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Note: this is an update to blog post I wrote in 2021 but little has changed since then.
We are fortunate in Nova Scotia to have countless dedicated fire departments working to protect our lives and property. I am comfortable with the level of fire protection we have in Halifax and sleep easier knowing we have highly trained professionals ready to respond when we need them. But there is an important reality that every homeowner should understand: a fire department cannot always arrive in time to save a home.
Once a fire becomes established, conditions can deteriorate incredibly quickly. Modern homes can also present a particularly challenging environment for firefighters. The synthetic materials commonly found in modern construction, furnishings and household contents can produce significant amounts of heat and toxic smoke and can contribute to fires developing much more rapidly than they did decades ago. Even materials such as oriented strand board (OSB), which is commonly used in modern construction, are combustible. That is why having a basic fire safety plan (and knowing how to use a fire extinguisher) is so important.
Understanding Fire Classes in 1 Minute
Fires are classified according to the type of material that is burning. In Canada, the common classifications you are most likely to encounter are:
Class A – Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cardboard and cloth.
Class B – Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, oil, paint and grease.
Class C – Fires involving energized electrical equipment. Once the electrical source is disconnected, the fire is classified according to the material actually burning.
Class D – Combustible metals. These are generally associated with specialized industrial applications and are not something most homeowners need to worry about.
There is also Class K, which is used primarily for commercial cooking operations involving cooking oils and fats. Residential kitchens generally do not require a specialized Class K extinguisher. Fortunately, you do not need a collection of different extinguishers for a typical home. A properly rated ABC dry-chemical extinguisher is suitable for the types of fires most likely to occur in a residence, including many fires involving energized electrical equipment.
Where Should You Keep an Extinguishers
As someone who has assisted with teaching proper fire-extinguisher operation and who has inspected hundreds of properties (and seen fire damage firsthand), one thing that continues to concern me is the lack of basic fire protection I see in many houses. If I even see one at all, it is not unusual to find a home with only one extinguisher and sometimes that extinguisher is decades old, poorly maintained, inaccessible or located in a questionable location.
Personally, I keep multiple ABC extinguishers in my home rather than relying on a single extinguisher. They are located:
The important thing is not the exact number of extinguishers but having an appropriate extinguisher readily accessible where a small fire could start, without putting yourself in danger to retrieve it.
For example, you don't want to have to walk through a burning kitchen to reach the extinguisher that is mounted beside the kitchen stove.
Don't Try to Be a Hero
The single biggest takeaway from this article is simple:
SAVE THE HEROICS FOR THE MOVIES!
A fire that appears small can become dangerous very quickly. If you decide to attempt to extinguish a fire, it should only be when the fire is small and contained, you have a clear and immediate escape route, everyone else is getting out, and you are confident you can do so safely.
Learn the PASS technique:
P – Pull the pin.
A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not the top of the flames.
S – Squeeze the handle.
S – Sweep the nozzle from side to side across the base of the fire.
Never turn your back on a fire, and always maintain a clear escape route behind you. If the extinguisher does not put the fire out almost immediately, leave. You only have seconds (not minutes) before smoke can become overwhelming or disorienting near an out of control fire.
Also remember that a fire that appears to be extinguished can reignite. I learned this firsthand, and it is one reason I strongly recommend that homeowners never assume a fire is completely dealt with simply because the flames are no longer visible.
Have a Fire Escape Plan
A fire extinguisher is only one part of fire safety. Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms where required, and test them regularly. Everyone in the household should know at least two ways out of sleeping areas where possible and should know where to meet outside. Most importantly, practice your escape plan. It may feel silly to conduct a fire drill in your own home, particularly with older children or adults, but when a real fire occurs it is not the time to figure out who is going where.
Get out. Stay out. Call 911.
Even if you manage to extinguish a fire yourself, calling the fire department is still important. A fire can extend into concealed spaces and continue smoldering long after the visible flames are gone. Your first priority should always be getting yourself and your family to safety, not saving your belongings or your house.
