Electrical safety for whirlpool bathtubs
Q. Please help me resolve a debate I'm having with a local home inspector. I have a small business installing bathtub whirlpool systems. For added safety, I use plastic pipe to prevent electrical connections between the tub and pump equipment. A home where I had installed one of these systems was recently sold, and the inspector faulted my installation for lack of electrical ground fault protection. I explained to him that plastic piping cannot conduct electricity from the pump to the tub, but he insisted that GFCI protection is required. How can I convince him that the system is safe without adding a GFCI outlet?
A. In this case, it is you who needs to be convinced. The home inspector has pointed out a significant safety violation. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) are not only necessary, they are required by code.
GFCIs are designed to prevent injury or death from electric shock, by shutting off the power when a short circuit to ground occurs. This is particularly important where bathtubs are connected to electrical equipment.
The use of plastic pipe to prevent electrical contact between the tub and pump may seem practical at first glance, but you've overlooked the fact that the water inside the plastic pipe can conduct electricity. If the circulation pump should ever develop a leak, 110 volts could electrify the bath water, with life-ending consequences to the unsuspecting bather.
The logical and practical solution is to install a simple GFCI outlet in the power supply to the pump. The additional cost for materials is approximately $15 to $20. By including this added protection for your customers, you will resolve your debate with the home inspector, while maintaining compliance with the National Electric Code.
Q. The home I just bought has a forced-air heating system: the first one I've ever owned. The owner's manual says the filter should be changed regularly, but it doesn't say how often that should be done. What do you recommend?
A. There is no specific time requisite for the changing of forced-air filters. It depends on how often the filter begins to accumulate dust, and this can vary according to the dustiness of the air in a given home and the number of hours the system is being used. Accordingly, some filters may need changing as often as once per month, while others might only need semiannual changes. By looking at your filter periodically, you will soon become familiar with the amount of dust accumulated and the needs of your particular system. When a light layer of dust becomes apparent on the filter surface, it's time for a change.
Routine filter maintenance is strongly recommended. Home inspectors often find filters with thick layers of dust from years of continued use. This kind of neglect restricts airflow, reduces the efficiency of a heating system, while exposing the furnace to possible damage due to overheating.
• 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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