

Children and Pets:

Curious children and playful pets can inadvertently cause fires by tampering with cooking appliances, playing with matches or lighters, or knocking over candles. It’s crucial to educate children about fire safety and keep matches and lighters out of their reach.

Preventive Measures:

At Smith & Smith Home Inspections, we emphasize the importance of fire safety through thorough home inspections and by educating homeowners about potential hazards. Installing smoke detectors on every floor and testing them monthly, having fire extinguishers readily accessible, and creating a fire escape plan are critical steps every household should take.

By understanding these common causes of house fires and taking proactive measures, homeowners can significantly reduce the risk to their property and loved ones. As the best priced home inspector in the Middle Tennessee area, we are committed to helping residents ensure their homes are safe and secure. Contact us today for a comprehensive inspection to identify potential fire hazards and improve the overall safety of your home.

Remember, fire safety is everyone’s responsibility, and being prepared can make all the difference in protecting what matters most. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and stay safe.

Smith & Smith Home Inspections is dedicated to providing thorough home inspections in Murfreesboro, TN and surrounding counties, ensuring your peace of mind and the safety of your home. Email us at tylersmith@smithsmithhomeinspections.com or call 615-605-0370 to schedule your inspection today.

At Smith & Smith Home Inspections of Murfreesboro, TN, we strive to inspect every square foot of your home’s crawl space. Your home’s crawl space might be out of sight, but it’s definitely not out of mind when it comes to protecting your property. Often overlooked, crawl spaces can be susceptible to various issues like moisture, pests, and structural damage if not properly maintained. Thankfully, there are simple steps you can take to safeguard this crucial area of your home. In this post, we’ll explore five easy ways to protect your crawl space and keep your home safe and sound.

• Seal Off Entry Points: One of the primary concerns for crawl spaces is unwanted guests like rodents and insects. These critters can wreak havoc on your home’s foundation and insulation. To prevent them from making themselves at home, start by sealing off entry points. Inspect the perimeter of your crawl space for any cracks, gaps, or openings and seal them using caulk or foam insulation. Pay special attention to areas where pipes, cables, or vents enter your home, as these are common entry points for pests.

• Install a Vapor Barrier: Moisture is another major issue in crawl spaces, leading to mold growth, wood rot, and even structural damage over time. Installing a vapor barrier is an effective way to combat excess moisture. A vapor barrier is a thick plastic sheeting that is laid across the floor of the crawl space to prevent moisture from seeping through the ground and into your home. It also helps to create a barrier against pests and radon gas. Installing a vapor barrier is a relatively simple DIY project that can have a big impact on the health and longevity of your crawl space.
• Improve Ventilation: Proper ventilation is key to maintaining a healthy crawl space environment. Without adequate airflow, moisture can become trapped, leading to a host of problems. To improve ventilation, consider installing vents or a crawl space fan. Vents allow fresh air to circulate through the crawl space, helping to reduce moisture levels and prevent mold growth. A crawl space fan can also help to expel stale air and moisture, keeping the space dry and well-ventilated. Be sure to keep vents clear of debris and vegetation to ensure optimal airflow.
• Monitor Humidity Levels: Monitoring humidity levels in your crawl space is essential for preventing moisture-related issues. Ideally, humidity levels should be kept below 60% to inhibit mold growth and protect wooden structures from rot. You can easily monitor humidity levels using a hygrometer, which is a small device that measures relative humidity. Place a hygrometer in your crawl space and check it regularly to ensure humidity levels are within the recommended range. If humidity levels are consistently high, you may need to take additional steps such as installing a dehumidifier to keep moisture in check.

• Maintain Proper Drainage: Poor drainage around your home can lead to water pooling around the foundation and seeping into the crawl space. To prevent water intrusion, ensure that your home’s exterior is properly graded away from the foundation and that gutters and downspouts are directing water away from the house. Additionally, consider installing a French drain or a sump pump system to help divert excess water away from the crawl space. By maintaining proper drainage, you can reduce the risk of water damage and moisture-related issues in your crawl space.

Protecting your crawl space doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By following these five easy steps, you can help safeguard your home against moisture, pests, and other common crawl space problems. Taking the time to properly maintain your crawl space can save you money in the long run by preventing costly repairs and ensuring the health and longevity of your home’s foundation. So don’t wait until problems arise, take proactive steps today to protect your crawl space and enjoy peace of mind knowing that your home is well-protected.

Smith & Smith Home Inspections will document the condition of your crawl space, including defects, areas of neglect and needed upgrades. We provide complete home inspections for home buyer inspections and home seller inspections throughout Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Lebanon, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, La Vergne, Winchester, Woodbury, Columbia, Nashville & The Greater Middle Tennessee Area. Contact us today to schedule your home inspection, radon test, and/or air quality test with mold analysis report! Our prices are the best around, with superior customer service and same day home inspection reports.

