How Long Will It Last?
Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company
How nice it would be if we had a crystal ball to tell us how long the systems, appliances, and building materials in our home would last! Unfortunately, this is the \”real world\” and no such item exists. The next best bet is to consult the following list of \”Life Expectancies for Residential Equipment and Materials.\” It will give a good idea of how long these items typically last.
The ranges below may vary a little based on a number of factors, including:
1. Quality of the equipment and/or materials.
2. Proper application and/or use of the equipment and materials.
3. The proper capacities of the equipment and/or materials.
4. Varying amounts and type of usage.
5. Exposure to different weather and geographical conditions.
6. Quality of fuels, water, and air to which the equipment is exposed.
7. Future high-tech equipment, materials, and applications (that may increase or decrease life expectancies).
8. Quality of workmanship used in the installation.
HEATING SYSTEMS YEARS
Boilers
Cast iron 30 to 60
Steel 20 to 35
Heating Exchangers (steel)
Gas-fired 25 to 40
Oil-fired 20 to 35
Heat Pump Compressor 7 to 12
Heating Pipes
Steel 80 to 120
Copper 60 to ?
Burners
Oil 20 to 30
Gas 30 to 40
Misc. Heating Components
Circulators 20 to 30
Fans 12 to 40
Oil Tanks (inside) 25 to 50
Expansion Tanks 35 to 50
Zone Valves 7 to 10
Note: Heaters need complete replacement when the boiler (water) or heat exchanger (air) fails.
AIR CONDITIONING
(Electric)
Compressors 10 to 14
Coils 20 to 30
Fans 12 to 40
PLUMBING SYSTEMS
Water Service (Public)
Lead 50 to 90
Steel 40 to 75
Copper 70 to ?
Plastic Unknown
Interior Water Pipe
Steel 1/2\” 40 to 60
Copper 1/2\” 70 to 100
Plastic Unknown
Drainage Lines
Galvanized Steel 40 to 60
Copper 60 to 100
Cast Iron 50 to 90
Plastic (P.V.C.) 35 to ?
Lead 50 to 90
WELL EQUIPMENT
(On-site Water Supply)
Pump-Submersible 15 to 22
Pump-Above Ground 13 to 20
Pressure Tank-Steel 15 to 25
Pressure Tank - Fiberglass 25 to 50
SEPTIC SYSTEM
(On-Site Drainage System)
Steel Tank 15 to 30
Concrete Tank 25 to 40
Life expectancy of leaching fields is determined by porosity of soil and maintenance (10 to 60 years)
MISCELLANEOUS PLUMBING ITEMS
Water Heater
Gas 8 to 14
Electric 12 to 18
Oil Burner 20 to 40
Fixtures
Faucets, etc. 20 to 60
Toilets & sinks 40 to 60
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Service cables 20 to 40
Wiring (interior)
Knob & tube 60 to 90
Armored Cable-BX 50 to 80
Plastic - Romex) 70 to 80
Panel Boxes
Fuses or Circuit Breakers 20 to 50
Life expectancy is directly related to moisture in the area of the box (rust & oxidation of contacts).
EXTERIOR COMPONENTS
Roof Coverings
Fiberglass Asphalt Shingles 18 to 25
Roofs wear out sooner on the south side of the house.
Built-Up Roofing, 3 ply 10 to 15
Installation procedures and regular recoating can extend the life of these roofs 2, 3 or more times.
Slate (depends on the quarry from which it came, maintenance is required. 35 to 200
Metal Standing or Welded Seams 50 to 90
Metal roofs are mostly tin and will remain functional as long as you keep them from rusting .
Cedar (depends on quality of wood, workmanship, and maintenance) 20 to 40
Sidings and Veneers
Aluminum (you may repaint aluminum siding at about 20-23 years to extend life) 18-25
Vinyl 25 to ?
Aluminum with Tedlar coating 35 to 50
Hardboard or composition (depends on finish, exposure to sun and maintenance) 20 to 40
T1-11 Plywood Siding (must coat regularly or will not last more than 8 years) 20 to 40
Stucco (70 years without paint, 200+ years with regular painting) 70 to 200+
Asbestos (needs normal maintenance, recommended painting) 40 to 100
Masonry
Brick. Veneers with periodic pointing. 100+
Note: Masonry walls are very durable and as long as they are designed properly and receive periodic maintenance, they should last 100+ years. Exceptions would be salmon brick, cinder block (instead of concrete block) and Serpentine stone.
Windows
Wood. Usually very dependable and have long life expectancies with regular painting and storm windows to help protect them. 35 to 100
Aluminum. Usually are marginal in design and functionality. An advantage is their low cost. 10 to 25
Vinyl. Reasonable window, moderate cost, not enough history to project life expectancy. 15 to ?
