6 The Dallas Post Fall i TI o a i ? ne ht, Ly HS ELI é >» B » PRE Home Improvement ) BES 2) Safety tips for rural homeowners If you're a rural homeowner who maintains a few acres beyond city lim- its, there are important safety tips that can make your use of electricity safer and more efficient. While electricity is one of the safest forms of energy, the absence of electrical codes and in- spections in rural areas means that homeowners must take greater re- sponsibility for recognizing unsafe wiring and other hazardous condi- tions. Here are a few guidelines that can save lives, property and money: Use Ground-Fault Circuit Inter- rupters (GFCI) Use wherever electricity, water, and you come together. GFCI’s are electri- cal protection devices that sense a ground-fault or short, and instantly disconnect the circuit. Unlike fuses and circuit breakers that depend on heavy overloads or shorts to function, GFCI’s sense even small electrical faults and disconnect the circuit be- fore anyone is injured. This is particu- larly important for outdoor and farm- stead electric use in operating power tools, lawn trimmers, hedge clippers, power spray washers, and all electric use around swimming pools and hot tubs. Some GFCTI’s are designed to re- place standard outlets; other portable units simply plug into existing outlets and can be moved from one location to another. For new homes and additions, the National Electrical Code requires the use of GFCI’s in garages, bath- rooms, and on outdoor receptacles. Air leaks can When this winter's high heating bills hit home. you may be surprised to know that cold air may be leaking in (or warm air out) through a hole in vour wall as large as a medium-size TV screen. That mysterious hole adds up from all the cracks that may exist around the frames of your old windows. For example, a one-sixteenth inch wide crack around a standard 3-foot by 5- foot window adds up to 12 square inches (a hole about the size of a brick) for each window. If you have, say 15 such windows in your home, there's your TV-size hole. Air leakage around the perimeter of windows and doors is known as “in- filtration™, and it can add a significant spin to vour utility meter. Caulking can help. but if your win- dows are too old. warped or loose-fit- ting, replacing them with new, ther- mally-efficient aluminum windows Around pools, use GFCI’s on light- ing fixtures, recirculating pumps and on all receptacles within 20 feet of the pool. Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters can be purchased at any major hard- ware and electric supply store. Check Wiring In Barns and Outbuildings If you have a detached shop, storage building, or even a barn for horses or other livestock, specific wiring materi- als and methods must be uscd, espe- cially where dusty or moist conditions exist, or where heat lamps will be used. Typical hazards include improp- er grounding, residential-type fixtures that are not designed for use in barns, and undersized heat lamp circuits. To learn more about proper wiring around rural homes and farmsteads, check with your electric power suppli- er or obtain a copy of the Agricultural Wiring Handbook. This 88-page illus- trated handbook contains wiring plans for 14 types of farm structures, along with specifications for lighting and motor use. The handbook is up- dated every three years to conform to the latest National Electrical Code. To order the Agricultural Wiring Handbook, contact the National Food and Energy Council, 409 Vandiver West, Bldg. 4, Suite 202, Columbia, MO 65202 or call 314 875 7155. The cost is $7.80 pet copy, including postage and handling. It’s important to know the lat- est requirements for proper wiring. be plugged may be the best answer — and an in- vestment that will soon pay for itself from energy savings. Most homeowners know that dou- ble-glazed or double-pane glass helps save energy. but it’s only part of the story. The frames must be tight-fitting to minimize air leakage and must be made to stay tight-fitting over years of assault by wet weather and excessive heat. That's where aluminum shines! Aluminum is “dimensionally sta- ble”, meaning it won't change shape over time by warping, rotting. bend- ing or softening like other materials. Gaps and leaks simply don’t have a chance to form. And, aluminum frames with insulating thermal barrier frames minimize heat loss due to con- duction. Tight-fitting aluminum windows and sliding glass doors can help you plug that leak in your walls — and in your wallet. Wednesday, October 6, 1993 Regular furnace maintenance recommended Modern furnaces are complex, high-tech appliances and should be in- spected and serviced periodically by a professional heating contractor in or- der to ensure safe and efficient opera- tion. This maintenance is recom- mended whether the furnace is fueled by natural gas, propane or oil, accord- ing to the American Gas Association. The start of the heating season is the best time to have a furnace in- spected and maintained. Heating con- tractors should follow the manufac- turer’s maintenance guidelines for each unit in accordance with local building codes and regulations, A.G.A. says. There are a number of steps that should be included in most periodic inspection and maintenance proce- dures: e Inspect the furnace vent system; e Remove any leaves, nests or other obstructions from inside chimney; e Replace or clean air filter as re- quired; e Properly lubricate blower motor, fan and other appropriate parts; e Replace frayed blower belts; ¢ Clean pilots and burner chamber; e Remove dust or lint from furnace vents, registers and baseboard heaters, and; ¢ Clean and adjust thermostats. In addition, qualified contractors should check to see that all flue con- nections and elbows are firmly fitted. There should not be any cracks or openings at the point where the flue pipe enters a chimney. Large amounts of rust may indicate excessive conden- sation inside the flue, which can be a sign of improper installation. The First Name In New Home Gonstruction ‘Is Also The First Name In Home Improvement gh Mahwah — COMPANY RUCKNO CONSTRUCTION Corner of Murray & Dilley Sts. Forty-Fort, PA « 287-2194 TH == K tthe : Huai wwmdow RUCKNO SINCE 1937 ASHI warns home buy The price of the American dream—and the cost of financing it—have literally