Jeff Beck

This is way crazy (but true). I have a friend that purchased a house 5 years ago. At the time of the purchase the sellers disclosed that they had kept pigeons in the attic space. In spite of that he bought the house anyway. He did his best to clean up the pigeon droppings and just never went into the attic again. There is no smell but some of the guano still remains. Some people have told him not to go into the attic that he could get everything from cancer to a heart attack. Other people have said that since it's been five years that the droppings and associated dust is harmless. I couldn't ask anymore questions and still keep a straight face so I don't have any more information about how much remains, or what type and how many pigeons there were. In the five years that have passed, he's married and their first child is on the way. He is now very nervous (who would blame him?). The best that I could do was to put him touch with a microbiologist. Has anyone had a similar experience? Jeff

Troy, Hang in there! I think anyone who wants to make a successful career as a home inspector has to go through an infection of "inspector speak". One suggestion that helped me is to read the report out loud. First to myself and then to my wife. When I found myself trying to explain to my wife what I REALLY meant, I knew it was time for a re-write. I also recorded myself reading the report. After each section I'd try to put myself in the client's mind as he or she reads the report. When I wrote my first report for a single Mom and did this, I got a rude awakening. I realized that she wanted to know if the place was safe for her kids and I seemed to be telling her all about electric panels. You've made a good start and with the help of this board can go on to much better communications. Jeff

I can't say that I'm a fan of the BBB but I don't agree that the internet takes away the need for validation. If anything the internet increases risk. It's easier for a person or company to create a website, join Facebook, Twitter, et al and then still provide a lousy product or service. Ultimately they have to improve their service or go out of business but not before some people get hurt. The fact that one or two of the BBB franchises in Arizona are actively marketing their business customers to consumers with some amount of success (for the business members as well the consumers) seems to be a testimonial to that. Internet referral companies have had some success in providing validation but tended to fail as businesses. They may have offered a valuable service but their primary business model of selling advertising didn't provide enough revenue to survive. IMHO, not having a believable validation source hurts the value oriented HIs and lends undeserved credence to the low cost providers. When all a BBB can tell a consumer is which Home Inspector had complaints, I think that tends to position the entire industry in somewhat of an unfavorable light. On the other hand, telling a consumer "Here's a list of people that we feel comfortable in recommending" may instill confidence.

Back in 2004 there was a post about the relative merits of belonging to the Better Business Bureau. I got a call today from a potential client who wanted to know if I was a BBB member. I'm curious if anyone has had a more recent experience with the Better Business Bureau than 2004. Thanks! Jeff Foresight Home Inspection

Bit of a topic drift. Does anyone identify and report on insulation beyond a category and type? e.g. fiberglass batts or blown-in cellulose Does anyone actually report as: insulfil or a named product?

Hey Robert, Did the house have a whirlpool tub (e.g. a jacuzzi)? When I see two water heaters (or where two used to be) it usually means that a large tub like a whirlpool has been installed. If there's one in this house and they use it, a 40 gallon water heater won't keep everyone happy.

"There's one born every minute" P.T. Barnum Quite possibly in reference to Debbie Vallone-Homier and her article sources. Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC

Has anyone had any experience with a company called Power Venting? I think they may be Colorado based (www.powerventing.com). After all the hype, it appears that they just cut a hole in the side of the furnace air handler and attach some sheet metal that holds a paper air filter and alternatively, a metal shield to replace the filter during the heating months. They may also add some duct dampers to redirect more air to the top floor. The theory is that the cool moist air from the basement is cycled through the air handler and then distributed along with the returned air to reduce cooling costs and direct more conditioned air to the top floor. I saw this for the first time in an inspection yesterday. I wonder what affect this would have on the squirrel cage fan and on the furnace overall. Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC

Anyone had experience with flashing membranes as counter flashing on chimneys? I saw this at this morning's inspection but can't identify the manufacturer or find an installation manual. I'd appreciate any comments or advice. Thanks, Jeff Click to Enlarge 95.43 KB Click to Enlarge 91.11 KB