In a home, an electrical panel is the central distribution point for all of the electricity that enters your families’ abode. They are typically installed in utility rooms, garages and basements. An electrical panel is where you will find breaker switches for different appliances and outlets in your home, and allows a homeowner the power to quickly shut down electricity in the event of a power surge or an emergency. These panels have covers that ensure no wires are exposed that could cause electrical shock, and also prevents the internal mechanisms from being exposed to dust, dirt, and moisture. Before you purchase a house, a home inspection should be conducted to look for such things as loose wires, singed wires, double tapped breakers, ground fault circuit interrupter breakers, arc-fault circuit interrupter breakers, and any faulty wiring or short circuits as a result of pest infestation and/or exposure of wires to the elements. Most importantly, when Smith & Smith Home Inspections of Murfreesboro, TN is performing an electrical inspection, I check for recalled panels and breakers. Three of the top recalled electrical panels are Federal Pacific, Zinsco and Challenger.

Federal Pacific

Federal Pacific electric panel with Stab-Lok breakers were installed in homes built between 1950 and 1990. After reports of electrical fires in the 1980s, an investigation revealed that 1 out of 4 Stab-Lok breakers would not trip. In other words, the breakers couldn’t prevent overloading and electrical faults. In 2012, a paper was published that stated that Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers could be responsible for 2,800 fires and 13 deaths. When looking to identify a Federal Pacific electrical panel, search for the Federal Pacific or Stab-Lok labels on breakers and the panel. Plus, Federal Pacific circuit breakers have red strips across them.

Zinsco

Zinsco breakers were placed in many homes built in the 1970s. These breakers had design flaws that created fire hazards and electrical shocks. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration published an accident report that stated that an electrical contractor sustained second and third degree burns after an electrical fault happened while working on a Zinsco electric panel. Zinsco breakers can also be linked to thousands of fires in the past 20 years. Zinsco electrical panels can be identified by its brightly-colored pink, yellow, red, blue, and green breakers. Their breakers also appear thinner than modern day breakers.

Challenger

The Challenger electrical panel was released by GTE Corporation in 1973. The Challenger panel was installed in many thousands of homes between the 1980s and 1990s. Due to safety hazards, the Challenger panel was recalled. Homeowners must be aware that some Challenger breakers do not feature their brand name, but have the GTE-Sylvania label instead.

Recent Recall on Square D Panel

Specific QO Plug-On Neutral Load Centers manufactured between February 1, 2020 and January 12, 2022 at Schneider Electric Plant 15 had loose neutral screw connections. If that connection is loose, the affected load center can overheat, posing thermal burn and fire hazards. If you have a Square D electrical panel with a date code that falls between 194871 and 221343, you should request a free inspection from Schneider Electric.

At Smith & Smith Home Inspections, I provide due diligence in finding and informing my clients of all electrical problems observed, whether big or small. We provide home buyer inspections and home seller inspections throughout Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Lebanon, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, La Vergne, Winchester, Woodbury, Columbia, Nashville & The Greater Middle Tennessee Area. Contact us today to schedule your inspection!

As the owner and lead home inspector for Smith & Smith Home Inspections, I’ve inspected thousands of houses. The main concerns I have when inspecting a property is to find all fire hazards, safety hazards and anything that would put the home occupants at risk. Rental properties are where I usually find a high number of these safety risks and hazards. Here I’ll highlight the safety hazards I discovered in one duplex in Murfreesboro, TN.

Removing a dead front cover, and inspecting the interior of an electrical panel is a very important course of action as a home inspector. At this house’s sub panel, the ground and neutral wires are bonded on the same bus bar. If the load should become unbalanced, and ground and neutral are bonded, the current will flow through anything bonded to the sub-panel (enclosure, ground wire, piping, etc.) and back to the main panel. This is a major shock hazard! It can also cause problems with GFCI breakers, and cause equipment interference issues. You want one path for power to return to the source. If grounds and neutrals are connected at a sub panel, the grounds could take some of the power load and deliver it back to the main panel. This would be very bad. Grounds are never supposed to have any power, except for instances were there is a surge of power. The grounds alleviate the surge by pushing the path of the power to the Earth/ground, so nobody gets hurt.

Defected and wrongly wired outlets are the next hazards found. The updates and remodeling of the place did not include the work of a licensed, qualified electrician. The home had outlets with open grounds, outlets with open neutrals, and outlets with the hot and neutral wires reversed. An open ground is when a three-pronged outlet is not connected to the home’s grounding system. This is unsafe because if a fault were to happen, the surge could damage equipment or people rather than routing to the ground. Hot and neutral wires reversed can cause plugged in items to be electrically charged at all times, which could cause short circuits, shock, or fire. When you have an open neutral, there’s a disconnect in the white wire. Electricity can still flow to the device through the hot wire, but it can’t return to the panel. The device plugged in won’t work, but you can still get a shock from it because it’s energized. Most electrical fires are caused by a loose neutral wire.

