Senate Bill 407 (SB407) was signed in 2009, and this law will have a big impact on California home owners starting January 1, 2017. In short, this law requires the installation of water conserving plumbing fixtures in all single family homes built prior to 1994. This is not a time-of-sale requirement, it applies to all [...]
I created a video to go over the basics of earthquake retrofitting a simple home. Using a layered SketchUp model, I will walk you through the basic elements of an earthquake (seismic) retrofit. Many of these standard details come from "Plan Set A" which can be found HERE. Enjoy the video and please let me [...]
GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) protection is a modern safety feature designed to help prevent shock hazards and electrocution. GFCI breakers and receptacles (outlets) de-energize a circuit or a portion of a circuit when a hazardous condition exists. GFCI protection is inexpensive and can provide a substantially increased margin of safety. Where to Install GFCI protection [...]
Tankless water heater manufacturers recommend flushing every 6-12 months. This is especially important in areas with hard water, as minerals can buildup inside the heat exchanger and cause performance problems. I'll run down the basics and I've collected the descaling instructions from the three main manufacturers of tankless water heaters: Takagi (sometimes labeled A.O. Smith), [...]
Since 1993, photoelectric sensors (aka photo-eyes) have been required on garage door openers. The CPSC recommend this change to "reduce the number of deaths to children who become entrapped under garage doors with automatic openers." I'm not saying it's a coincidence, but after watching Indiana Jones roll under that temple door in 1981, it pretty much [...]
While it is commonplace for property inspectors to note the electrical service size and often the size of the main water supply, the size of the gas meter is frequently overlooked. If a gas meter is undersized, the attached gas appliances could be starved for gas - especially when the major appliances are running at the same time. [...]
JMC Building Inspections is proud to announce our newest inspector, Lee Parsons. While many of you have already met Lee over the last few months, many of you have not yet had the pleasure. Read below to learn more about Lee, and if you have any questions, he can be reached directly by email at lee@jmcinspections.com. Lee [...]
A faucet aerator is a little device at the end of a faucet that adds air, and thereby provides a uniform flow while also restricting flow. Aerators will come with different gallons per minute (GPM) flow rates that are usually stamped on the side of the aerator. Over the years, the maximum flow rates have [...]
John McComas, who founded JMC Building Inspections in 1982, is now semi-retired. After doing residential and commercial inspections for 31 years, he will now only be doing hourly consultations, walkthroughs, and Berkeley E3 Inspections. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please call or email as the he is no longer using the [...]
Until the early 1980s, most toilets used 5-7 gallons per flush. Toilet technology has progressed (with a few mis-steps) to the point where ultra-high efficient toilets are available today that use only .8 gallons per flush. That may look like a typo, but companies such as Niagara Conservation have developed toilets that conserve water and [...]