If you do not have a suitable, accessible fire extinguisher in your home, consider picking one up today. Make sure you know what it is rated for, that everyone in the household knows where it is located, and that it is maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. A fire extinguisher may never be needed but if you ever do need one, you will be very glad you have it and even more glad that you know when not to use it. A fire extinguisher is a tool, not a substitute for getting out safely.
We are fortunate in Nova Scotia to have countless dedicated fire departments working to protect our lives and property. I am comfortable with the level of fire protection we have in Halifax and sleep easier knowing we have highly trained professionals ready to respond when we need them. But there is an important reality that every homeowner should understand: a fire department cannot always arrive in time to save a home.
Once a fire becomes established, conditions can deteriorate incredibly quickly. Modern homes can also present a particularly challenging environment for firefighters. The synthetic materials commonly found in modern construction, furnishings and household contents can produce significant amounts of heat and toxic smoke and can contribute to fires developing much more rapidly than they did decades ago. Even materials such as oriented strand board (OSB), which is commonly used in modern construction, are combustible. That is why having a basic fire safety plan (and knowing how to use a fire extinguisher) is so important.
Understanding Fire Classes in 1 Minute
Fires are classified according to the type of material that is burning. In Canada, the common classifications you are most likely to encounter are:
Class A – Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cardboard and cloth.
Class B – Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, oil, paint and grease.
Class C – Fires involving energized electrical equipment. Once the electrical source is disconnected, the fire is classified according to the material actually burning.
Class D – Combustible metals. These are generally associated with specialized industrial applications and are not something most homeowners need to worry about.
There is also Class K, which is used primarily for commercial cooking operations involving cooking oils and fats. Residential kitchens generally do not require a specialized Class K extinguisher. Fortunately, you do not need a collection of different extinguishers for a typical home. A properly rated ABC dry-chemical extinguisher is suitable for the types of fires most likely to occur in a residence, including many fires involving energized electrical equipment.
Where Should You Keep an Extinguishers
As someone who has assisted with teaching proper fire-extinguisher operation and who has inspected hundreds of properties (and seen fire damage firsthand), one thing that continues to concern me is the lack of basic fire protection I see in many houses. If I even see one at all, it is not unusual to find a home with only one extinguisher and sometimes that extinguisher is decades old, poorly maintained, inaccessible or located in a questionable location.
Personally, I keep multiple ABC extinguishers in my home rather than relying on a single extinguisher. They are located:
- Outside the bedrooms on the upper level
- Near, but not immediately beside or above, the kitchen stove
- In the basement near the clothes dryer
The important thing is not the exact number of extinguishers but having an appropriate extinguisher readily accessible where a small fire could start, without putting yourself in danger to retrieve it.
For example, you don't want to have to walk through a burning kitchen to reach the extinguisher that is mounted beside the kitchen stove.
Don't Try to Be a Hero
The single biggest takeaway from this article is simple:
SAVE THE HEROICS FOR THE MOVIES!
A fire that appears small can become dangerous very quickly. If you decide to attempt to extinguish a fire, it should only be when the fire is small and contained, you have a clear and immediate escape route, everyone else is getting out, and you are confident you can do so safely.
Learn the PASS technique:
P – Pull the pin.
A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not the top of the flames.
S – Squeeze the handle.
S – Sweep the nozzle from side to side across the base of the fire.
Never turn your back on a fire, and always maintain a clear escape route behind you. If the extinguisher does not put the fire out almost immediately, leave. You only have seconds (not minutes) before smoke can become overwhelming or disorienting near an out of control fire.
Also remember that a fire that appears to be extinguished can reignite. I learned this firsthand, and it is one reason I strongly recommend that homeowners never assume a fire is completely dealt with simply because the flames are no longer visible.
