StevenT

How's this? Plug in an extension cord, and cut the wires. See if you blow a breaker.

Quote (Original): One of my granddaughters slipped this penny behind the night light and the penny made contact with both prongs and the night light became a welder and cut the penny down to the size it is now Tomorrow I will be installing arc fault breakers Re: Why have arc fault circuits « Reply #4 on: Today at 05:26:49 PM » Quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote from: Steven Turetsky on Today at 06:39:56 AM I wonder why the circuit breaker did not blow? Will AFCI's address shorts, or just loose wiring/connections? What type of panel is in the house? Would it be a Federal Pacific? Quote from other: This is how a welder works, there is no dead short, the arc faults do protect from this situation, or when pets or children chew through extension cords, This from a arc fault fact sheet HOW THE AFCI WORKS Conventional circuit breakers only respond to overloads and short circuits; so they do not protect against arcing conditions that produce erratic current flow. An AFCI is selective so that normal arcs do not cause it to trip.

Thank you Mike, I agree. An AFCI is for poor conections, arcing, etc., and also considered an FP panel. The dead short should trip a standard breaker. Where can I get some verbage to that nature?

If by chance, someone was to drop something conductive behind a plug, touching both prongs, would an regular breaker trip, or would you need an AFCI breaker for it to trip.

Well, Helmut is a name. I think you mean helmet. OT - OF!!! M. Yes, yes, that's it!!!

I like helmut. I guess the guy in charge was a helmut head.

I kick off my shoes at the door and walk around in my socks. - Jim Katen, Oregon What do you do if your pants get dirty?

Oh, I've monitored the thread and thought to myself, "OK, that's it. People are sucking on tubes that go to crawl space sump pumps. This is not a profession. It's a traveling geek act." As you might guess, I might've pulled up on the float, and reported whether or not the pump worked. I also would've told the customers that sump pumps -- as I know them anyway -- are useless. Has anybody seen one properly placed and fully functional? I haven't. And really, what are they gonna do to you if you're wrong about a sump pump? Nothing, that's what. WJ I've seen... and installed pumps that were placed properly, and fully functional. But, what I've also seen is that lots of folks don't realize that they need to be maintained. I seen many pumps like the one in the picture of the original thread. I have never noticed the tube on the plug, and find it hard to believe that I missed it. I will surely look for it next time. So to test it, do you recommened wearing rubber boots when putting the plug in your mouth, while it is plugged in, and sucking the tube?

OK, I looked at the picture of the pump. Sure I've seen loads of those. I never realized that it was a diaphram in there. I always thought it was a float switch. I guess I learned something new today. But, All I see is an insulated wire (wires) coming out of the switch. WHere is the tube? OK, I imagine its inside. But, do you really open it and check the switch? Is that something I should start doing? If so, I'll get a bulb aspirator. I do not suck tube.

Maybe, Most of the pumps I see have either external/detached float switches that hook up in line, or attached float switches that are covered with a box type cover. I don't recall ever seeing a pump with a tube coming off of it that I would think is connected to a diaphram, or anything else for that matter.

I've seen alot of sump pumps, but none of this type.

How can you test a sump pump with a bulb aspirator? Do you mean condensation pump, by using the bulb aspirator to squirt water into the c pump?

Chuck, Up until recently, I was doing insurance inspections for a company that subs them out. They were giving me as many as I wanted to do (sure), and I would commonly do about 15 in a day. They were all in a very localized area, and since I would plan my route carefully, I would only drive about 8 miles, once I got to my first inspection. Although some paid more, the average inspection paid approx. $35.00. The inspections took abou 20 minutes each. Well, one would think thak 15 inspections x $35 is an acceptable days pay, but by the time I finished the reports, add another two days. When you calculate time, tolls, gas, insurance, an occaisional parking ticket, forgetting a measuring wheel, using up my camera... well, all of a sudden it's not such a great deal. Even though each average inspection only took 20 minutes or so, it included a great deal of information. I cannot tell you how frustrating it made me. Lately, I just don't seem to be able to get myself out there to do them. Don't get me wrong, I happened to like the people very much, and they paid quickly. I also enjoyed the physical part of the inspections, as I was exposed to some very unusual things. I also admit that I probably took longer to do the reports than some might, only due to my anal ways, and I admit that I find it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time when doing any report or paperwork.

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I comment when the door pull shut/offer any resistance to opening. I call it a symptom. I don't specify repairs. I agree, it is a symptom. Just like any other symptom, I would report it. If it is a symptom that has an effect, I recommend having it repaired, replaced or serviced. I don't make a habit of deferring. If my client wishes, I am willing to do discuss different options. Do I specify repairs? Only EIFS.

When cooling, the convection makes the system work a bit easier. Easier=better. I agree, it would not be helpful to the heating cycle. Maybe it's a regional thing, around here, most homes have high/higher returns. some have sepatate systems and have both. So I guess, where and how you place the returns, has alot to do with the site. If all of the returns were low, and the problem was cooling, would you raise the return?

OK, but how well does itwork? If its sucking the doors shut that the system is working harder to return the air. Don't you think for a system to work optimally, it should balanced, favoring easier input. In tall building it called "chimney effect."

IMHO I think that any room, especially a bedroom, where the return air capacity/ventilation is dependant upon a 1/2" x 34" space under a door, is suffocating. The easier the return the better the output. Under the door is understood. There should be returns on the ceiling.

Hey Rob, That's pretty cool. I bet if you cut a slot in one end, you could use it to open bottle caps.

I use this. I find, rather than holding it up to the roof and looking through it. I take a picture of the peak, and back at my office, I check the pitch. The sell very similar ones at HD. Click to Enlarge 30.55 KB

There are all different types and levels of estimating. You could estimate for a contractor, general contractor, a stone fabricator, an electrician...roofer, etc. I would image you should become knowlegable, and understand the root subject. There is also refrence material, such as Means, to help. If I was doing an estimate that involved anything other than my expertise, I would get an estimate from the person that will do the job. If it's a busy company, you may send out for bids from multiple subs. Depending upon the job, your involvement can vary from being the guy who can pull the numbers out of your head, to being the guy who is an expert at putting together the numbers. It is very common for a specialty contractor to gets sets of plans to estimate off of, or some companies have contractors, or their estimators, spend the day doing take offs in their office. Make sure you are good at detailing what is and isn't included. You should improve with age.

Whomever's name is in the "client box."

Frank, Hmm, Perhaps I misread, But I thought I read that the agent was the client. As far as the diagnosis, I agree with you on that too. As a matter of fact, when I flipped through the pictures, I felt, although most of the cracks were minor, the fact that there were so many became a concern. I agree there is a footing/foundation problem. I don't agree with you about not having hard evidence. Hell, I just looked at pictures of hard evidence. Unless this guy's buddy tries to spew that "cracks are supposed to be there." The cracks are there. My question is, are they going to get worse? I don't understand the part about his buddy letting you off the hook. What hook? It is your our responsibility to tell is like it is, to the best of your our ability, and with integrity. How does somebody making a lame excuse, relieve you of any responsibility? Now if his buddy is a licenced engineer, and gives you something in writing... well, thats a different story. As far as the other guy, don't get so riled. Laugh at the putz, and do what you do.

I can't agree with that. If it's a house for sale and the report is being prepared so that a buyer can decide whether the buyer wants to purchase the house or not, the client is the buyer regardless of who is paying for the inspection. To assume anything else just puts one between the rock and the hard place. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike I agree 100% Mike. The buyer is my client. Thanks. It's ok to disagree. So if a seller hires a HI do do a pre sale inspection, and wants the information for his personal use, and tells you not to discuss it with anyone... does he not have the right. Or are you stating that if a buyer shows up, you should share his information with the buyer. My thing is that the report should be the same regardless of who it is for. Now if a HI is being hired on behalf of someone, then I agree that the person should have full access to the inspector. Whoever tells you not to speak to them is a knucklehead.

The way it happened, was a bit odd. It would have been nice to know who you were working for before yo started. Not that it would make a difference in the report, but just like (I), don't discuss the inspection/report with anyone but the client, unless asked to. In this case the client is the agent. I imagine is thier property. What I hate doing is discussing with the seller. Yikes!!!