SoundSmart Incoming Call Converter

• Knob-and-tube (K&T) wiring was an early standardized method in common use in North America from about 1880 to the 1940s. 
• While it is considered obsolete, it is not inherently dangerous. 
• The insulation that envelopes the wiring is a fire hazard.
• It has no grounding conductor and thus cannot service any three-pronged appliances.
• It tends to stretch and sag over time.
• It is not permitted in any new construction.
• Where the wiring is brittle or cracked, it should be replaced. Proper maintenance is crucial.
• It should not be used in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or outdoors. The wiring in these locations must be grounded in order to be used safely.
• We'll note any insulation that is found surrounding K&T wires.

• Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation. 
• Until the 1970s, many types of building products and insulation materials used in homes contained asbestos.
• Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer in the form of mesothelioma.
• The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is greater if you smoke.
• If disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs.
• Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.
• You can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled.  Do not dust, sweep or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos. These actions will disturb tiny asbestos fibers and may release them into the air. Remove dust by wet-mopping or with a special HEPA vacuum cleaner used by trained asbestos contractors.

To keep your well safe, you must be sure that possible sources of contamination are not close by.  Farther away is better.  

Here are some guidelines:

• septic systems (including neighbors'):  50 feet;
• livestock yards, silos, septic leach fields:  50 feet;
• roads that are salted or de-iced: 50 feet;
• petroleum tanks, liquid-tight manure storage, and fertilizer storage and handling:  100 feet; and 
• manure stacks:  250 feet.

Hard Water

• The pump inlet screen should be kept clean and free of debris.
• Make sure that the float is not tangled or jammed in one position.
• The pump can be tested by pouring water into the pit to make sure it becomes activated and expels the water. The homeowner should seek professional assistance if the pump does not activate.
• When testing the pump, don't reach into the pit. The float should be manipulated with something non-conductive.

• Water must be discharged at least 20 feet from the building.
• Water should not drain back into the house.  Cycling water will place unnecessary strain on the pump and can weaken the structure’s foundation.
• Many jurisdictions do not permit pumped water into public sewer systems.
• Pumped water should never drain into a residence’s septic system.

• Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint.
• In general, the older your home, the more likely it has lead-based paint.
• Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.
• Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can't always see, can be serious hazards.
• Peeling, chipping, chalking and cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention.
• Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear and tear. These areas include:
  • windows and window sills;
  • doors and door frames;
  • stairs, railings and banisters; and 
  • porches and fences.

• An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining. As water backs up behind the dam, it can leak through the roof and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.
• Ice dams are most often caused by inadequate attic insulation.
• Gutters do not cause ice dams to form, contrary to popular belief. Gutters do, however, help concentrate ice from the dam in a vulnerable area, where parts of the house can peel away under the weight of the ice and come crashing to the ground.

• Despite their name, they vent unburned combustion byproducts directly into the living space. 
• To mitigate carbon monoxide dangers, manufacturers instruct customers to keep a window open while ventless fireplaces are in operation.
• Ventless fireplaces create high levels of water vapor, which can lead to mold growth.
• Massachusetts, California, and a number of other states in the U.S., as well as Canada and other countries, have outlawed ventless gas fireplaces.
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development bans ventless fireplaces in their housing

Termites