Have a Fire Escape Plan
A fire extinguisher is only one part of fire safety. Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms where required, and test them regularly. Everyone in the household should know at least two ways out of sleeping areas where possible and should know where to meet outside. Most importantly, practice your escape plan. It may feel silly to conduct a fire drill in your own home, particularly with older children or adults, but when a real fire occurs it is not the time to figure out who is going where.
Get out. Stay out. Call 911.
Even if you manage to extinguish a fire yourself, calling the fire department is still important. A fire can extend into concealed spaces and continue smoldering long after the visible flames are gone. Your first priority should always be getting yourself and your family to safety, not saving your belongings or your house.
If you do not have a suitable, accessible fire extinguisher in your home, consider picking one up today. Make sure you know what it is rated for, that everyone in the household knows where it is located, and that it is maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. A fire extinguisher may never be needed but if you ever do need one, you will be very glad you have it and even more glad that you know when not to use it. A fire extinguisher is a tool, not a substitute for getting out safely.
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In case there’s any doubt, let me say this clearly: I love Christmas. I have countless happy memories from over the years, especially the ones centered around my grandparents’ house in Newfoundland.
Even after we moved to Halifax, we flew back every Christmas break for 12 days. Those trips were sacred. The whole extended family gathered, and Christmas morning felt larger than life. Gifts were stacked almost to the ceiling, and all 17 of us (10 adults and 7 kids) crammed into the basement to open presents, laugh, and celebrate. It even felt like an unspoken competition each year to see how big the gift pile could get.
My grandparents lived in an early-1980s duplex, built at a time when basements were just starting to be used as living space. Back then, no one thought much about it. The basement was where the fun happened.
Even after we moved to Halifax, we flew back every Christmas break for 12 days. Those trips were sacred. The whole extended family gathered, and Christmas morning felt larger than life. Gifts were stacked almost to the ceiling, and all 17 of us (10 adults and 7 kids) crammed into the basement to open presents, laugh, and celebrate. It even felt like an unspoken competition each year to see how big the gift pile could get.
My grandparents lived in an early-1980s duplex, built at a time when basements were just starting to be used as living space. Back then, no one thought much about it. The basement was where the fun happened.
This is a silly exaggeration but not far from what it looked like!
The Year Everything Moved Upstairs
Around 1994, a decision was made to move Christmas celebrations upstairs to the living room. To adolescent me, this made absolutely no sense. The living room was noticeably smaller so why would we abandon a perfectly good basement?
Now, as a home inspector, the answer is painfully obvious.
Like many homes I inspect today that are more than 40 years old, that basement was never truly designed for people to live in. It was almost entirely underground, had no ventilation, and most importantly no windows or exterior doors. The only way out was the stairway leading up… directly past the kitchen.
That same kitchen was home to a massive Christmas dinner in progress, with the stove running only a few feet from the basement door. From a fire safety perspective, it was a nightmare scenario. If a kitchen fire had started, the results could have been catastrophic.
Around 1994, a decision was made to move Christmas celebrations upstairs to the living room. To adolescent me, this made absolutely no sense. The living room was noticeably smaller so why would we abandon a perfectly good basement?
Now, as a home inspector, the answer is painfully obvious.
Like many homes I inspect today that are more than 40 years old, that basement was never truly designed for people to live in. It was almost entirely underground, had no ventilation, and most importantly no windows or exterior doors. The only way out was the stairway leading up… directly past the kitchen.
That same kitchen was home to a massive Christmas dinner in progress, with the stove running only a few feet from the basement door. From a fire safety perspective, it was a nightmare scenario. If a kitchen fire had started, the results could have been catastrophic.
This is the actual house and yes, it has a full basement with 8ft ceilings.
A Close Call We Didn’t See at the Time
My grandparents are no longer with us, but I can safely assume that a house fire just a few doors down on December 22nd of that year caused them to stop and think "what if that happened here?" In the event of a kitchen fire, all the smoke detectors in the world would not have mattered. Deadly smoke would have reached the basement stairwell long before alarms sounded, leaving little to no chance for escape. At the time, we didn’t see it. We were kids, surrounded by gifts and excitement. But looking back now, it’s clear how much danger we simply weren’t aware of.
We often view the past through rose-colored glasses. While my grandparents didn’t smoke, many relatives did, as was common in the 1980s and early 1990s (and that's another blog post!). In addition to the obvious second hand smoke, unattended cigarettes have long been one of the most common causes of house fires, another risk that barely registered with us back then.
Lessons That Stick With Me
I want to be clear: I’m not a municipal code inspector, and I would never tell someone to never use their basement. But I do always point out that older homes often lack adequate basement escape routes, and building codes have evolved dramatically over the last 40 to 50 years for very good reasons.
Those Christmas mornings remain some of my happiest memories. They weren’t diminished by what we didn’t know, but revisiting them now through the lens of experience, reminds me how much safer our homes have become, and how important it is to understand the risks we live with every day.
The magic of Christmas was real.
So were the hazards and sometimes, growing up means learning how both can exist at the same time.
My grandparents are no longer with us, but I can safely assume that a house fire just a few doors down on December 22nd of that year caused them to stop and think "what if that happened here?" In the event of a kitchen fire, all the smoke detectors in the world would not have mattered. Deadly smoke would have reached the basement stairwell long before alarms sounded, leaving little to no chance for escape. At the time, we didn’t see it. We were kids, surrounded by gifts and excitement. But looking back now, it’s clear how much danger we simply weren’t aware of.
We often view the past through rose-colored glasses. While my grandparents didn’t smoke, many relatives did, as was common in the 1980s and early 1990s (and that's another blog post!). In addition to the obvious second hand smoke, unattended cigarettes have long been one of the most common causes of house fires, another risk that barely registered with us back then.
Lessons That Stick With Me
I want to be clear: I’m not a municipal code inspector, and I would never tell someone to never use their basement. But I do always point out that older homes often lack adequate basement escape routes, and building codes have evolved dramatically over the last 40 to 50 years for very good reasons.
Those Christmas mornings remain some of my happiest memories. They weren’t diminished by what we didn’t know, but revisiting them now through the lens of experience, reminds me how much safer our homes have become, and how important it is to understand the risks we live with every day.
The magic of Christmas was real.
So were the hazards and sometimes, growing up means learning how both can exist at the same time.
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As a home inspector, I understand the paramount importance of fire safety in homes. With this week being Fire Prevention Week across North America, it's the perfect time to emphasize the significance of fire prevention and preparedness. This annual event serves as a reminder that taking proactive steps to prevent fires is crucial in safeguarding your family and property.
Why Fire Prevention Matters
Each year, fire-related incidents claim lives, cause injuries, and result in substantial property damage. Many of these tragedies can be prevented through awareness and action. Fire Prevention Week aims to educate homeowners and renters alike on fire safety practices that can make a world of difference.
A Home Inspection's Role in Fire Prevention
I've seen firsthand how crucial it is for homeowners to ensure their properties are safe from fire hazards. During a home inspection, I assess various elements that contribute to fire safety, including:
The Two Most Common Causes of House Fires
I have reviewed the data from Halifax Fire and Emergency, and it quickly became clear that the two most common causes of house fires are smoking and electrical issues.
Smoking-Related Fires: Smoking is not only hazardous to your health but can also pose a significant fire risk. Carelessly discarded cigarette butts, ashes, or improperly extinguished smoking materials (especially outside the home) can easily ignite flammable materials, leading to devastating fires. To prevent smoking-related fires, it's essential to use designated smoking areas, never smoke in bed, and ensure cigarette butts are extinguished in proper receptacles.
Electrical Fires: Electrical fires are a hidden danger that can lurk within our homes. Overloaded outlets, faulty wiring, and malfunctioning appliances can all spark electrical fires. To safeguard against these risks, it's crucial to have regular electrical inspections, avoid overloading outlets, and replace damaged cords or equipment promptly. Maintaining a safe electrical system is vital to protect your home from the devastating consequences of electrical fires.