Aluminum storm windows 30 to 40
INTERIORS
Ceramic Tile (in tub or shower wall areas)
Wed Bed (cement) or Wonder Board Backing 40 to 90
Mastic System (adhesive) 14 to 20
Plaster
Walls 70 to 120
Ceilings 60 to 90
Life expectancy of plaster is altered by the carpentry framing and the type of plaster lath used.
Drywall (also called sheetrock)
Walls 50 to ?
Ceilings 30 to ?
Appliances
Refrigerators 10 to 20
Dishwashers 13 to 18
Gas Ranges 20 to 35
Electric Ranges 15 to 25
Garbage Disposal 10 to 15
Humidifiers 5 to 20
Dehumidifiers 8 to 12
Washers 10 to 20
Dryers 10 to 20
Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, Pesident of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.
How Long Will it Last?
Victory is an Accomplishment
Did you ever watch a bird in flight? Especially ducks or geese as they take off from the water? The take off is not the soaring grace of flight; it is a struggle, an accomplishment to get the bird out of the water and into the air. The REAL victory of flight is not the feat of soaring on air currents to a final destination, once in flight the bird has relative ease from his struggles. The real victory is in getting past the struggles of starting, just getting out of the muck.
If you are asking how this relates to you - personally starting your business, well, I’ll tell you. I’ve watched as people whom I felt were successful in life started new businesses. They all start out flapping their wings and running for thin air, only to find themselves knee deep in muck at the water’s edge. They have all the same equipment as the ducks soaring on the air currents high in the sky, but they don’t have what it takes to get out of the water. So, the question is, what does it really take to achieve victory?
You’ve got to get out of the muck!!! Leave the quagmire behind, walk on the water, lift your spirits and fly into the wild blue yonder. BUT, how?
Ø Step 1 - Look up! If you can see the clear blue sky above you the quagmire doesn’t seem so safe. Set a goal, then look toward that goal, and set your sights there. Don’t look back, keep your eye on the goal.
Ø Step 2 - Put everything you have into your goal! Give it your best shot, don’t stop and don’t slow down until you get where you want to be. Remember how hard and furious geese flap their wings to get out of the water. Don’t stop until you’ve found victory and you are soaring in the wild blue yonder.
Ø Step 3 - Believe in your abilities. You are the only person who can get you out of the water. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in your either. Ducks and geese fly in a group, but each one flies for himself. No other goose will do the work for a lazy or disabled goose; each one has to flap his own wings. Believe in yourself and your abilities.
Ø Step 4 - Have Faith. When geese take off for warmer country, many of them have never been there before; they have faith in their instincts and follow them. There is no roadmap of assurance to get geese from Canada to South Carolina; they have to fly on faith that South Carolina will be warmer than Canada. Have faith, fly into the wild blue yonder and fulfill your dreams.
Ø Step 5 - Have a plan. Geese fly south for the winter and north for the summer. Get a plan and stick with it. Remember that some things change with the seasons and plan accordingly.
Ø Step 6 - Create a support network. Geese fly in a group and almost never alone. This offers protection and company for the trip. It’s always nice to have friends along the way and someone to chat with when you get there. Network with people who have similar goals.
Ø Step 7 - Delegate the work. Geese fly in a ‘v’ and change lead geese frequently so the one in the wind doesn’t get so tired. If you have a group of people working toward the same goal, none of them have to work alone. It always helps to have people working with you - and new minds creating ideas.
Ø Step 8 – Be yourself. If you are born a goose, you aren’t likely to ever become a swan. It isn’t that you can’t become better than you were/are. You can become the prettiest most talented goose with the best education, and you may become the best leader in the flock. However, you will NEVER be able to become something that YOU aren’t. Be who you are and be the very BEST you that you can be.
It’s really difficult to recognize every achievement, so as a society we often overlook those who are not at the top of the heap. It takes a few at the bottom, to keep those at the top elevated, so if we realize that, we have to acknowledge the part they play in the lives of those at the top of the heap. By recognizing their part in the whole of society, it would be beneficial to notice them and acknowledge their victory. Simply getting above the muck and into the air, means victory for the goose – he’s airborne – even if he never becomes a leader in the flock – he’s a victor!
As members of society, we need to recognize those who just barely get out of the muck. Their success may not be as grand or extraordinary as the flight of an eagle, but it is no less victorious.
Steps to Victory
1. Look UP!
2. Put it all into your GOAL.
3. Believe in YOURSELF.
4. Have Faith.
5. Have a PLAN.
6. Create a Support Network.
7. Share the work.
8. Be YOURSELF.
Copyright © 2001 – Jan Verhoeff
Printed in the USA
Jan Verhoeff is a business consultant who specializes in the development of new businesses throughout the Greater Great Plains States. She educates business owners in the process of developing business and marketing plans for their businesses that will encourage them to set and meet productive business goals.
