Neal Lewis

I've had the pleasure of hoisting some Smithwicks with Colin, He's quite a character. He put a thatched roof on an Irish bar in NJ owned by a friend. The bar is named after him: Thatcher McGee's. That roof would probably take him well over a year to complete; it's a slow process.

C'mon Matt, aren't you heating water that is already hot? I gotta agree with Mr Ghent on the newbie aspect. That was my first thought, but I still remember when I was new.

Billy, it could be sucking air into the unit, depending on the type of system. I usually see the traps on package roof top units.

As a matter of fact, the chart in the installation manual tells me, with four 90 degree bends, the maximum is still 28 feet. Well, I did pay extra for this fancy Neptune front loader, so hey, ya never know... Edit-Just looked up an installation manual for a GE dryer. The maximum allowed is 90 feet without bends.

Matt, the installation instructions for my dryer allows a maximum of 65 feet. No mention of 45 degree bends. Where do you get the 25 feet from?

Rusty A/C condensate in gutter leaking at the endcap?

Richard, thanks for taking the time for posting the pics. I think you got them all except maybe for an old Wadsworth! Obviously, some inspectors aren't familiar with the older split bus design. The cables running from the main-for-lighting breaker to the busbar can be a What the F- moment when first looking at it.

That's an older design split bus panel. The top four breakers will shut off all the power.

Flexible chimney liners for gas appliances can be aluminum or stainless steel.

John, Don't know exactly what the stuff if, but here's one major manufacturer. http://www.fypon.com/default.asp

If I looked the front cover, I would have no idea what the brochure is all about. It gets mixed in the other brochures about bugs, oil tanks, mold, radon, etc. I would skip that brochure and go to the one that says Home Inspection right on the cover. Get right to the point.

That' the best thing I've read in a long time. WJ, I don't know where you went, but I'm glad you're back.

Recently inspected a house where the water heater vent was orphaned into an exterior masonry chimney. (the heating system was replaced with a direct vent unit). I found backdrafting at the vent/connector. The drafting improved after the water heater burner was on for about 5 minutes. Contractor comes in and says that using a draft measuring device that the draft is OK. I said to the buyer (a friend who's a builder) that it's 65 degrees outside now. What happens to the draft when it's 30 degrees outside and that exterior chimney is stone cold? He was thinking of the relining the chimney, but I told him not to waste the money and just put in a direct vent water heater to solve the venting problem. Darren, you're right, if the HVAC company can't even get the clearances and firestopping right, how would they address the venting problem?

What would you call the name of this roof? I refer to it as a clipped gable, but I've also read the name jerkinhead as a description... Image Insert: 586.38 KB

Here are two pics of a heating system of sorts installed in a garage from about 1910. The bulbous part just radiates heat into the garage and was fed with coal or wood. First time I've seen anything like it. Image Insert: 561.48 KB Image Insert: 604.93 KB

I put my hand in front of the draft hood and feel for the heat backing up, and the draft hood will be hot. I don't use a mirror. The exhaust vent/flue for the smaller appliance should be located above the larger one, but it may not affect the drafting. That looks like an older house, with the clay tile on the left. What's the condition of the chimney flue?

Maybe if you circle the fogging and write a caption, otherwise it doesn't look like anything. Are you trying to determine if it's backdrafting or just trying to document it?

Steve, we have no idea what the rest of the electrical system looks like. Looks like some newer wiring exiting the bottom of the panel, possibly in conduit. Does that have to be replaced? Some of those old wood boxes can be lined with sheets of asbestos.

Mike, any info handy about Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation?

It appears to be a 2 wire feed. 2 wire + ground.

Aliminum wiring covered with a black fabric jacket?

Brandon, I have two rechargable mags that I don't use. I think one has a bad switch; the other works fine. I would be willing to trade for the ultrastinger. Do you have a fast charger for the ultra?

So what is used to cover the holes? I wouldn't think the manufacturer makes anything to plug the holes.

Ernie, read the manufacturer's instructions to find out for sure. i have a few installation manuals for Cat IV furnaces, and they all basically say the same thing. Furnace is certified to be installed with one of three possible intake/vent configurations. 1. Two pipe with a sealed combustion intake/vent systm using outdoor combustion air. 2. Single pipe vent system using combustion air from the area surrounding the furnace. 2. Two pipe intake/vent system using combustion air from the a ventilated attic space and a vent to the outside. Some municipal inspectors might require a 90 degree bend on the intake to prevent something from being placed over the opening.