Many electrical fires can be traced to extension cords. These are generally okay for temporary use but are not meant to be used for permanent power. If a home doesn’t have adequate receptacles an electrician can usually help safely add more to a home.
Home inspectors and firefighters both share a common belief that the best way to deal with a disaster at home is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Why Fire Prevention Matters
Each year, fire-related incidents claim lives, cause injuries, and result in substantial property damage. Many of these tragedies can be prevented through awareness and action. Fire Prevention Week aims to educate homeowners and renters alike on fire safety practices that can make a world of difference.
A Home Inspection's Role in Fire Prevention
I've seen firsthand how crucial it is for homeowners to ensure their properties are safe from fire hazards. During a home inspection, I assess various elements that contribute to fire safety, including:
- Electrical Systems: Ensuring that wiring is in good condition and not overloaded, which can reduce the risk of electrical fires.
- Smoke Alarms: Checking that smoke alarms are installed correctly, have not expired, and are strategically placed throughout the home to provide early detection of a fire.
- Heating Systems: Evaluating heating systems, including furnaces and fireplaces, to ensure they're well-maintained and free from potential hazards.
- Chimneys and Vents: Inspecting chimney and vent systems to ensure proper ventilation and prevent dangerous creosote buildup as well as recommending a WETT certified technician as necessary.
- Windows and Doors: Ensuring the home (especially bedrooms) has adequate emergency egress points.
The Two Most Common Causes of House Fires
I have reviewed the data from Halifax Fire and Emergency, and it quickly became clear that the two most common causes of house fires are smoking and electrical issues.
Smoking-Related Fires: Smoking is not only hazardous to your health but can also pose a significant fire risk. Carelessly discarded cigarette butts, ashes, or improperly extinguished smoking materials (especially outside the home) can easily ignite flammable materials, leading to devastating fires. To prevent smoking-related fires, it's essential to use designated smoking areas, never smoke in bed, and ensure cigarette butts are extinguished in proper receptacles.
Electrical Fires: Electrical fires are a hidden danger that can lurk within our homes. Overloaded outlets, faulty wiring, and malfunctioning appliances can all spark electrical fires. To safeguard against these risks, it's crucial to have regular electrical inspections, avoid overloading outlets, and replace damaged cords or equipment promptly. Maintaining a safe electrical system is vital to protect your home from the devastating consequences of electrical fires.
Many electrical fires can be traced to extension cords. These are generally okay for temporary use but are not meant to be used for permanent power. If a home doesn’t have adequate receptacles an electrician can usually help safely add more to a home.
Home inspectors and firefighters both share a common belief that the best way to deal with a disaster at home is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
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…or why I have two smoke detectors next to each other in the basement.
One of the biggest safety issues I see in my home inspections is also one that is easy to remedy: the lack of smoke detectors or (more commonly) the prevalence of smoke detectors that are past the 10-year life expectancy and should be replaced. It’s an easy fix: almost every hardware store sells them for a very affordable price. They are not only an invaluable life safety device that can save lives but, along with fire extinguishers, can help stop a fire from becoming out of control and destroying a home. As mentioned, I have two smoke detectors in very close in proximity in the basement. The obvious reason for this is so that there is no question we will hear the alarm upstairs while sleeping and as a backup if one fails, but it is a little more complicated than that. The main reason is that the detector present when we moved in was ionization and I wanted an photoelectric alarm, especially near the dryer. Does this mean a photoelectric detector is better? The truth is more complicated than that.
Ionization Advantages
The biggest advantage of this type of detector is that it is superior in detecting flaming fires. In other words, fast moving fires that can quickly overwhelm occupants and block escape routes. This would be fires as the result of paper, wood or flammable liquids to give a few examples. These detectors are, believe it or not, filled with a radioactive substance called Americium. As scary as that sounds, the amount is astronomically tiny and poses no threat as long as they are not deliberately dismantled. In my experience, most smoke detectors utilize ionization technology.
