Mark P

Jason, Search this site for the word "Mold" and you will get an education. Many folks on this site do not believe there is any purpose in taking mold samples, except to make easy money.

So Randy, how do you create the repair estimates? Do you get contractors to give you written bids and then transfer that to your own documents?

Marc You missied nothing. All they did was read the slides aloud.

During the conversation I had with the guy from HS, I remember him saying they had approached FLIR to develop a IR camera just for them, but FLIR was not interested.

Several years ago I called HS and discussed this topic with them. I did not even have an IR camera I was just annoyed and wanted some answers. Their point of view was that they were the 1st ones to develop protocols for using IR in combination with a HI. They spent years working on the patent process, and the court of public opinion is not going to change that. If someone wants to take the time and money to fight their patent in court let them do so, but in the mean time they own the patent and intend on protecting it. The letters are a form of patent protection, because if they don’t actively take steps to prevent others from using their patented process then they could loose the patent. If I remember correctly there are 3 or 4 letters written by their attorneys each one a little stronger in language then the previous. By the way they don’t own the patent on using IR for finding missing / inadequate insulation; someone else owns that one.

1974

Got a model # and/or a pic of the furnace? Fedders was made from 1967 - 1984 if that is any help.

Every job I book has an appoitment sheet filled out. When I get in the van to go to that appoitment I turn on my GPS and get directions. The GPS tells me the miles and I write it on top on the appoitment sheet. Later I enter that millage in an excell sheet that I use to track dirrerent data. Simple.

I've wondered how hot is to hot for a breaker? Lets say a 20 amp breaker, some heat is to be expected when it is under a load, so at what point do we say that is to hot.

I guess I should, but I don't write up the lack of weeps - cuz what are they going to do, rip off the veneer and start over. I'm sure I'll get blasted by some of you for this - but that's the way it is in my little world. Maybe I should just include an informative statement such as "there are no visible weepholes in the bottom of the brick veneer. Weepholes are for..... and are a standard building practive in many parts of the country..."

I don't usually mention it in the report. I do tell them verbally that I don't inspect the sprinkler system, but they need to have it winterized and to ask the sellers who they used. It is also on my inspection agreement that they are not inspected.

Eric, You truely will learn a lot from hanging around this web site. I see you've been in the HI since 2009, some of these guys have been doing this for over 20 years and some, like me for just 5-6 years or less. Don't go away with your feelings hurt, swallow your pride, if necessary, and stick around you will be a better inspector for it. I've done 1 onsite report and will never do another.

I can't tell what that black thing is.

If you post the model and serial number someone can tell you how old it is.

I'm happy with my I-phone.

I would never ever ever leave the cover off if it was on when I arrived. Way to many bad thoughts come to mind. What if the home owner or kids were killed, due to their ignorance of the dangers? What if there were a fire and it was not contained because the cover was off? What if the pet tweety bird got zapped? I have panel screws in my tool box.

No it is not allowed. The manufacturer of that main breaker would have to list it as allowing multiple circuits and I do not think it is listed as such.

Thanks Tom. It did die on me on the very first job I brought it to. I thought I had left it turned on in the case or the kids had played with it to much. I know some people just don't want to buy used equipment or a used car, but here are a few sites that sometimes list used IR stuff for sale. I just posted a message on the 1st one asking if anyone had a line on any great deals. So far no regrets. http://www.thesnellgroup.com/irtalk/ http://www.infraredtraining.com/communi ... s/forum/4/ http://www.nachi.org/forum/f70/

Thanks for the info. Kurt if you find something let me know and I'll do the same for you. I just bought the FLIR B-60. I found a used one (1 year old) that was 30+% off the price of a new one.

I track a lot of numbers one of them being referral sources. I thought I’d share what these numbers look like for me. This is for the past 2.5 years. One comment on the referrals from realtors; this number is actually smaller, but since I don’t always quiz my client in depth on why they hired me I often list “realtorâ€

The year of manufacture is typically the 1st 3-4 digets of the serial number. Check the TIJ libary and you will find a chart for all the different manufactures. I don't know how you would be able to determine the manufacturer without the model #. A good reference guide if you have the model number and manufacturer is "Preston's Guide" Lastly the tonage is usualy part of the model number once you learn how to read it it is pretty easy.

Well that was a fun inspection and I got some good answers. Yes everything white is paint; but why the strange pattern on the left side and why is there no white paint above the windows. When the answer came to me it hit me so hard I think I got a lump on my head. The seller was still there when I arrived and I asked what she could tell me about the house and if she knew why the paint on the front is the way it is, but she did not know anything about the white paint. She did know the original owner had an asparagus farm and the detached building behind the house was a summer kitchen. There was a fire in the 80’s or 90’s and almost everything was redone. We chatted for a few minutes and then I walked back outside with the customer and as we were standing there talking about the bricks when it suddenly struck me that it had been the house fire had caused the paint pattern. I can’t believe none of us saw it, because it seems so simple know that we know the cause. The fire must have been on the left side of the house and I can clearly visualize the flames roaring out all the windows on that side both front, back and left side. At some point someone started on the right side removing the paint from the bricks, leaving a few painted bricks here and there and then stopped at the front door. Maybe that is when the fire occured or maybe they ran out of money or motivation or interest and just never finished the job. Click to Enlarge 64.52 KB Click to Enlarge 93.97 KB Click to Enlarge 51.9 KB

Thanks everyone, I'll be onsite in 2 hours. Sorry I'd fly you guys out, Les, but I think the airport is snowed in - what a shame. I did zoom in and can confirm there are header courses about every 8th course to the left side of the door, I could not tell on the right side. I also zoomed in on the left side and can see the white is applied.

Thank you Michael, that is impressive information. So how do bricks end up with a with color? Here is another picture. Click to Enlarge 64.8 KB

Well Mike those are good questions and a great hypothesis. The house faces south and it was before noon when I drove by, so it could be frost, but I really can't say. I did not even focus on the discoluration until I was looking at the pictures. I'm told there are two cellars and I have no idea about the framing. I'll post more tomorrow after I do the inspection.