gone through the roof in recent years. Whether mort- gage rates are up or down, the pur- chase of a home still represents the largest investment most families ever make in a lifetime. The American Society of Home In- spectors (ASHI), the first nationwide organization of professional home in- spectors, warns home buyers to fight the temptation to jump quickly at what may first appear to be a good deal. Most houses up for sale today, both old and new, have some defects or re- pair needs, many of them serious. In these cases, any savings achieved through lower mortgage rates or pur- chase prices can easily get eaten up by unanticipated repair costs after the family moves in. Many defects often go totally unno- ticed by the average person, but can be quickly and accurately identified by a qualified home inspector. The smart consumer, therefore, will take the time to call in and accompany a professional home inspector for a thorough and impartial inspection of the condition of the house before making a final decision. The members of ASHI recommend that even before the official inspec- tion, home buyers can run some checks of their own that will tell them a great deal about the shape a given home is in when they first see it, and before they start falling in love with it. Outdoors 1. Take note of the overall impres- sion. Is the house well kept? Does the roof sag? Are the exterior walls straight or out of line? What is the condition of the paint, espe- cially on the south and west sides, where sun exposure is greatest? Is the ground sloped away from the house for adequate drainage? 2. Observe the condition of the roof. Are shingles curling and lifting? Find out how old the roof is, and you will have a pretty good idea of when you will have to replace it. A tar and gravel roof should last up to 15 years, asphalt shingle 15 to 20, wood shingles 15 to 20, and wood shakes about 20 to 25 years. These estimates may vary de- pending upon the region of the country. 3. Look closely at window and door frames. Has the glazing putty dried and shrunk, allowing water and air seepage? Is the wood de- cayed? Are the window and door frames all caulked? Weather- stripped? 4. Check pavements, driveways and horizontal brick surfaces. Have all cracks been filled? Is there damage from freezing? What is the condition of the mor- tar in between bricks?. Is any pavement buckling from spread- ing underground tree roots? Indoors 5. Look at the attic and crawl space insulation. Is it adequate? Is is complete? Has it been properly installed? Does it cover up the air vents, preventing the house from “breathing” and possibly causing wood rot? 6. Test the plumbing. Turn on the bathroom sink faucet and the shower and then flush the toilet. When the toilet starts to refill, does the water pressure diminish markedly? Fill sinks and tub with three inches of water. Do they drain properly? Do faucets leak? Lift up any carpeting. Are there any signs of flooding or decay? 7. Look over the interior. Are there signs of leaks, such as water stains? Is plaster badly cracked? Are walls and ceilings straight and level? A newly painted inte- rior may look nice, but it could be hiding something. Do doors and windows open easily? 8. Open the cabinet door to the fuse boxes or circuit breakers, BUT DON'T REMOVE THE PANEL COVER. The average house re- quires 100 amp service at both 110 and 220 volts. Is it labeled as such? This is no guarantee of safety or adequacy, however, and is something only a professional home inspector or licensed elec- trician can check. 9. Check the oil/gas/electric heating equipment. How old is it? Has it N Your Neighborhood Pet Containment Professionals. ™ Invisible Fencing of Northeast PA Invisible Fencing’ Boundary and Area Protection Invisible Fencing creates abound- ary yourdog can'tjump over ordig under. You can also keep your dog away from the Flower garden or open-gate area with Invisible ™ Pet Containment Systems. FINANCING AVAILABLE -=2 INVISIBLELS FET CONTAINMENT The Dallas Post been maintained? Ask to see the owner's heating bills from a previ- ous year. This will give you an idea of the efficiency of the sys- tem as well as the effectiveness of any insulation. 10. Look for evidence of termites on basement wood structure. Is there ’ ’ Fall Home Improvement ers to look before wood or paper debris? Do you see termite tubes or tunnels? Ter- mites travel to and from the earth, so make sure that there are no places where earth is closer than six inches to wood. These are only preliminary guide- Wednesday, October 6, 1993 7 they leap lines. If buyers find a number of faults themselves, they can be sure it reflects the overall condition of the house. If no major problems are apparent, the expert eye of a professional inspector will yield a more accurate total pic- ture. Finding faults in a home doesn’t necessarily mean one shouldn’t buy it, only that the consumer can know in advance the type of repair costs to an- ticipate. Often sellers will renegotiate the purchase price on the basis of ma- jor problems discovered in an inspec- tion. If the inspector finds very little in need of repair, then the peace of mind in making an informed purchasing de- cision can be just as important as avoiding a potential nightmare. Home inspectors who are members of ASHI are impartial professionals who have met the Society’s demand- ing technical and experience require- ments. The names of local ASHI members can be found by contacting ASHI at: 800 743 2744. HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS FREE WEATHERIZATION For Your Home! FREE OF To Qualify: 1. You must S—— <3. You must How to Apply... It takes only a minute. Fill out the information below, and mail to: UGI Electric Service, Weatherization Dept., 247 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, PA 18704-9985. UGI will have a representative contact you. THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM Administered through UGI Electric Service Can Be For You! Qualifying Customers Will Receive All Recommended Services UG Electric Service. — 2. You must have Electric Heat Guidelines CHARGE! be a customer of meet Low Income A — pro nih... ole. Mc 7 ELECTRIC SERVICE 247 WYOMING AVENUE KINGSTON, PA 18704 (717) 283-0611 or 1-800-962-1212 is mst
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