Why Use a Photoelectric Detector?
Photoelectric smoke detectors are better at detecting smoldering fires, which are fires that are barely visible with a lazy haze of smoke, often for hours. A common example would be a burning cigarette, and a photoelectric detector can alert occupants to a situation that can lead to a flaming fire and give time to act (either fight or flee) accordingly.
One of the biggest safety issues I see in my home inspections is also one that is easy to remedy: the lack of smoke detectors or (more commonly) the prevalence of smoke detectors that are past the 10-year life expectancy and should be replaced. It’s an easy fix: almost every hardware store sells them for a very affordable price. They are not only an invaluable life safety device that can save lives but, along with fire extinguishers, can help stop a fire from becoming out of control and destroying a home. As mentioned, I have two smoke detectors in very close in proximity in the basement. The obvious reason for this is so that there is no question we will hear the alarm upstairs while sleeping and as a backup if one fails, but it is a little more complicated than that. The main reason is that the detector present when we moved in was ionization and I wanted an photoelectric alarm, especially near the dryer. Does this mean a photoelectric detector is better? The truth is more complicated than that.
Ionization Advantages
The biggest advantage of this type of detector is that it is superior in detecting flaming fires. In other words, fast moving fires that can quickly overwhelm occupants and block escape routes. This would be fires as the result of paper, wood or flammable liquids to give a few examples. These detectors are, believe it or not, filled with a radioactive substance called Americium. As scary as that sounds, the amount is astronomically tiny and poses no threat as long as they are not deliberately dismantled. In my experience, most smoke detectors utilize ionization technology.
Why Use a Photoelectric Detector?
Photoelectric smoke detectors are better at detecting smoldering fires, which are fires that are barely visible with a lazy haze of smoke, often for hours. A common example would be a burning cigarette, and a photoelectric detector can alert occupants to a situation that can lead to a flaming fire and give time to act (either fight or flee) accordingly.
Which is Better?
I will again use my most common stock phrase and say “it depends” but the most important fact is that placement is far more important than what type you have. The simple facts are:
While it is a great idea to know the difference between the two types of residential smoke detectors, this is not generally something that home inspectors note. What IS important is that smoke detectors are installed, are working, and are well placed to maximize safety and minimize nuisance alarms. It is concerning that few homes have proper smoke detectors installed and this is one of the easiest and cheapest DIY jobs. I hope that one day I will never again hear about a fatality caused by occupants not being aware of a house fire and being unable to escape in time.
I will again use my most common stock phrase and say “it depends” but the most important fact is that placement is far more important than what type you have. The simple facts are:
- Both types of detectors detect both types of fires, just at different timescales
- There is no way to predict if a house fire will be a smoldering or a flaming fire
- Ionization alarms are much slower at detecting smoldering fires compared to photoelectric alarms sounding in flaming fires, but this can be offset somewhat by how rapidly flaming fires spread.
- It is FAR more important to actually have working smoke alarms than worrying about whether you have the right one.
While it is a great idea to know the difference between the two types of residential smoke detectors, this is not generally something that home inspectors note. What IS important is that smoke detectors are installed, are working, and are well placed to maximize safety and minimize nuisance alarms. It is concerning that few homes have proper smoke detectors installed and this is one of the easiest and cheapest DIY jobs. I hope that one day I will never again hear about a fatality caused by occupants not being aware of a house fire and being unable to escape in time.
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Recently we have been doing a little spring cleaning in the summer and trying to do some organizing. I must admit I have a hard time letting go of items “just in case” although I certainly cannot be considered a hoarder in any way. There are several TV shows that cover the topic of hoarding and while they are informative, they tend to show the worst examples of a hoarding disorder.
What is Hoarding?
