Real Estate Information Archive

White-Rodgers Recalls Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats Due to Fire Hazard

More than one million thermostats sold in the United States and Canada since 2006 are being recalled because the batteries can leak and cause a fire.

Product: The thermostats are made by White-Rodgers, but some have different brand names printed on the front, including ComfortSentry, DICO, Emerson, Frigidaire, Maytag, Nutone, Partners Choice, Rheem, Ruud, Unico, Water Furnace, Westinghouse and Zonefirst.

Hazard: The alkaline batteries used in the thermostat can leak onto the circuit board posing a fire hazard.

Remedy: Consumers should check thermostats for battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen, if the battery icon is not shown, contact White-Rodgers to receive a free repair or a replacement thermostat.

Consumer Contact: White-Rodgers toll-free at (888) 624-1901 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or click here.

Carol Chamberlain 714-726-3166 or Email, Jim Chamberlain 714-726-3144 or Email

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On average each you around a 170 people die from C O (Carbon Monoxide) produced by non-automotive consumer products says the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission.  C O is called the “Invisible Killer” because it’s a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas.

As of January 1, 2013 rental property in California is required to have a C O detector in the home and all residential property is required by law to have a C O detector too when it is sold after January 1, 2013.

 What is carbon monoxide (CO) and how is it produced?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Products and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as portable generators, cars, lawn mowers, and power washers also produce CO.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
Because CO is odorless, colorless, and otherwise undetectable to the human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever). They include: 

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness 

High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including:

• Mental confusion
• Vomiting
• Loss of muscular coordination
• Loss of consciousness
• Ultimately death 

How should I install a CO Alarm?
CO alarms should be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. CPSC recommends that one CO alarm be installed in the hallway outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area of the home. CO alarms may be installed into a plug-in receptacle or high on the wall. Hard wired or plug-in CO alarms should have battery backup. Avoid locations that are near heating vents or that can be covered by furniture or draperies. CPSC does not recommend installing CO alarms in kitchens or above fuel-burning appliances.

What should you do when the CO alarm sounds?

 

Never ignore an alarming CO alarm! It is warning you of a potentially deadly hazard.

If the alarm signal sounds do not try to find the source of the CO:

• Immediately move outside to fresh air.
• Call your emergency services, fire department, or 911.
• After calling 911, do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for. DO NOT reenter the premises until the emergency services responders have given you permission. You could lose consciousness and die if you go in the home.

Should CO alarms be used in motor homes and other recreational vehicles?

 

CO alarms are available for boats and recreational vehicles and should be used. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association requires CO alarms in motor homes and in trailers.

"Do's" for carbon monoxide detector placement:

• Place detectors in or near sleeping areas - where the sound of an alarm will easily wake people up
• Place detectors on each level of a residence
• Place detectors as per manufacturer instructions
• Carbon monoxide is roughly the same weight as air and over time distributes throughout a room, so a detector can be placed at any height in any acceptable location - preferably at eye level and definitely where the alarm can be easily heard
• For added protection, place a carbon monoxide detector 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 meters) from the furnace as well as other fuel burning sources
• in unheated basements, attics or garages
• in areas of high humidity (bathrooms, showers, laundry areas)
• where they will be exposed to chemical solvents or cleaners, including hair spray, deodorant sprays, etc.
• near vents, flues or chimneys
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of heating and cooking appliances (which can give off a small volume of carbon monoxide when starting up which can trigger false alarms)
• near forced or unforced air ventilation openings
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of corners or areas where natural air circulation is low
• where they can be bumped and damaged
• where directly exposed to weather

"Do nots" for carbon monoxide detector placement:

To avoid damage to the detector and to reduce false alarms, do not place carbon monoxide detectors:

• in unheated basements, attics or garages
• in areas of high humidity (bathrooms, showers, laundry areas)
• where they will be exposed to chemical solvents or cleaners, including hair spray, deodorant sprays, etc.
• near vents, flues or chimneys
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of heating and cooking appliances (which can give off a small volume of carbon monoxide when starting up which can trigger false alarms)
• near forced or unforced air ventilation openings
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of corners or areas where natural air circulation is low
• where they can be bumped and damaged
• where directly exposed to weather

 For more information us the link below to go to the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission website.

 http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers-/

Electric Dryer Vs Gas Dryer.

Consider switching to a natural gas clothes dryer, which is typically less expensive to operate than electric dryers, often by as much as 50 percent.

Want to take advantage of the low loan Rates but you have no equity. Well there may be help for you now. If your mortgage loan is owned by Fannie Mac or Freddie Mac, you may be eligible for a Home Affordable Refinance to take advantage of lower interest rates. Your mortgage company can tell you if your loan is guaranteed by Fannie Mac or Freddie Mac or you can contact Fannie Mac or Freddie Mac directly by click on the link below and completing the forms for each company. Two things you should know before you make the call. 1. You can't owe more than 105% of the appraised value. 2. No late payments in the last 12 months. If you meet these two conditions fill out the forms and get the ball rolling.

