Garet

IRC only requires a handrail on one side. The guardrail serves that purpose.

Are the Challenger breakers made with a different design than the original Stab-Loks?

From the size of the pipes, I think it was laid out this way originally. No. Galvanized steel tubing. I've been told it was basically electrical conduit. Odd how it shows up at just the time when we started using copper drain pipes. I've never seen a problem with it, but always cautioned my clients that it's unusual.

I've not run into one of these before. What does it do? And the "Return Flo-Tee"? Background: I normally see all zones originate off a manifold at the boiler. Piping in this house was set up more like a branching system, with zone valves spread out in the crawl space. Click to Enlarge 43.12 KB Click to Enlarge 48.48 KB Click to Enlarge 50.25 KB

We bought a Toto a few years back. While the flushing action is excellent, it does a poor job of washing down the sides of the bowl (if you know what I mean). We'll soon be looking for an alternative to finish off the master bath remodel.

I'd question the ability of the ductwork to handle that much air flow. Problems from restricted air flow could include inefficiency as well as premature failure from the units running too hot.

Mike, you're referring to "little old lady" smell. Hard to describe, isn't it? I've had some people think it's mold, and others think it's a gas leak.

The reason that not enough air comes out of the second floor registers is that the ducts have too much resistance to air flow. Closing the first floor registers won't decrease that resistance. (How's that for a simple explanation from an engineer?)

Wada ya mean? He had black goo all over the wood.

What's this line? In my area, garage floor settlement is common and my first assumption is that's where the top of the floor was first cast. If so, that's a problem. I'd have to see it first-hand to tell. Click to Enlarge 32.95 KB

Asking us to diagnose structural issues from fuzzy internet pictures is like asking your cardiologist to diagnose your heart by holding the phone up to your chest. Sometimes you just have to be there in person to get the whole picture. Is there no text in the report describing what your inspector thinks is going on??? Any engineer worth his weight in salt wouldn't walk out the front door for less than $250. Many inspectors OTOH don't know the true value of their services and charge far less. Beware of cheap opinions - they're usually worth the price paid.

Why are the cracks so straight? I assume they must be following a joint in the substrate. In my neck of the woods a house that old the substrate would be horizontally applied boards, which wouldn't have a vertical joint like that.

You'll see a lot of things on Mike Holmes show that differ from what you see in the field. Some differences (like the electrical panels) are regional. Others are just plain wrong. I caught a few minutes of a show last night where he said any exterior stairway of 3 or more steps is required to have a footing. Huh? I'm convinced that sometimes he just makes stuff up so he can keep talking in front of the camera.

I've heard that some parts of the humid South require condensate lines to be insulated for this very reason. I've never seen it to be a problem in my -relatively dry- climate.

How would I check the traps? I felt the radiators about 10 minutes after starting the system: one side was warm and the far side was still cool. I thought that was normal when starting up from dead cold. One more reason why I disclaim steam systems and tell them to get an expert to take a closer look. Yep. We talked about that. Is that the black box beside the site tube?

Lots of owner's junk in the way that I didn't feel like moving. Looking again at the photos I see a pipe I might not have been aware of, coming down from above and turning to the right behind the gray tank. So if it's a condensate return, then I was hearing air being pushed out of the system as steam moved in? System was cold prior to inspection. Is it possible to have some condensate returning directly to the boiler and some returning to the condensate pump? Download Attachment: IMGP4906.JPG 254.55 KB Download Attachment: IMGP4909.JPG 263.23 KB

I rarely see steam systems, and have never seen a device like this before. It seems to be an automatic water feed. This is a 2 pipe steam system in a 1906 house. Boiler was replaced in 2005. This device is on the water line into the boiler. Condensate goes directly back into the boiler. 1) There's a large, open vent pipe coming off the top of the tank, leading almost up to the ceiling and then back down near the floor. Air exited the vent pipe when the system started up (I could see cobwebs blowing). It also made a burping or gurgling sound. Is this normal? The floor around the vent was rust-colored. 2) Why such a large pump? I assume we're talking about replacing a very small amount of water into the system, on the order of a few cups at a time. 3) Anything the homeowner should be aware of related to this device? Download Attachment: BoilerFeed.JPG 122.95 KB

A good example of why you should hire a professional video production company instead of doing it yourself.

Thanks. I was looking at the 3rd picture, not the 2nd (where it's quite evident). I'm used to seeing that connector bar go all the way from the grounding terminal to the neutral terminal. It's a problem (in any profession) when we see what we expect to see, not what's actually there.

Are the EGC bar and the neutral bar separated?

Sure, but there's no requirement of where that receptacle needs to be located in the horizontal dimension. The peninsula starts at the far left side of the photo. A receptacle on the wall there (which is what I normally see) would satisfy that requirement. Based on what's in the photo, I don't assume that the receptacle in question is intended to serve the peninsula countertop, and I would not make an issue of it.

Peninsulas don't need a receptacle. That receptacle is intended to serve the adjacent room, not the counter-top.

Hard to tell in the photo, but it looks like the pipe ends about 2" below the top of the rubber boot?

Your and Jim's experience is different than mine. I find the tract home builders to make repeating, almost predictable, sets of mistakes which are usually of relatively small significance. By far the worst problems I find are in custom homes (usually large & expensive). Like the one that had 17 broken roof trusses as well as a framed wall w/ brick veneer buried 3 feet below exterior grade.

Correction: it was built by a local sub-contract framing crew hired by a national builder. I wouldn't suggest doing anything about it now, but it would certainly give me pause to consider if there were other, more egregious framing errors elsewhere in the structure.