Inspector says remove padlock from electrical panel
Q. The people who are buying our house hired a home inspector. His report advised removing the padlock from our electrical panel. This seems like a pointless recommendation, since there are no electrical problems in the panel, and because there is no ordinance against locking the panel. We're just trying to make sure no one tampers with our panel. We previously lived in a high-crime area and had a series of problems until we began securing the panel. We now live in a safer community but feel more comfortable with the lock. What do you think about locking an electric panel?
A. In urban areas, where crime is common, electrical service panels are often fastened with padlocks. In suburban or rural communities, tampering with electrical panels is uncommon, and padlocks are rarely used. For general safety reasons, it is best for circuit breakers to be readily accessible. In cases of emergency, delayed access can have serious consequences.
If a circuit breaker needs to be reset on a dark and rainy night, you wouldn't want to be searching for a mislaid key. If an emergency, such as a fire, requires that the power be turned off, immediate access to the main breaker could be crucial. In fact, fire departments prefer that panels not be locked because it is their practice to shut off the power to a building prior to commencing a fire fight. When they have to cut off a padlock, precious seconds can be lost.
Padlocks are not the only ways that access to an electrical panel can be restricted. Service panels are sometimes obscured behind unmaintained foliage. Interior panels can be blocked by storage or by furniture. The electrical code actually requires 36 inches of unrestricted clearance in front of an electrical panel. For optimal home safety, unimpeded accessibility is a wise practice at all electric panels.
Q. Whenever I turn off the shower faucet, a loud thump can be heard inside the wall. Even when I'm on the other side of the house, I can hear a knock in the walls when someone else uses the shower. According to the home inspector who checked our house, this could cause damage to the water pipes. I don't want to spend money on a plumber unless it is absolutely necessary. Do you think I have a serious problem?
A. The thumping noise you describe is commonly known as "water hammer." This condition usually occurs when pipes are loosely attached within the walls, especially in homes where the water pressure is high or where air is trapped within the water lines. When a faucet is turned off suddenly, immediate stoppage of the water flow can jar the piping due to the abrupt increase in pressure. When this happens, loose pipes can knock against the wood framing inside the walls, causing an audible knock.
In most cases, water hammer is nothing more than a minor nuisance and is unlikely to result in any significant plumbing problems. If you have excessive water pressure, the hammering could have more serious effects. To be sure, you should hire a licensed plumber to check the pressure, to install a pressure regulator if needed, and to install hammer arresters in the supply lines to your shower.
• To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com, or write AMG, 1776 Jami Lee Court, Suite 218, San Luis Obispo, CA 94301.
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