OnGoing Maintenance




	EarthQuake Hazard Reports Honey Do uses as one of its resources the brief earthquake hazard report based on standards defined by Section 8897 et seq of the California Government Code and adopted by the California Seismic Safety Commission. In 1992, the California Seismic Safety commission was required to develop, adopt and publish the Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety and to promote the disclosure of certain earthquake deficiencies (Government Code, Title 2, Division, Chapter 13.8). Critical hazards defined by the Seismic Safety commission included: Water heater bracing House anchorage Cripple wall bracing Foundation design Tall foundation wall and tall post bracingI Unreinforced masonry presence Presence of living area over garages Strap Water Heater $250.00 including parts if unit is with in 12” of wall. The average water heater weighs about four hundred pounds when full. Such a massive object resists being moved suddenly. In an earthquake, the floor moves but the heater tends to topple, breaking the gas and water lines connected to it. Current codes requires that the water heater be not more than 12” from the nearest straight wall and not less than 1”. Code requires that 3/4” x 24 gauge perforated steel plumbers tape be rapped around the heater at a distance plus/minus 9” from the top of the heater and plus/minus 4 “ from the bottom of the heater. The tape will be connected with 1/4” dia. x 1” machine screw, washer and nut. One half dia. thin wall EMT conduit with ends flattened will run from water heater to wall. The length of the “arms” will not be more than 2’6”. The EMT will be bolted into the steel plumbers tape with 1/4” dia x1” round head machine screw with washer and nut. The EMT will be bolted to the wall with 1/4” dia x 3” lag with flat washer into a stud. Install wooden spacer if water heater is more than 12” from wall. Cost is $250.00 If the water heater is more than 12” from the wall, wooden spacer will need to be installed to shim the wall out to the heater. In some instances where the water heater is located in the middle of the room framing will have to be connected to the floor joists of the room above and into the 2”x4” shot into the floor and then the water heater strapped into this new framing. Code requires that flexible water and gas connections be connected to the water heater. Install flexible gas and water lines to water heater. Cost is $185.00 for the first 10 feet in workable space of minimum of 48" of head room . Gas and Water pressure test may be extra. “Any water system containing storage water heating equipment shall be provided with an approved, listed, adequately sized combination pressure and temperature relief valve.... Each pressure relief valve shall be provided with a relief valve outlet of galvanized steel or hard drawn copper piper and fittings. Drained to the outside of the building when located inside a building and at the end of the drain pipe shall terminate not more than two feet not less than six inches above the ground and pointed downward.” Properly vent Pressure and Temperature valve to the outside of building. Call for an estimate Tie large appliances to wall Large appliances will move in an earthquake and may block doorways and make leaving the building difficult. Honey Do Repair will brace the washer dryer and refrigerator to the wall. The cost is $100.00 per appliance. Bolt large pieces of furniture to with Honey Do supplied earthquake straps. The cost is $100.00 The price noted is for one piece. For additional pieces, simply multiply the one piece price times the number of pieces to be bolted. You can also do this work on a Handy person (Handyman) basis. Bolt and Shearwall Background: This applies to a two-story home built before modern earthquake building codes were written. The building codes at the time the work was completed may not have required shearwall in this “weak story” of the home. These additional foundations are not bolted to meet current building codes and will need to be brought up to date as well. Our proposal will include: Pull permit for work. Anchor bolt through the sill to the foundation to meet current building codes. 1/2 ” x 8” threaded rod anchor bolts set in epoxy embedment about every 6 feet in accessible areas Add hold downs where required at the termination of most shear wall segments. Add blocking between studs were needed for proper nailing of plywood. Pressure Treated Douglas Fir (PTDF) 2x4 or 2x6” Nail with 16d nail to current codes. Install plywood diaphragm with proper nailing pattern to conform to current codes 1/2”structural 1 or CDX Nailed with 8d nails with different pattern for field and edge nailing. Honey Do will install additional blocking where pipes or ducts pass through the shear walls Install vent holes and covers in top and bottom of each bay where we have installed shear wall. This is also a very good time to: Change the batteries on your smoke detector Install of Co2 Detector in the attic and basement Service and test run the sump pump in the basement Clean the fire place or install a spark arrestor and/or rain cap Look under the house for standing water Check the roof and tar to flashing around the chimney and vent stacks Please ask your service technician for our complete Fall and Winter Checklist Useful web sites: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program - Northern California AlwaysBePrepared.com USGS- Handbook for San Francisco Bay Region Central United States Earthquake Consortium Earthquake Preparation Notes Each adult member of the family should know how to shut off the electricity, water, gas if instructed to do so. We will be happy to demonstrate on our next regularly scheduled visit. Store extra water and batteries in cool storage spot other than the basement. Arrange that all family members call one out of state relative to check in. Keep copies of family records in water and fire proof container.