Around here, fro Radon remediation, I usually see a 4" pipe (and sometimes larger!) with a sight gauge manometer that shows that the system is working. I honestly don't know if the manometer is used in passive systems or just active systems. It looks to me John, like you have a sump pit, plumbed but no pump. I once saw a builder who had installed two sump pits and put a pump in only one. The AHJ made him put a pump in the second pit. Once the punch list was checked off and the Occupancy Permit granted the builder sent a laborer back to retrieve the 2nd pump[:-yuck]. Jeff Beck

Thanks guys, the broker just sent me another email saying that the pic was from a house built in 1893. I went to the NEMA site, googled part of my life away and never thought to do a search on TIJ! [:-dunce] owa tada du my iam! Jeff

Has anyone ever seen something like this receptacle? A broker that I do a lot of work for just sent me this picture so I don't know the outlet is actually wired. It appears to be 4 prong, 10 amp, 250 volt. I went to the NEMA site and searched for Mag Nus and 4 prong receptacle but haven't found anything. Google hasn't turned up anything either. Click to Enlarge 64.29 KB Kind of hard to figure what it would be used for at 10 amps. I would imagine that low of amperage would rule out dryers and ranges. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC

John, I'm not sure if this will help but after looking at your example it appears that you aren't using some of the Forms capabilities in MS Word. With this feature you can add a Text Form Field and specify the text type, size and features such as bold, italic, etc. I have done all my templates this way and also used the drop down list function. It makes for a good looking report that is a little faster to complete but more difficult to modify on the fly. If this sounds like it would be a help let me know and I'll email you a sample of my report. Jeff Beck Foresight Home Inspection LLC

Jim, If we're thinking of the same guy, his name is John Geiger and he's from Milwaukee (an upside down M state []). He does an optional inspection using only video. I've seen a sample and it is very impressive. Personally, I can't see doing video inspections, especially of roofs. The video of me falling to the ground (or the ground rushing up to my camera) might be a bit too much! [:-dunce] Jeff Beck Foresight Home Inspection LLC

Is there an advantage to having a closed valley versus an open valley, or vice verse? I've seen open copper valleys with slate and galvanized open flashing with just about everything else but never have really known why one style was preferred over the other. Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC

Last year the ASHI Great Lakes Chapter had their Spring meeting in Grand Rapids, MI and the Sunday Speaker was Steve Ramos. He was (is) the HI with a TV show on the Better Homes and Garden Channel. He gave a good presentation on using IR in his business and as I recall made the point that IR has had a definite positive impact on his revenue. If I recall correctly he somewhat ducked the question of Standards of Practice, which for those of us in states with HI laws is still a big question mark. FLIR had arranged for Steve to do the presentation and I believe paid for his expenses to Grand Rapids. It is safe to assume that he is a compensated representative of FLIR. The regional FLIR rep was also in attendance. I asked him how many HIs he was aware of that had successfully incorporated IR into their businesses. After a little probing and conversational dancing we got to the point that most of their camera owners are using the camera outside of and in addition to their home inspection businesses. He mentioned finding leaks in flat roofs, working with builders as part of ResNet ratings and so on. I agree with Kurt, et al that someday this technology may be a standard element of our business. I guess the question we have to ask ourselves is how much time and money are you willing to put into helping a new technology become part of our industry (as opposed to another tool)? Whenever a new piece of technology comes along the early adopters spend as much time and money selling the concept of the technology as they do the benefits which adds to the cost of adopting the technology. We used to joke "How can you identify a Pilgrim?" Answer: "They're the ones with arrows in their backs!" The ResNet guys that I know all use IR technology but will admit that in most residential audits it's as much for show as it is for actual detection. Given the down housing market, I think that the time and money is better spent in marketing our businesses rather than a new technology. The first time house buyer who is bidding on a foreclosure might have the largest benefit from an IR scan but will they pay for it? At least right now, I think the answer to that is: no they won't. JMHO Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC

Jim, When you've seen it how is it clamped?

200 amp meter and base SEC is aluminum, appears to be 2/0, 150 amps? Square D panel that appears to be the main, rated for 100 amps Main breaker appears to be 70 amps. See the pictures. Since the main breaker is the lowest rated component, can this actually be rated at 70 amps? Click to Enlarge 120.83 KB Click to Enlarge 46.74 KB Sorry about the blurry pic, the panel was stuffed in a corner of a basement bathroom and that's the closest that I could get to it. Thanks, Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC PS, I know about the double tap.