FANNIE MAE
1-800-7FANNIE (8 am to 8 pm EST)
www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup

FREDDIE MAC
1-800-FREDDIE (8 am to 8 pm EST)
www.freddiemac.com/mymortgage

I thought I was loosing excessive amounts of water from my pool. I was filling it everyday to bring the water level back to normal. Before you call a leak detection company in to see if your pool  has a leak there is a simple test you can do. If found this online at http://www.americanleakdetection.com:

1. Bring pool water to normal level.
2. Fill 5 gallon bucket with pool water about 3-4 inches from top.
3. Place bucket on first or second step of pool.
4. Mark water level on inside of bucket.
5. Shut off pump and mark pool level on outside of bucket.
6. Resume normal pump operation. Make sure auto/manual fill valve is off during test.
7. After 24 hours, compare the two levels. If the pool water (outside mark) goes down more than the inside water level, there is probably a leak.

In case of rain, repeat the test.

They also had a short video at http://www.americanleakdetection.com/tips-bucket-test.php  Fortunately for me the Sun was sucking it away.

No. Your number will stay on the Do Not Call list unless you direct the Federal Trade Commission to remove it. The FTC no longer requires people to sign up every 5 years. (It is not necessary to register cellphone numbers, since telemarketing to them is illegal.) Sign up at the FTC website, www.donotcall.gov or call 1-800-382-1222. Check, too, to see if your state has a no-call list. Despite the lists, it's impossible to stop all telemarketing call. The best thing to do is hang up and report the offender's number to the FTC. To file a complaint go to www.donotcall.gov and click on the "File A Complaint" button and follow the instructions. 

Due to recent housing market conditions within the County of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino the Assessor ‘s offices has begun to review the value of properties purchased within the last year in an effort to determine if value reductions are warranted under Proposition 8 (Prop. 8).
 
If you believe the assessed value of your home is greater than its current market value, you may request a review by filling out and returning a Decline-in-Value Reassessment Application (Prop. 8) form. The Assessors staff will review your request and provide written notification regarding their findings.

For Information and forms for your county click on the appropriate link below.

Orange County
Los Angeles   
Riverside 
San Bernardino

Mortgage term. Mortgages are generally available at 15-, 20-, or 30-year terms. The longer the term, the lower the monthly payment if the same amount is borrowed. However, you pay more interest overall if you borrow for a longer term.

Government-backed loans. Government-backed loans, sponsored by agencies such as the Federal Housing Administration (www.fha.gov) or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (www.va.gov), offer special terms, including lower downpayments or reduced interest rates—to qualified buyers.

Fixed or adjustable interest rates. A fixed rate allows you to lock in a low rate for as long as you hold the mortgage and is usually a good choice if interest rates are low. An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is designed so that interest rates will rise as interest rates increase; however they usually offer a lower rate in the first years of the mortgage. ARMs also usually have a limit as to how much the interest rate can be increased and how frequently they can be raised. ARMs are a good choice when interest rates are high or when you expect your income to grow significantly in the coming years.

Balloon mortgages. Balloon mortgages offer very low interest rates for a short period of time—often three to seven years. Payments usually cover only the interest, so the principal owed is not reduced. However, this type of loan may be a good choice if you think you will sell your home in a few years.

Slight variations in interest rates, loan amounts, and terms can significantly affect your monthly payment. For help in determining how much your monthly payment will be for various loan amounts, use Fannie Mae’s  online mortgage calculators.

Before you buy, contact the condo board with the following questions. In the process, you’ll learn how responsive—and organized—its members are.

1. What percentage of units is owner-occupied? What percentage is tenant-occupied? Generally, the higher the percentage of owner-occupied units, the more marketable the units will be at resale.

2. What covenants, bylaws, and restrictions govern the property? What grandfather clauses are in place? You may find, for instance, that those who buy a property after a certain date can’t rent out their units, but buyers who bought earlier can. Ask for a copy of the bylaws to determine if you can live within them. And have an attorney review property docs, including the master deed, for you.

3. How much does the association keep in reserve? How is that money being invested?

4. Are association assessments keeping pace with the annual rate of inflation? Smart boards raise assessments a certain percentage each year to build reserves to fund future repairs. To determine if the assessment is reasonable, compare the rate to others in the area.

5. What does and doesn’t the assessment cover—common area maintenance, recreational facilities, trash collection, snow removal?

6. What special assessments have been mandated in the past five years? How much was each owner responsible for? Some special assessments are unavoidable. But repeated, expensive assessments could be a red flag about the condition of the building or the board’s fiscal policy.

7. How much turnover occurs in the building?

8. Is the project in litigation? If the builders or homeowners are involved in a lawsuit, reserves can be depleted quickly.

9. Is the developer reputable? Find out what other projects the developer has built and visit one if you can. Ask residents about their perceptions. Request an engineer’s report for developments that have been reconverted from other uses to determine what shape the building is in. If the roof, windows, and bricks aren’t in good repair, they become your problem once you buy.

10. Are multiple associations involved in the property? In very large developments, umbrella associations, as well as the smaller association into which you’re buying, may require separate assessments.