The generally accepted definition of hoarding is someone who has “persistent difficulty with getting rid of possessions, especially with little or no value”. Like many other issues, it is not an all or nothing condition and various stages of hoarding exist. Generally, for a home inspector this means a hoarded home has items stored outside the normal expected areas in a house such as in stairways, in the middle of living room floors and an excessive amount on kitchen counters.
The Main Problems with Hoarding
The most obvious one to home inspectors is that an unusually large number of belongings in a home makes it difficult to do our jobs. We don’t have the ability to move a significant amount of homeowner belongings, and this can conceal signs of water damage or mold growth. The biggest concern however is safety.
Hoarding and Emergencies
When you think of emergencies, most people think of needing a clear path to escape in a fire or for paramedics to enter. Even with a path cleared that doesn’t mean that fire safety can be ignored. It takes very little time for toxic smoke to overwhelm someone, often in seconds rather than minutes. The more obstacles to walk around, the higher the chances of a tragic outcome.
From a home inspection point of view, there is another potential emergency that few new homeowners think of: access to shut offs. All homes should have at least 2 and possibly 3 or more: they are usually located:
Burst plumbing in particular can do devastating amounts of damage in only a short period of time. Electrical arcs can cause fires if not immediately de-energized and electrocution can occur by touching even a single live wire if the electrical source is not stopped immediately. Some outlets in a home are protected by GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) but this is not universally required on all receptacles, particularly in older homes and, like an airbag or a seatbelt should not be 100% relied on to save your life.
Too Many Things are a Liability, NOT an Asset
Of course, many of us find that we have accumulated many more items in our house than we had when we moved in but it is vital that we regularly manage our clutter to keep it from impeding the safe function of our home. Too many assets can actually be a liability. Always keep things in designated storage spots so you will have access to everything necessary to maintain your home and be safe. Your local home inspectors and emergency responders thank you!
What is Hoarding?
The generally accepted definition of hoarding is someone who has “persistent difficulty with getting rid of possessions, especially with little or no value”. Like many other issues, it is not an all or nothing condition and various stages of hoarding exist. Generally, for a home inspector this means a hoarded home has items stored outside the normal expected areas in a house such as in stairways, in the middle of living room floors and an excessive amount on kitchen counters.
The Main Problems with Hoarding
The most obvious one to home inspectors is that an unusually large number of belongings in a home makes it difficult to do our jobs. We don’t have the ability to move a significant amount of homeowner belongings, and this can conceal signs of water damage or mold growth. The biggest concern however is safety.
Hoarding and Emergencies
When you think of emergencies, most people think of needing a clear path to escape in a fire or for paramedics to enter. Even with a path cleared that doesn’t mean that fire safety can be ignored. It takes very little time for toxic smoke to overwhelm someone, often in seconds rather than minutes. The more obstacles to walk around, the higher the chances of a tragic outcome.
From a home inspection point of view, there is another potential emergency that few new homeowners think of: access to shut offs. All homes should have at least 2 and possibly 3 or more: they are usually located:
- On the electrical panel
- Near where the water supply enters the home
- Near fixtures such as under kitchen sinks and near water heater
- Near the furnace or boiler
- On the fuel/energy source itself for HVAC equipment
Burst plumbing in particular can do devastating amounts of damage in only a short period of time. Electrical arcs can cause fires if not immediately de-energized and electrocution can occur by touching even a single live wire if the electrical source is not stopped immediately. Some outlets in a home are protected by GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) but this is not universally required on all receptacles, particularly in older homes and, like an airbag or a seatbelt should not be 100% relied on to save your life.
Too Many Things are a Liability, NOT an Asset
Of course, many of us find that we have accumulated many more items in our house than we had when we moved in but it is vital that we regularly manage our clutter to keep it from impeding the safe function of our home. Too many assets can actually be a liability. Always keep things in designated storage spots so you will have access to everything necessary to maintain your home and be safe. Your local home inspectors and emergency responders thank you!