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Hi All, I just got the following via email from Darrel Marsolais, the training chair at ASHIWW: This email is to let everyone know the March 6th Educational Seminar is Full. We cannot accept anymore registrations. We will have another Educational Seminar on June 5th, 2010 in Tacoma. We will be submitting to the ASHI, NAHI, Washington and Oregon for approval for CE’s. We will have three speakers, the first speaker will be David Sherwood, David is an ASHI Certified Inspector and is an owner of a multiple inspector company in Connecticut. David is the Chair of the Chapter Relations Committee for ASHI. His presentation will focus on Growing Your Business in Any Market. This is about business development and they need to diversify services to bridge those slow periods. Jeff Arnold, the Executive Director of ASHI will be the Keynote Speaker at lunch time. Marty Spartz with Prism Analytical Technologies, Inc. will present “Understanding Indoor Air Quality and Testing Methodsâ€

Sure about that? This is from one of AO Smith's gas water heater installation manuals: ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

I think it's someone's homemade tempering system and the upper valve on the inlet line controls how much cold water flows to the hot side somewhere in the house. I think the line at the bottom is functioning like a gravity loop. the hot water rises, like it does in a hot water system and as the water up at the top cools it returns to the water heater via that doohickey installed where the drain sillcock should be. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike (Ah, I see that Garet and I had the same thought.)

That's some good information; thanks. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

OK, So I misunderstood your initial post. Bottom line, it may not hang within 5 inches of the roof, period. You've stated that both masts are within 3ft. of the edge of the roof. What's the pitch? How many meters are there? Have you called the local utility provider and asked them for the URL to their service diagrams and rules? ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

The rule is full-circumference straps in the top and bottom third and the lower strap may not be closer than 4 inches to the top of the controls. I've seen heavy nylong web strap systems designed for this purpose and there is no disputing that they are "straps." I think you'll have a hard time convincing anyone that a piece of rope is a "strap" when it's clearly a rope. By the way, both of those look like they are closer than four inches to those thermostats; so aren't they technically closer than 4 inches to the "controls." ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

I think you mean it "may" not be buried in insulation; because one can certainly bury it if one has a mind to. You'd be wrong here. It's allowed to be buried here and it's done all the time. Doesn't make it right. Doesn't make it any safer. But it's an indisputable fact. WAC 296-46B-394 Wiring methods and materials — Concealed knob-and-tube wiring. 001 Knob-and-tube wiring. Article 394 NEC does not prohibit the installation of loose or rolled thermal insulating material in spaces containing existing knob-and-tube wiring provided that all the following conditions are met: (1) The wiring must be surveyed by an appropriately licensed electrical contractor who must certify in writing to the department that the wiring is in good condition with no evidence of improper overcurrent protection, conductor insulation failure or deterioration, and with no improper connections or splices. The electrical inspector must inspect all repairs, alterations, or extensions to the electrical system. (2) The insulation must meet Class I specifications as identified in the Uniform Building Code, with a flame spread factor of twenty-five or less as tested using ASTM E84-81a. Foam insulation may not be used with knob-and-tube wiring. (3) All knob-and-tube circuits must have overcurrent protection in compliance with NEC Table 310.16, 60 degree centigrade, Column C. Overcurrent protection must be either circuit breakers or Type S fuses. [statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, § 296-46B-394, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.] ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi, I've had a volt stick detect voltage in old radio antenna when the antenna passed near some live wiring and picked up the field of the electrical wire. Once, I moved the NM away from the antenna (It wasn't secured anyway) and the volt stick stopped indicating voltage on the antenna. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

I love it when a plan comes together. [George Peppard) ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Oh, Re. the 5ft height of the mast. If you think that it can't sustain the weight of the drop, recommend they install guys or bracing on it. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

There's an exception for a roof slope of 4:12 or greater; 18-inches of clearance is OK over the eaves if the mast is 4ft or less from the edge of the roof. Dude, are you sure you've got enough training under your belt to be out there doing inspections on your own? ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Mine is 11 years old and still going strong. It looks like it's seen a thousand miles of bad road. Caution: There's a little transformer inside that tends to break loose from it's mounting and the little wire connected to one corner tends to break. It'll cost about $10 to get soldered at a TV repair shop (If you can find one)Then make sure they glue the transformer back down firmly and wad up a piece of tissue and close it inside the housing over the transformer to prevent it from being jarred loose again. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

What's the difference between that chimney and, say, an exhaust vent for a direct-vent fireplace below that window on this same house? There's a lot of air between those two buildings. Is it an ideal situation? No, but I don't think it's a dangerous situation. I may be wrong, but I don't think you'll find a prohibition for that in any code anywhere? I also don't think a chimney fire will be able to reach that house. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Crimeny! I didn't know Tiffany's sells CO Detectors! ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Very Kewl! That photo reminds me of the Chinese restaurant in Seattle that I inspected where I got curious about the water stains on the ceiling tiles above one of the dining rooms. Turns out, it wasn't rain that was staining the ceiling - that was the local rat colony's bathroom! Yum! I can't name the restaurant here but you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll never eat there again. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

John, Careful, not every newbie inspector coming here will realize you were joking about that. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Yep, It's either 1975 or 1996. Does it look like it's 34 years old? ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Call your county health department and the state department of agriculture and find out where you can get a teaspoon of soil tested. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Yeah, I've seen lots of boilers with the burners within six inches of the floor. He screwed up....big time. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Probably something like these: http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/ ... d_num=8817 http://www.designerhardware.com/Franke_ ... k-900p.htm OT - OF!!! M.

I had you pegged as more of a Gertrude Stine. [:-bonc01] ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

You're assuming they use kraft-paper-faced batts but they don't - at least the smart builders don't; they use unfaced batting here. Around here, faced batting is generally used under the floors or in the walls. Occasionally I see it in attics but not often. The stuff I see here doesn't have any "flanges." ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi, Well, around here they use mostly batts over catedral ceilings because the loose stuff is only going to slide to the bottom of the bay and won't be much good down there. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Sure, Why, do they insulate cathedral ceilings before the drywall is done there? OT - OF!!! M.

Hi Les, I don't know much about Concrobium except that the last time I did a home where a "professional remediator" was supposed to have done the work, the underside of the roof had been coated with something that looked suspiciously like Kilz, which isn't supposed to be used over mold and mildew. When I pointed that out to the client, they showed me the remediator's documentation and Concrobium had allegedly been used to seal the roof; that's why I made the remark, "Hey look at me...etc." ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike