Engineering Advisor | Volume 26, Number 1 When was the last time you thought about your parking lot? The honest answer, probably, is not in recent memory. It’s not a question of ‘out of sight –out of mind.’ Parking lots and other paved areas are highly visible, but they aren’t all that interesting. There is nothing….
News
Paving Isn’t Sexy: But Proper Maintenance is Essential
Smoke Alarms: The First Line of Defense
Home fires are common and deadly. The most common type of fire starters are cigarettes, and frayed electrical wires. Laptops and even the sun’s rays reflected through an empty glass can cause fire, a rare case but it happened. Do you have the right kind of smoke alarms? Do you know if they are working? ….
Trends in Home Security
Some interesting statistics. Estimates show that only 20% of homes have some form of security systems, those that do deter burglaries by 60%! A home intrusion occurs every 13 seconds adding up to about 2.5 million a year. Sobering. For the majority of us without a security system, it may be time to work it….
Leaky Ductwork = Hole in the Wallet
Leaky ducts can cause 30% to 40% energy loss. If summer and winter utility bills are unusually high, if there are stuffy rooms or rooms that are difficult to heat and cool; examine the ductwork. You may improve the comfort of the home or building and smile when the utility bill comes. Ducts are made….
Tips for Proper Drainage
When it rains it pours, true with our recent monsoon events. Our prolonged drought welcomes the rain, but water can be an enemy. Good drainage around your building and property is vital! Ideally, the ground should slope away from your building, and landscaping should be protected against erosion. Unfortunately, many times we see the opposite! ….
Pool Safety
Pool safety is a year round concern. Whether you are representing a seller or buyer (or you have a pool of your own!), review the pool environment with your client, what safety measures are in place, and then consider the following. Avoid injuries and keep it a fun zone! Consider an access barrier. Protect access….
Problems in the Crawlspace
In homes built on crawlspaces such as this one inspected by Criterium-McWilliams Engineers, it is very important that the crawlspace be accessed and inspected. To be safely accessed the Nevada Revised Statues 645.D requires an opening or area to be at least 18 inches by 24 inches. Can you identify these deficiencies? The foundation pier….
Blocked Condensate Pipes
Do you know what that rust stain on the side of the house above the window means? Should you care? Yes! It could mean HVAC problems. This is caused by drainage through the secondary condensate pipe for the ir handler. This usually indicates that one of the primary discharge pipes, which typically drain near the….