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The Lonely Smoke Detector

One of the most important pieces of safety equipment in your home is your lonely smoke detector. Before the advent of smart smoke and CO2 detectors, homeowners were content with the standard white disc that chirped and woke them up at night when the batteries were low. They just sat on the walls or ceilings, all by themselves, without ever getting the attention they truly deserve. So, in my efforts to get into the psyche of an old school smoke detector that many homeowners still use, I decided to interview one to help you understand how this “third wheel” in your home is currently feeling. The following is an interview I recently had with a smoke detector that wishes to remain anonymous. For the purpose of this interview, I’ll refer to him as “Smolder.”

Ox: So, there’s been a lot going on with the pandemic and all. How have you and your family been?

Smolder: We’re good. Covid-19 hasn’t really changed our working conditions much. We’ve been working from home for years. We recently adopted a new kid in 2018. His name is Nest. He looks different from the rest of us but we love him just the same.

Ox: Has it been hard adjusting to having a new child in the home?

Smolder: It has. My wife and I and our other three children have always chirped when we needed something. Nest has a pretty advanced vocabulary and seems to get more attention from the other humans in the house. Nest talks a lot. It makes us feel left out sometimes.

Ox: Is there something you can do to get more attention?

Smolder: That’s a good question. I live in a physician’s house. I know he’s pretty busy but he hasn’t spoken to me in 25 years. I used to be pale complected but my color, due to old age, has changed to a bright yellow. I was really hoping he would have noticed my illness and changed me out for a newer model to protect his family. He just walks by me everyday. My anxiety has been acting up but I get counseling from Alexa when the humans are gone.

Ox: Man, I’m really sorry to hear that. Can you speak to us in depth about your illness?

Smolder: Sure. We smoke detectors, normally acquire a disease called Bromine. This chemical was put into our bodies as a fire retardant so we’ll continue working during a fire. At around ten years, we get ill and our bodies turn yellow due to being exposed to ultraviolet light. This should be a sign that we need to be replaced but many homeowners just don’t pay attention to us.

Ox: Are you still able to function?

Smolder: No. I think my homeowner still thinks I’m working because he pushes a button and I chirp. He just doesn’t have any idea that I won’t be able to detect smoke. I can see my wife down the hall and her light has turned red. She passed away a few years ago.

Ox: I’m so sorry to hear about your wife. Is there something you would want me to share with the other humans that are currently neglecting their smoke detectors?

Smolder: Yes. Tell them we are here to help them. We can actually save their lives if we are maintained and kept in good working condition. We need our batteries changed yearly and when we turn yellow and are ten years old, we need to be buried so we can return to our dad, Smokey.

Ox: You bring up some great points. I will share this story with the world and see if we can’t bring some attention to your story. Hang in there and please, whatever you do, don’t start smoking. It was nice chatting with you.

Smolder: Thank you. You know where to find me. I’ll be hanging out in the same location until we meet again.

February 4, 2021/0 Comments/by Spectora
https://d39oyu4lp7snwz.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2021/02/04211317/Lonely_Smoke_Detector.png 1070 1562 Spectora https://d39oyu4lp7snwz.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2021/01/16180941/pngox.png Spectora2021-02-04 21:15:312021-02-04 21:15:31The Lonely Smoke Detector
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Why Are Water Heaters Elevated?

Water heaters come in many shapes and sizes. The most common types of water heaters are both gas and electric and stand upright. While tankless water heaters have gained a rise in popularity, their cost is still too high for most homeowners. I even called a plumbing company in Tucson and was quoted $2000 just for the installation of a tankless water heater.

Most homes in Arizona have either a forty or fifty gallon upright water heater located in the garage. Generally speaking, a couple living in a small condo could make do with a 30-40 gallon water heater. A family with three to five people should go with a 50 gallon water heater to ensure they have hot water when everyone is taking a bath or shower in the evenings. Larger residential homes with five plus bedrooms and multiple dishwashers sometimes use commercial 75 gallon water heaters.

When I first began taking my courses to become a certified home inspector in Arizona, I was told that water heaters were elevated so cars wouldn’t hit them. This got me to thinking, “What is the purpose of the protective post, or bollard, mounted in the concrete in your garage in front of the water heater?” I see a few trucks on the roads that are lifted but I had a hard time believing that contractors were building pedestals and elevating water heaters to prevent my Toyota Camry from crushing it. As I continued to read, my beliefs were confirmed that the bollards are built in front of a hot water heater to prevent cars and trucks from hitting them in the garage. So, why are hot water heaters elevated?

Well, many homeowners store flammable liquids in garages, all of which could end up on the floor of a garage. Luckily, they won’t ignite the flame of a gas hot water heater that has been elevated eighteen inches off the ground. This made perfect sense to me. Many years ago, I broke a plastic line inside the hood of my VW bug and all the gas in my car came out onto the garage floor. If the pilot light on the hot water heater had ignited the gas, I would have been burnt toast.

As I continued researching, I learned that most 30-50 gallon gas water heaters manufactured and sold in America since 2003 are FVIR (Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant). By 2005, all water heaters sold in the US are FVIR. Basically, technology has been added to hot water heaters to ensure the pilot light won’t ignite even if the hot water heater is placed on the ground. Why then would a water heater need to be elevated in a garage if there is no chance that the pilot light could be ignited?

Simple: most local codes haven’t changed even though the technology in the water heater itself has evolved. So is it a bad idea to have a water heater elevated? Absolutely not. Is it required to elevate your water heater in your local municipality if it’s in the garage around flammable materials? Maybe. I think it is safe to say that builders just elevate water heaters to ensure compliance with local codes.

Water heaters are essential in any home. Even though they are a rather simple piece of equipment and have been around for decades, they have a lot of working parts that need to occasionally be inspected to ensure proper working condition.

January 27, 2021/0 Comments/by Spectora
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