en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 09:49:20 +0200 info@inspectorsjournal.com 60 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=42 The Inspector's Journal is an interactive webzine written by home inspectors for and about the home inspection industry. TIJ's mission to inform and educate home inspectors, thereby helping them to become better inspectors and ultimately increase their bottom line. This site consists of inspection-related news briefs, a calendar of coming events of interest to home inspectors and a variety of discussion forums moderated by various industry subject matter experts. http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=42 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/images/TIJ144.jpg 144 35 info@inspectorsjournal.com (kurt) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17517&REPLY_ID=137730 Thu, 16 May 2013 05:44:30 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17517&REPLY_ID=137730 info@inspectorsjournal.com (John Kogel) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17514&REPLY_ID=137666 Wed, 15 May 2013 18:49:19 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17514&REPLY_ID=137666
I doubt the wiring to this old smoke detector was actually replaced, but it is certainly energized. Is this alarm wired into the keypad by any chance? The 'keypad' takes an actual key...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Charles46) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17511&REPLY_ID=137831 Wed, 15 May 2013 13:22:16 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17511&REPLY_ID=137831 This was the view I got of multiple outlets, probably 40% of the outlets, within the home on today's inspection. Now sure what would have caused the black streaking on the outlets and covers. As you can see in the photo, it was only blackened on one of the outlets not both. All outle...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (TimWhalen) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17503&REPLY_ID=137549 Tue, 14 May 2013 07:59:48 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17503&REPLY_ID=137549
I appreciate the assistance.]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (smartchoice) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17500&REPLY_ID=137553 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:49:39 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17500&REPLY_ID=137553 http://www.smartchoicehomeandmold.com

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I did not take the cover off this because when I started I found that the circuit breakers were being compressed into the panel and were starting to come off at the...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Jerry Lozier) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17462&REPLY_ID=137306 Mon, 06 May 2013 21:38:31 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17462&REPLY_ID=137306
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Hadn't seen this before.. !!

NM to disposal, appliance cord with an plug to energize receptacle (which is a GFCI) dishwasher plugged into GFCI

brilliant!]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (cbass) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17459&REPLY_ID=137326 Mon, 06 May 2013 13:27:54 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17459&REPLY_ID=137326
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I will assume it's a grounding electrode. Is it doing any harm?

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Whats the story on this stuff?



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105.35 KB]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Chad Fabry) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17398&REPLY_ID=136804 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:23:12 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17398&REPLY_ID=136804 ]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (kurt) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17392&REPLY_ID=136789 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:26:38 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17392&REPLY_ID=136789
Did a summer home job over in Michigan this morning. You're not allowed to secure the stuff to a furnace like, are you?

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34.7 KB]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (AHI in AR) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17379&REPLY_ID=136696 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:55:56 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17379&REPLY_ID=136696 info@inspectorsjournal.com (Robert Jones) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17378&REPLY_ID=136632 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:51:30 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17378&REPLY_ID=136632
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The top of the circular outlet thingy said "ground" and the bottom said "aerial."

....I just hate not knowing stuff, Th...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Mike Lamb) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17318&REPLY_ID=136213 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:27:48 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17318&REPLY_ID=136213
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48.52 KB]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Neal Lewis) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17277&REPLY_ID=135815 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:44:01 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17277&REPLY_ID=135815

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40.32 KB]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (kurt) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17267&REPLY_ID=135682 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:34:22 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17267&REPLY_ID=135682 Got a customer (didn't do the inspection on this particular house) that called to ask why his lights "in two different rooms" briefly got much brighter, then back to normal.

Any ideas?

]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Stephen Lagueux) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17259&REPLY_ID=135639 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 06:23:45 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17259&REPLY_ID=135639
18.75 being 80% of the minimal capacity of the required breaker (18.75/.8= 23.4 amps), would the 80% rule be applied, those 20 amps breakers are inadequate. Do y...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Mike Lamb) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17255&REPLY_ID=135584 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:03:42 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17255&REPLY_ID=135584
The reason you cannot run Romex through heat ducts is because it cannot be properly secured in place??? 300.11

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And that reminds me, how many times do YOU see "Dining" spelled "D-I-N-N-I-N-G" ? I'd say 4...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Mike Lamb) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17236&REPLY_ID=135438 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:33:38 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17236&REPLY_ID=135438
Talk about accountability.

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http://www.inspectorsjournal.c...s/mik...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (John Dirks Jr) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17229&REPLY_ID=135356 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:46:41 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17229&REPLY_ID=135356
Drywall screws into drywall to install receptacles over excessively recessed boxes.

I pull my tester out and the receptacle comes with it.






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The house was built in 1982 and the furnace is five years old.
]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Mike Lamb) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17189&REPLY_ID=135247 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:21:50 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17189&REPLY_ID=135247 info@inspectorsjournal.com (randynavarro) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17180&REPLY_ID=134851 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:11:43 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17180&REPLY_ID=134851
It was off when I arrived. It's for the outdoor condenser/heat pump which I couldn't get to run by the way. . .


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http://www.inspectorsjournal.c...8398.JPG info@inspectorsjournal.com (Mike Lamb) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17172&REPLY_ID=135791 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:24:48 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17172&REPLY_ID=135791
Can contaminated areas be cleaned? Would you recommend panel replacement? My main concern is the circuit breaker contact blades.

Opinions?

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This panel also had no air gap between it and the foundation so I am going to...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (George Hallaron) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17152&REPLY_ID=135246 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:31:58 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17152&REPLY_ID=135246
I had an inspection on a house the other day that is pushing 50 yrs old. The house was wired with a three wire system and has a main service disconnect on the exterior wall with a sub-panel about fifty feet away in the center of the home. The neutrals and grounds are sharin...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (hausdok) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17129&REPLY_ID=134776 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 08:55:40 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17129&REPLY_ID=134776
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ht...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (acrophi) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17128&REPLY_ID=134334 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 06:16:34 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17128&REPLY_ID=134334
I inspected a home where the main disconnect was in the detached garage. This panel had its own grounding electrode. The panel in the home also had a grounding electrode. Should the panel in the home be seen as a down-stream (sub-panel) and have a floating neutral buss and separate grounds...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Mike Lamb) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17109&REPLY_ID=134130 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:01:52 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17109&REPLY_ID=134130
The main disconnect is outside at the meter about 30 feet away from this panel. So this panel in the garage is really a subpanel.

It looks like the grounding electrode is not isolated from the neutrals. This is wrong? Co...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (David Meiland) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17092&REPLY_ID=133957 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:14:31 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17092&REPLY_ID=133957 info@inspectorsjournal.com (Jer) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17089&REPLY_ID=134200 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:33:45 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17089&REPLY_ID=134200
Kind of a question that is related to my other problem but it might be a useful standalone question

I thought the previous homeowner was using electrical tape to tape wires together but it appears when cutting away the tape that he did use the nuts but also taped them over? Is that com...]]> info@inspectorsjournal.com (Jer) http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17086&REPLY_ID=133853 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:28:31 +0200 http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&topic_id=17086&REPLY_ID=133853
The wife went to turn on the light in the bathroom fixture and there was nothing. Tried changing bulbs and nothing. Know if the guy I bought the house from was up to his out wiring tricks he probably used electrical tap to connect the hot wire from the fixture to the house wiring, finding...]]>