She is the author of a variety of articles published in a variety of business and trade publications throughout the USA.
She may be reached by phone at 719-336-4036 or by email at: janverhoeff@yahoo.com.
10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Health Club Membership
You’ve decided you want (or need) to get work out more and get fit. You’re thinking about joining a health club, but you’ve heard too many stories about people who sign up, go one or two times, and never go back. You’re not really sure which type of club to join: a low-cost chain, a more expensive, exclusive fitness center, or a club that caters to only women or men.
Buying and maintaining a health club membership can be pretty complicated, but if you follow these 10 tips, you’ll save money and be on your way to greater fitness.
1. Make a list of your specific fitness needs and wants. Will you be comfortable working out in a large club with both men and women? Will you need access to more than one club? Are you looking for one-on-one personal training services? How often do you think you’ll work out each month? Do you think you’ll be able to keep up your fitness regimen? How much can you afford to pay for a membership each month?
2. Once you’ve identified your requirements, visit health clubs that meet your needs. Get a free pass for each club (at least a one-week’s pass) and workout at each club as often as possible during the free periods.
3. Don’t sign up for a membership at any of the health clubs while you’re using free passes. You’ll be under a lot of pressure from salespeople and managers, and they will tell you that you need to sign up today in order to get discount pricing. Don’t. Health clubs offer discount pricing all the time.
4. When you’ve decided a health club, go back and speak with a salesperson about membership choices. Don’t feel pressured to sign a long-term contract at any health club. Remember that long-term contracts are really installment loans with high interest payments. If you don’t think that you’re going to keep up your workouts, don’t even think about signing one of these contracts. Gather all of the written information about each type of membership, then go home and review it at your leisure. Don’t feel pressured to sign up for any membership at the club.
5. When you’re speaking with the salesperson, ask all of the questions you want. Don’t feel rushed or pressured. Never forget that any contract you sign supersedes any promises a salesperson gives you. Even if the salesperson writes it into the contract, it probably isn’t legally enforceable. The contract is king. Read it carefully before signing.
6. Compare the costs of each membership type, and remember that you should make the ultimate decision based on your own needs, not on short-term discounts that may sound like you’re saving money, but will end up costing you more money in the end.
7. Make sure you fully understand the cancellation requirements of each membership type. Many long-term health club contracts are almost impossible to cancel. A month-to-month contract may be a better solution.
8. Don’t sign up for automatic payments via credit card. If you no longer want a membership, and you’re able to cancel, you may find it difficult to get payments stopped.
9. Keep track of all your payments in case there are any disputes with your health club.
10. If you do cancel you membership, make sure you get the cancellation in writing from your health club.
By following these 10 tips, you will certainly set yourself up for fitness success.
Davis Beale is a consumer advocate who specializes in the healthcare industry. You can find his “25 Essential Tips you need before you buy a Bally Total Fitness health club membership and start a workout program” at www.ballyfitnesstips.com.
Tell Them Where To Go
Imagine you’re doing some research on the internet.
Now imagine you’ve found a site that says it has the kind of
information you’re looking for only …all the information
is contained on other pages of the site and the page you’ve
found doesn’t provide any links to those pages.
Now, how valuable would that site be to you?
This is a rhetorical question since we all recognize the value
of putting links to the other pages on our site where our
visitors can find them easily.
But how about e-books?
Imagine you’ve found an e-book that holds a lot of valuable
information. The e-book has more than 200 pages of information
that has been split into logical sections for ease of use
however … there is no Table of Contents or Index contained in the e-book.
If this is a PDF e-book and you know the right search term, you
may be able to do a search and find what you’re looking for. But
if it’s not a PDF e-book, you have no way of finding the
information except by clicking through every page.
So how valuable is this e-book?
This is not a rhetorical question since many e-books are
created with no Index or Table of Contents.
Sure, you can take notes so you’ll know where things are. Then
you can either go straight to that page or click that many
times.
But wouldn’t it make more sense for the author to have provided
either a Table of Contents or an Index? Would you buy a hard
copy reference book that didn’t provide 1 or both of these
things?
If you are an e-book author and create e-books that contains
more than a few pages (few is a ambiguous term so let’s say 20
pages), then you should provide either an Index or Table of
Contents for your readers.
If you create PDF e-books which are the “in thing” right now and
you use MSWord to write them, then making an Index or Table of
Contents is not that difficult. All you have to do is:
-
As you write you’re
e-book, make every main section title a “Heading 1.” -
If you have
subsections you would like contained in the Table of Contents,
then make every subsection title a “Heading 2.” -
If you have
subsections within your “Heading 2″ subsections, you can make
those subsection titles a “Heading 3.” -
After you’ve finished
writing the content and saving, place your cursor at the
location where you would like your Index or Table of Contents. -
Click on “Insert” in
the menu bar. -
Go to “References”
and select “Index and Tables … .” -
Click either the
“Index” or “Table of Contents” tab. -
Select the formatting
options you want and click “OK.”
