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Range Anti-Tip Bracket

2/19/2013

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This sticker is on the door jamb or door of every range manufactured in the last 20 plus years, however I find a Range Anti-Tip Bracket installed in less than 10% of the homes I inspect.

Anti-tip brackets are metal devices designed to prevent freestanding ranges from tipping. They are normally attached to a rear leg of the range or screwed into the wall behind the range, and are included in all installation kits. A unit that is not equipped with these devices may tip over if enough weight is applied to its open door, such as that from a large Thanksgiving turkey, or even a small child. A falling range can crush, scald, or burn anyone caught beneath.
Bracket Inspection
Inspectors can confirm the presence of anti-tip brackets through the following methods:

  • It may be possible to see a wall-mounted bracket by looking over the rear of the range. Floor-mounted brackets are often hidden, although in some models with removable drawers, such as 30" electric ranges made by General Electric, the drawers can be removed and a flashlight can be used to search for the bracket. Inspectors should beware that a visual confirmation does not guarantee that the bracket has been properly installed.
  • Inspectors can firmly grip the upper-rear section of the range and tip the unit. If equipped with an anti-tip bracket, the unit will not tip more than several inches before coming to a halt. The range should be turned off, and all items should be removed from the stovetop before this action can be performed. It is usually easier to detect a bracket by tipping the range than through a visual search. This test can be performed on all models and it can confirm the functionality of a bracket.
     If no anti-tip bracket is detected, inspectors should recommend that one be installed.
Clients can contact the dealer or builder who installed their range and request that they install a bracket. For clients who wish to install a bracket themselves, the part can be purchased at most hardware stores or ordered from a manufacturer. General Electric will send their customers an anti-tip bracket for free.
     According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 143 incidents caused by range tip-overs from 1980 to 2006. Of the 33 incidents that resulted in death, most of those victims were children. A small child may stand on an open range door in order to see what is cooking on the stovetop and accidentally cause the entire unit to fall on top of him, along with whatever hot items may have been cooking on the stovetop. The elderly, too, may be injured while using the range for support while cleaning.
     In response to this danger, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) created standards in 1991 that require all ranges manufactured after that year to be capable of remaining stable while supporting 250 pounds of weight on their open doors. Manufacturers' instructions, too, require that anti-tip brackets provided be installed. Despite these warnings, retailer Sears estimated in 1999 that a mere 5% of the gas and electric units they sold were ever equipped with anti-tip brackets. As a result of Sears' failure to comply with safety regulations, they were sued and subsequently required to secure ranges in nearly 4 million homes, a measure that has been speculated to have cost Sears as much as $500 million.
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New iPhone App for Depositing Checks!

2/6/2013

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Oregon Community Credit Union has a great new app for the iPhone that allows me to deposit checks by taking a photo of the check with my phone!  Finally a piece of technology that actually saves time and money.  I typically would make 2-3 trips to the bank a week to deposit checks.  Now I can just do it from my phone!  A couple days ago I was driving around and I had a check, I drove right by the bank, no need to stop at the ATM, I'll just make the deposit at home!  I am sure other banks have similar services.
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New Radon levels by Oregon Zip Code released

1/25/2013

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The Oregon State Health Authority has just released new data on results of radon tests by Oregon Zip code.

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that causes up to 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the US each year.  The only way to know if your home has dangerous levels of radon is to have it tested.  You can buy radon test kits at local hardware stores and numerous places online including the Oregon State Health Authority.

It is important to understand that radon testing in Oregon is in its infancy with many zip codes having results from only a few tests.  It is common for homes next to each other to radically different radon concentrations.  While it is interesting to see what radon levels have been reported in your zip code, it is important to understand that radon concentrations can vary with different soil conditions and home constructions methods.  The only way to know if your home is safe is to test. 



Zip codes in the Eugene-Springfield area show moderate levels of radon with 5-10% of homes tested above the minimum level for remediation. 


Many of us work hard to lead a healthy lifestyle, testing our homes for radon is an important part of the overall health picture!

Oregon Field Guide has an interesting video on Radon in the Portland area.

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Heat Pump Water Heaters

1/11/2013

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Heat Pump Water Heaters are becoming popular with those wanting to conserve electricity while heating water. They can use 40% less electricity to heat water in the North West.

Many homes have heat pumps to heat and cool their homes. But aheat pump also can be used to heat water. Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Therefore, they can be much more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. To move the heat, heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse.

Heat Pump Water Heaters work best in an unconditioned space like a garage but some can be installed indoors. There are some great financial incentives to replace your existing electric water heater with a Heat Pump Water Heater. More information at SmartWaterHeat.org, http://www.dsireusa.org/ and your local utility.


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    There are always a lot of exciting things happening in homes and new technologies relating to home maintenance.  This is a place to share information about homes.
    Randy Birzer

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