Dishwashers recalled due to fire hazard

from The Seattle Times Website

More than a million GE dishwashers are being recalled due to fire hazard.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday the voluntary recall includes about 1.3 million GE, GE Adora, GE Eterna, GE Profile and Hotpoint dishwashers. The machines' heating elements can fail and cause fires. GE has received seven reports of fires, three of which caused extensive property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The dishwashers were sold nationwide from March 2006 through August 2009 for $350 to $850. They came in black, white, bisque, stainless steel and CleanSteel colors and finishes.

The government said people should stop using the dishwashers and immediately disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker. The government said not to return recalled dishwashers to stores where they were purchased but that GE will provide free repairs or rebates toward new dishwashers.
In a speech Thursday at the National Press Club, CPSC chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum urged people to respond right away.

"My message to consumers is to immediately stop using these recalled dishwashers and disconnect the power supply to the unit," Tenenbaum said.

Tenenbaum credited a new consumer safety law with making people safer. The 2008 law and its implementation have "created one of the strongest product safety systems in the world."

For more information on the dishwasher recall, people can contact GE at (866) 918-8760 or visit GE's website at http://www.geappliances.com/recall.

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2018882175_apusdishwasherrecall.html

Eight Manufacturers Recall Pool and In-Ground Spa Drain Covers Due to Incorrect Ratings

This information was sent to us by Community Associations Underwriters and applies to drain covers installed after 2008 in in-ground spas, wading (kiddie) pools, or pools with only one drain that is not a long channel drain.

Covers Pose Possible Entrapment Hazard to Swimmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Pool and spa drain covers

Units: About 1 million

Hazard: The recalled drain covers were incorrectly rated to handle the flow of water through the cover, which could pose a possible entrapment hazard to swimmers and bathers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Description: The recall involves various pool and spa drain covers that can be identified by the manufacturers' name and model information listed below.

Company	Model Information (websites)	Dates Sold	Remedy
A&A	www.aamfg.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
AquaStar	www.aquastarpoolproducts.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr.2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Color Match	www.poolfittings.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Custom Molded Products	www.c-m-p.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Hayward Pool Products	www.hayward-pool.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Pentair Water Pool & Spa	www.pentairpool.com	June 2009 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Rising Dragon	www.risingdragonplastics.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Waterway	www.waterwayplastics.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit

Sold through: Independent distributors to professional pool and spa builders and installers.

Manufactured in: United States and China

Remedy: Pool owners/operators and consumers who have one of the recalled pool or spa drain covers should immediately contact the manufacturer to receive a replacement or retrofit, depending on their make and model. Except for kiddie pools, wading pools and in-ground spas, retrofit or replacement of installed covers are not required in pools with multiple drain systems or gravity drainage systems or for covers installed before December 19, 2008.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, consumers should contact the Drain Cover Recall Hotline toll-free at (866) 478-3521 any time, or visit the Drain Cover Recall website at www.apsp.org/draincoverrecall. Consumers with drain covers from Waterway Plastics should contact the firm toll-free at (866) 719-6044 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, or visit the manufacturer's web site at www.waterwayplastics.com

Another Successful Board Training Event

If you weren’t able to make our training seminar last night, you really missed out! It was sponsored by Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Renton and the Speakers were Kent and Keith with CBI Consulting.

We learned about the importance of getting very specific bid specifications, the necessity for proper inspections and maintenance plans. Who knew that a five dollar price difference on a gallon of paint could affect the life of the painting for more than 5 years?! We, as property managers, are here to guide our boards and give them the best of the best in terms of vendors. These guys are the best! They have been in business for over 30 years, are certified on all levels, use the most up to date equipment, and know what they are doing. If you have any questions or would like more information about the presentation, please contact your property manager.

Also, thank you to Jennifer with Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Renton for providing such great refreshments! Mr. Rooter is also one of our preferred vendors and they don’t charge extra for after-hours emergencies.

Thank you to all the board members who were able to make it to our seminar. We appreciate your involvement.

Reminder: Sign up now for the board training event!

Bell-Anderson and Associates, LLC®, AMO® Presents:

“CBI CONSULTING & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT”

Tuesday, June 7, 2011
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Kent Senior Center
600 E. Smith St in Kent

This informational seminar will be very beneficial for your association. CBI is a leading expert in the operational maintenance and repair of building structures. Topics that will be covered include, What to look for and how to conduct site inspections, Preventative Maintenance Plans, the power in having current up-to-date Reserve Studies, and Assistance in writing a Scope of Work in preparation for bidding and then learning how to evaluate bids when they come in.

Snacks and beverages will be provided.

As always, it is our intent to have your most important questions and concerns addressed at this seminar.

