Mark P

I don't think so, when I turned the heat on at the thermostat you could smell it almost at once. You know that smell you get when a furnace has not been operated for awhile - burning dust, etc.

I have never seen this before. This was in one side of a duplex, reportedly built in 1950. The unit was manufactured in 1989. On the bottom is a 40 gal electric water heater. On top of and incorporated into the water heater is the a/c coil and an electric furnace. The water heater was shot, so now they need to get a new coil and furnace as well. Click to Enlarge 62.22 KB

I think it helps. I ask for feedback in the the same e-mail I send the report out in - like Nolan said, most don't bother. I never follow up after I send the report out.

FLIR B60. I got it around xmas last year. It was a demo model and I got a deep discount on it - but it still had a year warrenty. I'm happy with it.

I’m pretty sure I would not have found this problem without it. I had finished inspecting the 1st & 2nd floors and was doing a scan with my infrared camera before heading to the partially finished basement. In the center of the family room wall, directly above the couch was a wet spot about the size of a nickel. I confirmed with a moisture meter it was in fact wet. To the naked eye and touch it looked like a nail hole had been patched and painted over. It made sense because the sellers were in the process of packing up. I guessed that they had just patched the hole and it had not yet dried. I then go to the basement and find a large (2 feet across) wet area on the finished ceiling. To the naked eyes there was absolutely so staining - nadda. The drywall had a very slight sag were it was wet, but I don’t know if I would have caught the sag if I had not been studying the area due to the find with the IR. It then took me about 15 minutes of scanning, studying, testing, eliminating possibilities before I was confident I knew what was occurring. A picture had in fact been removed from the family room wall, a screw removed and the wall patched. The screw had been in the PVC drain line that ran from the 2nd floor bathroom, through the wall and made a 90 degree turn just above the wet spot on the basement ceiling. When the screw was in it plugged the hole, when it was removed the hole started leaking. The leak had not had time to cause any staining or damage. One of my test was to first run cold water through the drain and then switch it to hot. I watched as the wet spot became warm. I placed a sticker on the wall and told them this is where the plumber had to cut. I got an e-mail this week saying that I had been correct and there were in fact 2 screw holes in the pipe. This is the basement ceiling. The brighter / warmer area is from running the hot water. Click to Enlarge 41.3?KB This is the family room wall. Again the bright spot is from running the hot water. You can also make out the drain line inside the wall. Click to Enlarge 30.98?KB This is the picture they sent me. I guess the black stuff is the epoxy used to patch the two holes. Click to Enlarge 735.45?KB

I could then advertise myself as a published author... Maybe I'll send it in if I find time. Jim you have mail.

Wow that 2nd pic is like a pice of art - crazy!

Wire disapears under the patio - no idea what it is for or where the other end is. Not for the ac and no yard lights. Click to Enlarge 128.14 KB Termites got inside the sheathing and were eating the paper. Click to Enlarge 50.02 KB Panel dated 2006 - so this is not to old. Click to Enlarge 106.24 KB No other signs of termites anywhere is the house. Click to Enlarge 96.65 KB Has anyone seen anything like this before? I can't really think it would be a problem with the wire - do you?

Seems like I remember hearing of an inspector that was killed in an attic from an electrical shock. This was 5+ years ago and I don't remember the details.

Well since you asked…. I inspected the wrong house last week. It was for a relocation company and they gave me the wrong street number. I drove to the address they gave me, it was for sale, had a lock box on the door and was unoccupied. It was also a real piece of crap too, I mean really bad; so bad the inspection did not take to long, because after awhile it was evident the entire electrical and plumbing systems needed replaced, the ac was stolen, etc. The house was out in the middle of no where and I had no cell phone access. After I finished the inspection I drove about 5 miles to where I had phone coverage and stopped to check messages. I had a message for the owner of the home I was supposed to be inspecting. She said she was waiting at the house and wanted to know where I was. I had all kinds of thoughts race through my head, and words raced out of my mouth. It turns out the two houses were directly across the street. She later told me, “I saw you over there and thought you might be confusedâ€

Jim - your funny!

An old Applience with an equally old electrical connection - I don't say much if anything; except that it is old. It seems most people buying a house that has old appliences plan on buying new ones when they move in.

My wife and I were driving through an average neighbor with mostly smaller homes from the late 50’s #65533; 60’s when my wife suddenly shouts “Holy Sh!T#65533; I turn my head and say the same thing. I don’t know what else to say about it. I do wonder were in the hell do you buy light fixtures like those. They are huge. Click to Enlarge 77.98 KB Click to Enlarge 76.05 KB Click to Enlarge 65.86 KB

I uploaded the correct picture. Sorry for the confusion - only 2 more days till I go on vacation!

the white powdery stuff that collects inside the bottom of furnaces. Click to Enlarge 60.08 KB

Thanks Bill. I'm glad I asked. I was about to insert my foot deeply into... So what is the capped of pipe next to the pressure gage?

This is a hot water, gas fired, boiler. I found no TPRV and just want to confirm (second opinion) that the capped off pipe on top by the gage is where it should be. Click to Enlarge 41.4 KB Click to Enlarge 70.31 KB

Yesterday's inspection the buyer had a report from a previous inspection. The other inspector had written up that the bus bar in the electrical panel was discolored from overheating. He made no recommendation or even where the discoluration was located. The only thing I found was the bar running behind the main breaker. Other then the discoloration I found no indication of any kind of problem. I told the buyer I would get another opinion (that would be you TIJ), but it is my opinion not to worry about it. The house is 10 years old. The bus bar was 100 degrees. Click to Enlarge 79.35 KB Click to Enlarge 53.92 KB

This past week I was in Grafton, IL that is right along the Mississippi river and floods a lot. The state and federal gov’t is pretty serious about managing every pebble that can impact the height of the river. So many of the houses are built up and have flow through for the rising river under the house. State flood engineers tell the owners exactly how high a house has to be. Click to Enlarge 59.22 KB Click to Enlarge 74.9 KB

I might get 5 referals a YEAR from ASHI. Being a member of the local chapter does help me obtain my required State CE requirements. Also the spring and fall conferences are mostly worth while.

I can usually get the report out witin 24hrs, but not always. Don't listen to the realtor, and concentrate on writing a quality report.

If this is a newer home the brick is a covering, just like the vinyl siding and there should be a moisture barrier behind it. All bricks get some moisture behind them; this is the reason for the weep holes. I doubt you have moisture inside the home as a result of your brick fascia. Now that is not to say, there is not a problem with the mortar, but I do not think it is the cause of your concern. Describe the what, where and when of your moisture issues. Include a couple pictures if you can.

Thank you Mr. Hansen, so I guess that makes them "Handles" and not switches or levers. Funny how trying to find the proper name for something I see every day, can make my head itch.

Breaker Tie Bar - thanks you sir!

I'm just trying to figure out how to say the two sides of this main breaker need to be connected. Maybe that is good enough. Download Attachment: 20110607_29.JPG 1482.86 KB