A recent visit to the Homeowners Consumer Center (homeownersconsumercenter.com) website revealed a recent reminder for homeowners about the continuing issues related to "Chinese drywall."

Before you purchase a home in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Southeast Texas, or Virginia, the Center is advising to make sure you have the home checked for toxic Chinese drywall by a qualified building inspector. The time frame of concern should be if the house was built or renovated between 2000 and early 2009.

The Center's pointed advice is: "Do Not Purchase a Home That Is Known to Have Toxic Chinese Drywall."

Homeowners who suspect they might have the toxic Chinese drywall in their home should check the copper coils on their air conditioning units. If the AC copper coils have turned black, or a grayish black they should contact the Chinese Drywall Complaint Center at 866-714-6466.

Homeowners, building owners, or occupants in the US Southeast may have noticed corroded, or black electrical wiring in their walls in properties built, or remodeled since 2000. Many homeowners who have the toxic Chinese drywall in their home might have copper ground wires in the electrical receptacles that have turned black in the US South.

Homeowners who suspect their home may have the Chinese drywall can remove electrical receptacle plates to see if the copper ground wire has turned black. If a homeowner in any state sees this, they should also call the Chinese Drywall Complaint Center immediately.

According to the Center, Toxic Chinese Drywall Symptoms also include:

  • Oven, or stove elements, or refrigerator coils may have failed in the homes, or condominiums a number of times.
  • The Homeowners Consumer Center has also discovered that computer, TV sets, radios, DVD players, smoke detectors microwave information display panels may have failed in homes, where the toxic Chinese drywall is present.
  • Light bulbs in homes with toxic Chinese drywall may burn out at a much faster rate than specified by the manufacturer.

The Homeowners Consumer Center is part of AmericasWatchdog, a national consumer advocacy group focused on consumer protection and corporate fair play. To learn more, visit: AmericasWatchdog.com