FYI

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are special types of electrical outlets and circuit breakers designed to detect and respond to potentially dangerous electrical arcs in home branch wiring. How do they work?   AFCIs function by monitoring the electrical waveform and promptly opening (interru...

Geothermal systems are home heating and cooling systems that gather heat from the earth. Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the relatively constant temperature of sub-surface soil as the exchange medium. Geographical Distribution As of 2004, five countries -- El Salvador, Kenya, the Phillipines, Ic...

Other indications for InterNACHI inspectors and neighbors: skunky marijuana odor. Other odors may also be apparent, such as those from mothballs, air fresheners or chlorine, which are used in an attempt to mask the marijuana smell; unusual garbage strewn across lawn. Items used for growing mariju...

Common indications of marijuana grow operations: heat and humidity. Water that is fed to plants will transpire and evaporate from the containers into the surrounding air. Cannabis plants also require warmth. Excess water vapor and high temperatures can lead to the following defective conditions: ...

Why should inspectors care about grow operations? Learning about the typical problems created by grow operations will enable inspectors to recognize defects. If an inspector can recognize that water damage, for instance, was a byproduct of a former grow operation, they may waste less time in the ...

Marijuana Grow Operations     A marijuana grow operation is the cultivation of marijuana, usually illegally, for the purpose of sale and distribution. Indoor grow operations can be found in places such as houses, apartments, commercial businesses and abandoned factories. There are thousands of ma...

Improper Ventilation    Ventilation ducts must be made from appropriate materials and oriented effectively in order to ensure that stale air is properly exhausted.   Ventilation ducts must: terminate outdoors. Ducts should never terminate within the building envelope. contain a screen or louvered...

Mold   Perhaps the most serious consequence of an improper ventilation setup is the potential accumulation of mold in attics or crawlspaces. Mold may appear as a fuzzy, thread-like, cobwebby fungus, although it can never be identified with certainty without being lab-tested. Health problems cause...

Defects  The following conditions indicate insufficient bathroom ventilation: moisture stains on walls or ceilings. corrosion of metal. visible mold on walls or ceilings. peeling paint or wallpaper. frost on windows. high levels of humidity. The most common defect related to bathroom ventilation ...

Bathroom ventilation systems are designed to exhaust odors and moist air to the home's exterior. Typical systems consist of a ceiling fan unit connected to a duct that terminates at the roof.    Fan Function      The fan may be controlled in one of several ways: Most are controlled by a conventi...