Six foot section that runs from the water meter to a galvanized nipple for distribution. It's stamped with Orangeburo (Orangeburg?) SP 100 PSI. Clamped at both ends with automotive clamps so it's very suspect. I'm thinking that it's either HDPE or ABS. Aside from the wrong clamps is it allowed for inside distribution? Click to Enlarge 92.79 KB Click to Enlarge 106.11 KB Thanks, Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC

Need help with the age of a Republic L-125 furnace with a serial number of 5536. Could this actually be the 36th week of 1955? Also, I have never seen an air handler set up like this: Squirrel cage fan with two belt driven motors. Only one motor was actually connected to the fan pulley but both motors kicked on when the furnace called for circulation. Click to Enlarge 96.96 KB There was a device in the air handler called a "Republic Gyroscopic Balance" that seemed to control the fan motors. The client was a young HVAC Tech who said he had never seen anything like that. Needless to say neither have I. Click to Enlarge 45.04 KB I could get the furnace to fire but couldn't keep the fan running. This was enough to convince the client it was time to replace the furnace. I googled Republic Furnace but couldn't find anything on them. Can anyone explain how this works, or more importantly why it was set up this way? Thanks! Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC

Hey Jerry, I see that you switched your Avatar to Rolland Burris. Did Blago want you to pay to use his picture? "In Illinois our Governors make our license plates!" Jeff Beck Sorry for the thread drift, sometimes I can't control myself!

Chicago, winter of 2008 on my way to inspect a suburban house that sits on a hill after an ice storm. I'm originally from Pittsburgh so hills are no big deal. Started up the driveway in 4 wheel drive and got half way up when the wheels started to spin. It didn't matter what gear I was in, I wasn't going any further. As soon as I let off the gas the truck started to go backward. Brakes, gas, low gear, nothing seemed to stop the truck. When I looked in the mirror and saw the drop-off, I thought "This is gonna hurt!" An hour and half and two tow trucks later, I walked up the driveway to start my inspection. Fortunately, there was no damage to the truck...just my pride. Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC Click to Enlarge 73.39 KB Click to Enlarge 76.07 KB

Sorry Jim, I didn't make myself clear[:-paperba We sometimes see two pipes in a sump here, one for the main pump and another one for a battery back-up pump in case of a power failure. This sump pump is only connected to one pipe, the one that appears to go to the footings. The other pipe is the one that I would have expected the pump to have been connected to. That one should have an extension added to carry the moisture away from the building. The thing that throws me is that the installation looks pretty professional. If it were a happy homeowner job I would have expected some cobbled up piping. Mike, It is definitely a sump pump with a mercury float and not a maceration pump. Thanks for the fast follow-up! Jeff

I'm starting to doubt myself here. 1999 house that's a good 20" above curb height. Sellers told my client that the house flooded once several years ago and that they would replace what they believed to be an undersized sump pump. When I inspected the house the sump is plumbed with two 2" PVC pipes to the exterior. The one that's connected to the sump pump drains to what appears to be the footing drains (larger pipe on the left). When the pump is activated the water is pumped out of the sump and immediately drains back in again. It's possible that there is some type of underground drain system that is damaged and leaking back into the footings but I can't determine that without digging up the drain. Plus the speed with which the water returns is so fast, that if the drain is damaged it must be really whacked. Does anyone know of a reason to connect the output of a sump pump to the footing drains? (Besides spending more on electricity, pump replacement and the noise of a sump pump going bad?[:-bigeyes Sorry that the picture isn't better, the other pic that I took didn't turn out. Jeff Beck Foresight Inspection Service LLC Click to Enlarge 69.2 KB

Mike, Don't forget the rim joist. I'd consider sealing the rim joist or band board and then forcing 2" foam board into the joist bays. While you're at it, seal the intersection of the mud sill and the foundation top. Your floors will feel warmer, there will be less drafts and the walls may even feel warmer. Jeff Beck Foresight Home Inspection LLC