Due to limited seating, please R.S.V.P. to your Property Manager by:
Friday, June 3, 2011.

See you there!

EPA Delays Lead Certification Requirement

On Friday, June 18th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will provide additional time for contractors to become trained and certified under the new Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule. They have moved the deadline back to October 1st and will make exceptions regarding enforcement for workers who have applied to enroll or are enrolled in courses as of September 30th. Although it has delayed the certification deadline, the EPA will continue to enforce the work practice requirements set forth in the rule.

This announcement is a result of trade groups and elected officials voicing concern that contractors did not have proper access to the necessary certification courses. Contractors working on the pre-1978 target housing were originally required to be certified by April 22nd of this year.

For more information please visit the NARPM® webpage dedicated to the new lead based paint rules. There you will find helpful links to websites and important documents. Local and state governments have also started working on additional laws regarding lead-based paint. Please be sure you are monitoring updates from your local and state chapters of NARPM® to ensure compliance with all necessary laws regarding lead-based paint and residential property management.

This information is courtesy of NARPM®. For more information including contact information, Click Here.

Summer Property Checklist

Courtesy of Richard Dobson, owner of The Master's Touch Painting Service. 253-988-6055

The general upkeep of rental properties is essential both in maintaining the value of a property and in attracting quality tenants to lease the property. Property owners depend on their property managers to help them identify items of concern that need to be taken care of. The days of summer is the best time to address certain items of concern that are easy to overlook.

Here is a short summer property checklist:

DRIVEWAYS / WALKWAYS / PATIOS: Horizontal brick, concrete and paver surfaces should be cleaned on a regular basis. Dirt, mold and moss can quickly build-up during the winter months. A quick pressure washing of these areas can easily brighten the appearance of any property.

DECKS: Wood decks usually need to be cleaned and stained every 2 to 5 years. Mold and moss build-up will not only deteriorate decks, but it will also make them slippery and dangerous to walk on. Regular cleaning is essential. Checking the decking for rotten boards is also important for safety concerns.

FENCING: Like wood decks, wood fences ought to be cleaned and stained in order to keep their durability and beauty. Replacing an entire fence can be expensive, so regular pressure washing, staining and repairs can extend the life of a fence by years.

ROOFING: Composite, tile and shake roofs should be treated with a moss killer treatment to prevent moss growth. Long term moss growth can rot composite and shake roofs. All roofs can be pressure washed if needed. Shake roofs need to be cleaned and treated every 5 to 10 years in order to preserve their beauty, life and durability.

TRIM / SIDING: The appearance of a building not only adds curb appeal, but also adds value to a building. Vinyl siding and trim need to be routinely cleaned. Ideally, a new paint new coat should be added before paint peeling occurs. Once peeling begins, deterioration speeds up rapidly. The trim still needs to be painted on buildings with vinyl siding.

GUTTERS / DOWN SPOUTS: In the Evergreen State, gutters and down spouts can fill quickly with leaves, branches, mold, grime and even plant life. Cleaning them out not only helps preserve them, but it also protects wood trim and siding from the damage caused by sitting and over flowing water due to clogged gutters and down spouts.

WINDOWS / SKYLIGHTS: These ought to be checked for leaks, cracks and cleanliness, both on the inside and outside. Even minor leaks can cause extensive damage where building surfaces get consistent exposure to unwanted moisture.

SHEDS / GARAGES: Detached buildings that tenants do not live in still need to be cared for. Neglecting these pieces of property can not only be a real eye sore, but can also cause the overall value of a property to decline. Regular repairs, cleaning and painting can go a long way in maintaining these buildings.

Maintaining the appearance of a property not only adds curb appeal for potential tenants, but it also adds to the long term value of the property. Your clients will appreciate your input on any recommendations you may have in helping them maintain the value of their investment they have entrusted you to oversee.

How Much Money Should you Put Aside for Rental Repairs?

(Excerpt from Rentals.com May 2010 Newsletter)

Becoming a landlord doesn’t just mean worrying about keeping your property rented and to the right tenants. You also need to be sure you have budgeted for necessary repairs. Read on for some tips on how to plan ahead for the inevitable repair bills.

How much to put aside

Prevailing wisdom recommends saving 1% to 3% of the value of your rental property for repairs each year. Though repair totals will vary from year to year, leftover funds from one year can help cover you for big expenditures during another one. Just be sure you set down a dollar amount to hit annually for savings. On a rental property worth $250,000, for example, try to reserve $2,500 to $7,500 for repairs each year. Hitting your annual repair-fund goals will also help you prepare for the unexpected, such as storm damage.

