WestPoint Home Inspection TV interview on Cayman27 News

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Hot water heaters - what temperature is too hot?

TODAY, WE HAVE TANK AND TANKLESS WATER HEATERS......

Of the two types mentioned above, your water heater can be powered by electricity, propane (LP gas), solar and natural gas. The latter being the least likely option in the Cayman Islands. 

Both tank and tankless water heaters have a temperature setting. Some tank water heaters

have them hidden behind a small metal panel, while others have them in plain view. 

Electric tankless water heaters typically have an obvious dial or digital setting directly in the front for easy viewing and setting.

If your water heater has been installed correctly and is functioning correctly, you should not have to adjust the setting. However, factory settings can vary and if you are not the original owner of the heater, the setting may have been previously adjusted.

The average temperature setting is generally around 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 Celsius), while a majority of manufacturer settings are as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 Celsius). Turning the temperature lower than 120 degrees (49 Celsius) may allow certain strains of bacteria to survive, while raising the temperature above 140 degrees (60 Celsius) can be dangerous.

At 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 Celsius, an adult can sustain a third degree burn in only 5 seconds and much less for a child! So be careful, set the temperature accordingly, and be safe.

Home Inspection: what do you think this is?

On a recent property inspection, while walking the Exterior and Grounds, we found the following on a concrete and stucco wall: 

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What do you think this is?

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Pro Tip: Porcelain vs. Ceramic

Which tile should you pick, and why?

Tile is tile, right? The short answer is yes. However, when trying to decide between porcelain and ceramic tiles, there are a few quick facts and tips you should know.

FACTS:

• Porcelain is harder than ceramic and typically costs more
• Ceramic usually costs less and has a top layer of glazing
• Porcelain has the same color throughout the tile - so if it chips, it's not so noticeable
  
• Ceramic has a top layer glazing, and if it chips, the different colored clay layer below shows, and is very noticeable
• Both Porcelain and Ceramic tiles are made of clay
• Both Porcelain and Ceramic tiles are suitable throughout the home in hot climates like the Cayman Islands, Southern United States, and the rest of the Caribbean.

PRO TIP:

If you are planning to install the tiles yourself, it's probably a better idea to buy ceramic, because they are easier to work with and standard tile cutting tools will work fine. Porcelain however, is hard and will not cooperate nicely with standard tools and additional equipment may be required.

Conversely, if you are planning to have a professional install the tiles, then buy porcelain if your budget permits!

Term of the Week - Cantilevered

This term is typically used to described decks, balconies and staircases and can also be referred to as 'floating'. These structures

or building elements, appear as if they require vertical supports, when structurally, they do not. The structural load and

calculations are usually predetermined prior to installation. 

While they provoke appealing curiosity for the observer, they typically produce the opposite effect for Structural Engineers and Home Inspectors trying to determine their safety and proper installation! 

Term of the Week: Coffered Ceilings

There are many types of decorative ceilings out there, but these lend a sense of warmth and elegance. They are usually geometric in design - a 'fancy grid' more or less on your ceiling, and are typically the design work of a detailed architect.

They can be made of solid timbers, glued together wood planks (glulam), or finished wood on the exterior, with hidden supports in the middle.

New Year's Home Resolution

We make New Year's Resolutions for ourselves, so why not make one for our homes?

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Here are a few resolutions you should consider making for your home this year:

• Get an air-conditioning service plan. If you don't have one, then get moving! Air-conditioning is a major component in hot climates, and regular servicing can help it to work more efficiently and extend the life of the system. Homes that have air-conditioning service plans, also tend to have less overall problems and generally pass home inspections more frequently as well.

• Spruce-up your front door. One of the first things that people notice on a home is the front door. If yours is wood, refinish it and put on a fresh coat of oil, wax or urethane. If your front door is painted, put a fresh coat of paint on it, or maybe consider a new color. Clean up around the door and the entrance area, and make it inviting for guest and visitors.  

• Straighten-up those closets. An organized closet saves time, looks appealing and shows pride of ownership.

• Pressure wash some stuff. By stuff, I mean most anything outside, but not the dog or the kids! Start with the driveway. A plain concrete driveway looks 1000% better after a pressure washing - so does the exterior of the home and windows. Pressure washing is relatively inexpensive, and goes a long way in appearance. 

Pro Tip: When pressure washing driveway pavers that have been sealed (as is common in hotter climates like South Florida and the Caribbean), be sure to hold the nozzle head a little further away from the surface than normal. This will help to prevent the water pressure from potentially stripping away any sealant. The same applies to paint on the exterior of some homes.