You’ve just created a
Table of Contents. True, it doesn’t provide hyperlinks but at
least the reader can see where things are located and can get to
them easily.
You can play around with how you want to format your Index or
Table of Content until you find the one you like best. Just
remember to delete all the extra ones since MSWord doesn’t
overwrite, it just keeps adding them.
(Side Note - If you discover you need to add new sections
or subsections to your e-book, you’ll have to delete the Table
of Contents and recreate it after you’ve made your additions.)
If you’re creating your e-books in .exe format, making an Index
or Table of Contents is like creating a site menu. You have the
option of putting it on a separate page, putting it on every
page or both. I also suggest that you use hyperlinks in your
Index or Table of Contents since the reader cannot get to pages
easily unless you do. Also, if you decide to put it on a
separate page, you’ll want to provide a link to your Index or
Table of Contents on every page of your e-book.
Making either an Index or a Table of Contents does make a little
more work for e-book creators but it also makes the e-books more
user friendly.
So as you create your e-books, tell your readers where to go
because having quality information that is easy to find can help
build your reputation as a “good” e-book author.
Susan Carroll owner of http://www.friendswhocare.us has formed a global community of online business people through her weekly newsletter.
Susan recently created a free membership site to help those doing internet marketing. It’s available at: http://www.friendswhocare.us/join.htm
Versace - Well Recognized For Quality Fashions!
Gianni Versace was born in 1946 in Reggio, Calabria, in
Southern Italy. Versace received his love of fashion and first
lessons on dress-making from his mother. Initially Versace
trained as an architect, but soon he followed his mother into
the fashion business. Versace worked for a number of top Italian
fashion houses, but in 1978 with the help of his brother Santo
he launched his own label. Versace was a great fashion pioneer
who combined the worlds of high style and pop culture. He was a
charismatic and accomplished designer of clothing and theater
costumes. Versace appreciated a range of historic attire which
he incorporated into his designs and he was greatly influenced
by Andy Warhol and modern abstract art.
Wowzer! Best describes the fashions designed by Gianni Versace.
He was notorious for designing garments that would shock and
startle our senses. Versace saw his designing as an art form. He
initiated clothing that was visually excessive and provocative-
fashions that confronted accepted codes of taste, beauty and
sexuality. Fashion became entertainment, to be watched and
admired - not simply worn. For Versace nothing was too
extravagant too crazy or too risque. Yet no matter how
extravagant or provocative Versace’s clothes were always
strikingly well designed garments designed to flatter the body.
Versace was the designer of choice for many of the rich and
famous: pop stars such as Elton John, and Madonna; film stars
such as Will Smith, and Elizabeth Hurley and even royalty -
Princess Diana. The wealthy were drawn to his clothes like
magnets, and that enhanced his reputation. However, Vercasse did
not design simply for the wealthy his clothes were very much
available to the average person. In 1985 he launched the Istante
label in 1985; and after years as Gianni’s muse, his sister
Donatella became his co-designer and launched the Versace
diffusion range, Versus, in 1989. These labels featured clothes
within the budgets of many consumers; not only were they priced
lower than the custom-made clothes, but they were also aimed at
younger markets. In 1988 Versace received the Cutty Sark Award
as “the most innovative and creative designer in the world”; and
in 1993 the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded him
the American fashion Oscar. On July 15, 1997 Versace was shot to
death outside his South Beach home in Miami, Florida by a crazed
gunman name Andrew Cunanan. Since his untimely death in 1997 the
Versace fashion house continues to grow under the creative
leadership of his sister Donatella and the business acumen of
his brother Santo. Donatella’s daughter Allegra inherited 50% of
the company last summer when she turned 18. However, Donatella
is still very much in charge. The days of the wet-look, shocking
pink PVC and as much flash and flesh as a catwalk can take are
long gone. The new Versace is growing up. “I’m not blind,” says
Donatella. “I know that most women don’t look like models. We
had to start addressing other parts of a woman’s life. The
fashion business is a very different place from when Gianni
started the label.” Donatella’s mind is very much on the
continued success of Versace. With Donatella at the helm, and
Santo and Allegra at her side, they continue to grow and develop
the Versace Product Lines with fabulous designs unveiled for the
2005 Spring Season. The proof is in the Versace spring fashion
line - Have a look for yourself!
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/fashion/fashionshows/05/spring/runway
/versace/
http://www.milanfashionshows.com/spring2005/versace/photos.htm
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/S2005RTW/review/VER
SACE© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.
About the author: Sher has been serving customers for over 20
years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of
information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on
staff industry professionals.