HouseWorks Blog
What is an Air Admittance Valve?
An Air Admittance Valve is a one-way vent that is normally closed but opens to allow air to be drawn in when there is a negative pressure (a suction or vacuum) in the drain line.
What is a Thermocouple?
A thermocouple is a device that measures temperature by generating a small voltage that is proportional to the temperature of the substance or object being measured. The device is made by joining two different metals together at one end.
What is a Flame Sensor?
A flame sensor is a simple but important part of a gas furnace. It is a safety device designed to prevent gas from flowing to a furnace if there is no flame.
Protecting Your Family and Home from Fires and Carbon Monoxide
As the home-heating season arrives in Texas, I want to share some home safety tips that can help to keep your family safe from the dangers of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Home Inspection FAQ’s
If you’re not sure what to expect during a home inspection, you are not alone. But don’t be afraid to ask questions. While you read these home inspection FAQ’s, keep in mind they may vary a little based on your location and the inspector you ultimately choose.
New 2021 Texas Home Inspector Standards of Practice
Here is an easy to read version of the Standards of Practice for home inspectors in Texas. These Standards of Practice were adopted by the Texas Real Estate Commission and were effective as of September 2021.
How to Fix an Outlet with Reversed Polarity
It’s fairly simple to fix an outlet with reversed polarity. Reversed polarity is when the connections at a receptacle are wired “backwards”.
What is Expansive Soil?
Expansive soils are soils that contain minerals such as certain types of clay that are able to absorb water. When the clay absorbs water, it will expand. The more water they absorb, the more they expand. Soils containing as little as 5% clay can exhibit expansive characteristics.
All About S Traps
An S trap is a drain trap that looks like a letter “S” sitting on its side. The plumbing systems in most older homes used S traps on the drain lines under sinks, but S traps are now prohibited by code throughout the country because they are not vented.
What is a Reverse-Fed Breaker?
In a back-fed breaker, the wires that are bringing the power into the panel are connected to the back-fed breaker just like they are connected to any other breaker. This means that the power is going backwards through the back-fed breaker and then to the main bus.
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