Be realistic

Ideally, you had your property inspected before purchase and so are aware of the age of big-ticket items like the roof, HVAC system and kitchen appliances. Accounting for normal wear and tear, you’ll have a basic idea of when you’ll need to repair or replace these items, so start socking away funds for those major repairs.

Preventative measures

You can keep small repair issues from turning into big ones with regular maintenance, so be sure to budget for maintenance as well. Everything from chimney cleaning to tree or limb removal can save you big money down the line, so be sure you’re planning for the expense. Other maintenance practices to implement are yearly HVAC checks and regular gutter cleaning.

Don’t be caught off guard by repair bills for your rental property. Prepare now by starting a savings fund to take care of regular maintenance and the cost of repairs to and replacement of systems, appliances and structural items.

Reminder About Your Yard

Just a friendly reminder to all of our tenants and residents living in homeowner's associations. This is the time of year when folks are getting more yard violation notices. In order to avoid this, please make sure to keep your lawn neatly mowed and beds free from weeds. Thanks in advance for keeping your property beautiful!

Office & Home Electrical Safety

by Stefanie Octave

Whether at home or the office, you should always be watchful for electrical hazards. At the office, it is up to everyone to pay attention to electrical safety and avoid possible injury. Here is a list of some great electrical safety tips from workplace-safetytips.com that are sure to make your workplace safer.

Workplace Safety Electrical Tips

• Never allow your employees to overload circuits. To many cords plugged into a sock it is a very easy way to start a fire.
• When buying electrical equipment for your company, make sure that they are approved by a company such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Make sure all electrical cords around the office are in good working condition. If you come across cords that are frayed or broken, make sure you have them replaced immediately.
• It is a good idea to have a weekly check of all electrical appliances around the company to make sure everything is in good working condition.
• Never keep electrical appliances around water. If a drink is spilled near a computer system, have it cleaned up immediately.
• Be careful when using electrical extension cords. It is very important not to have too many things plugged in to the same cord.
• Only have three prong plugs plugged into three prong sockets. 3 Prong plugs can only be safely plugged in to 3 pronged electrical outlets, or electrical sockets.
• Make sure your staff is always wearing the right protective gear when dealing with electrical systems.
• Always take the time to check to see if light switches and other such electrical systems are hot or overheating, if they are have them replaced right away.
• Flickering lights can be a good indication that there could be electrical problems. If this occurs make sure to have it check out as soon as possible.
• If electrical tools start to show wear and tear have them replaced.

Find more electrical safety and other safety information from theWashington Department of Labor and Industries website: http://www.lni.wa.gov/safety/

Vendor Night

Last night we held our first VENDOR NIGHT at the Kent Community Center with great success!! We had over 30 vendors come out and we are excited about the turnout. We shared some pizza, listened to a presentation by the EPA about lead-based paint and remodeling, got the opportunity to meet in person a lot of the folks who we only connect with over the phone, and gave away a pair of hockey tickets to one lucky vendor. Thank you very much for those who came out to meet us. If you were unable to attend, we hope you will join us in the future. If you are a vendor and have suggestions for a speaking topic that you may find interesting for next year's meeting, please e-mail Maria at mgarcia@bell-anderson.net. For those who wanted more information about becoming a NARPM affiliated vendor, you can find that at http://chapters.narpm.org/C015/affiliates-join.html

The EPA's presentation

All of our lovely vendors

Maintenance Coordinator Maria (who put together the event) & Jen going over reminders and community events

Dawn & Carrie signing people in

Thank you again for everyone who came out. We are hoping to do this again in the future!!

Winter Maintenance: Freezing Pipes

Pipes are especially vulnerable to damage caused by expanding water. Water lines that freeze are usually those directly exposed to severe cold, such as outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, or water sprinkler lines. In addition, pipes in unheated interior areas such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and kitchen cabinets, and those that run against exterior walls with little or no insulation are also susceptible to freezing.

Following are some tips to help prevent damage from frozen pipes while you’re away from your home:

1. Shut off the water supply and drain pipes or appliances.
2. Have someone you trust check your home about once per week if you are away.
3. Have emergency numbers handy such as a plumber, electrician, roofer, and restoration expert in case something does go wrong.
4. Protect pipes, fittings, and appliances against freezing with insulation or heat strips.
5. Have your HVAC system serviced before leaving if you will be away for an extended period of time.
6. Set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees.
7. Before leaving turn off your water heater. (See owner’s manual for procedures.)
8. Install storm windows and/or close shutters to keep in heat.
9. Clean gutters and downspouts to ensure proper water drainage.
10. Service sump pump to ensure proper operation. Adding a backup power source is prudent.
11. Unplug all nonessential electric appliances.
12. Inform local police if you will be out of town.

For more information on Water, Fire, Mold remediation visit:
www.PuroCleanChicago.blogspot.com