HouseWorks Blog
Challenger Brand Electric Panels
If you have a Challenger brand electric panel in your home, it may be wise to replace it. Challenger brand panels were installed in many homes in the 1980’s and 1990’s, and have been the cause of some house fires across the country.
Answers to Common Questions about Electrical Outlets/Receptacles
Are electrical outlets and electrical receptacles the same? Which is the hot wire on a 3-prong plug? What are the parts of an outlet? In this post, I will answer common questions like these.
Radiant Barriers- What You Need to Know
A radiant barrier is a thin, reflective foil that blocks radiant heat by reflecting the heat away from the building or back toward its source. As a result of this, radiant barriers help to increase the energy efficiency of buildings by preventing the majority of the sun’s UV energy from heating up the building.
Lost Neutral- What it is and Why it is so Dangerous?
A lost neutral occurs when the neutral wire of an electrical system becomes disconnected or damaged so that it can no longer carry current. The result of the lost neutral is that the two phases of the electrical system are now in series and being supplied by 240 volts.
Best Devices for Testing Electrical Receptacles
To test electrical receptacles, we can use multimeters, non-contact voltage detectors, three-light testers, circuit analyzers, etc. They each have their pros and cons which I discuss briefly in this post.
Three-Light Tester Versus Ideal SureTest
I conducted an experiment in which I tested receptacles with different wiring problems. I tested each wiring configuration with both a three-light tester and a SureTest circuit analyzer. I will show the results of each of these tests so that you can see the advantages and the limitations of these two devices.
Understanding Your Three-Light Receptacle Tester
A three-light outlet tester is a simple device designed to be plugged into an electrical receptacle and by illuminating certain of the three lights, it will indicate how the receptacle is wired.
What is an Oven Anti-Tipping Device?
An anti-tipping device is a simple safety device that attaches to the floor or wall behind a free-standing oven, securing the oven to the floor and preventing it from tipping over if there is something heavy on the open door or on an oven rack that has been slid out of the oven.
About Me
Welcome to my blog. I have been a home inspector in the Abilene, Texas and Brownwood, Texas area since 2002. I love the job that I do, and I love the people I meet.
Thermostatic Mixing Valves/Anti-Scald Valves
Did you know that you can dramatically increase your water heater’s capacity without installing a new water heater? The solution is a device called whole-house anti-scald valve, or a thermostatic mixing valve.
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