In case of a fire or an emergency, the occupants of a home should be able to make a speedy escape from the building. This house had keyed deadbolts on the interior side, and windows taped shut, because they were the original 70s, single pane windows, and were super drafty. The front door and back door to the exterior had a deadbolt which required a key for operation from the inside. This condition is unsafe as it may slow or prevent exit during an emergency, and installation of these types of deadbolts is no longer allowed in new construction. Imagine trying to find a key, so you and your loved ones can escape a burning building. There is no logic for having an interior keyed deadbolt. As for the taped windows, bedroom windows double as emergency egresses. To top everything off, in the attic, the walls separating the duplexes were not fire rated. Meaning that fire can easily spread from one dwelling to the other. Plus, smoke detectors were not installed inside every bedroom.

If you are looking to buy a home or an investment property, you want your home inspector to be experienced in building and construction, InterNACHI certified, and licensed by the state of Tennessee. I am that home inspector. At Smith & Smith Home Inspections, we inspect the entire house, from the foundation to the roof, and we always include thermal imaging and gas leak detection, all at a reasonable, flat rate price. We provide home inspections and radon testing throughout Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Lebanon, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, La Vergne, Winchester, Woodbury, Columbia, Nashville & The Greater Middle Tennessee Area. Call/text/email to schedule your inspection today!

Here at Smith & Smith Home Inspections of Murfreesboro TN, there are common defects and problem areas that we find in crawl spaces, no matter the age of the house. An advantage of purchasing a home with a crawl space is that your home inspector can see the condition of the house’s bottom plates, rim joists and overall floor structure. Your home inspector can also observe if there are any flaws in the plumbing and/or wiring, if there were past or present leaks under the kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms, and, most importantly, if there has been any movement in the foundation wall.

During a home inspection, it is very important to observe the entire perimeter of the crawl space. Leaks or moisture intrusion at the roof eaves, siding, windows and doors can be seen as moisture stains and/or rot on the rim joists, joist ends and bottom plates. These are also the main areas where one will find termite damage. I find termite damage at past or present moisture intrusions, behind mulched areas, behind areas that have siding touching grade, and the side where the garage slab meets the house. Plus, past or present termite tunnels are easy to observe inside a crawl space. As a home inspector, I poke and prod all wood with moisture stains and all wood above past or present termite tunnels to discover rot and insect damage.

The most common leak to find in a crawl space is around toilets. If a wax ring is not installed properly, or the toilet is not secured enough to the bathroom floor, a leak will occur. You can check if a toilet is secured properly to the floor by placing each knee up against the toilet sides, and lightly push/pull with your legs. If I discover a loose toilet in any bathroom, more than 90% of the time, I will discover active moisture stains under that toilet. If an active leak is found under a toilet, you must go ahead and replace the wax ring before you refasten or tighten the toilet connection to the floor.

Another important area in crawl space inspections are plumbing and electrical wiring. I find pipes and wiring not supported properly all the time. If not supported properly, plumbing pipes can sag when filled with water. The weight of the water can break connections, or the joints, and cause serious leaks, which, in turn, could cause expensive water damage. As for what could be discovered wrong with electrical wiring, for example, the other day a client asked me why the kitchen island did not have an electrical outlet. With the Murfreesboro house being only two years old, I assumed the electrician must have just forgot to wire an outlet to the kitchen island. Under the kitchen, I found a live wire (safety hazard) labeled “kitchen island”. It was wired downstream from the kitchen ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI), but never found its way to the kitchen island.

Lastly, crawl spaces are great places for home inspectors to observe the condition of foundation walls. Not all cracks in foundation walls are serious concerns. Vertical hairline cracks can be pretty common, and can be caused by normal house settlement and compression and tension on the concrete. New homes can start seeing vertical cracks after only a couple of years. While you might not necessarily have to do anything to fix hairline or vertical cracks at the moment, you must continue to monitor them. Since cracks can change subtly over time, the best way to measure changes is to take pictures and measure cracks every six months to a year. Horizontal cracks can point to a more serious problem. They can be caused by hydrostatic pressure (the outward and downward pressure caused by standing water pushing against any object or surface that blocks it) due to gutter of downspout issues, and/or negative grading at the house perimeter. Diagonal and stair-step cracks can indicate differential settlement, and are commonly found in houses built on hillsides. Any cracks measuring more than 1/4-inch wide should be evaluated and addressed by a foundation specialist. However, some foundation experts say cracks more than 1/8-inch wide should be addressed. Another foundation defect that should be addressed is when bricks or blocks are displaced, or they appear to be pushed in or out from the wall.

At Smith & Smith Home Inspections, I provide due diligence in finding and informing my clients of all crawl space problems observed, whether big or small.  We provide home buyer inspections throughout Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Lebanon, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, La Vergne, Winchester, Woodbury, Columbia, Nashville & The Greater Middle Tennessee Area. Contact us today to schedule your inspection!