Jesse

If the furnace is so great, maybe the seller should take it with him.

Lightning will do some wicked stuff, traveling along gutters/downspouts, conduit, flues, etc. I'd expect, though, that there'd be some evidence of heat on the lumber just below the broken shingles. As it is in the photo, it just looks like a broken shingle. Perhaps they did get a lightning strike, but not at that location. I was on the roof of a suburban high school after a storm. Their lightning detector (for the athletic fields) had taken a direct strike. The damage and the irony were beautiful.

Even better: You ARE smart enough to NOT take on that liability.

There are three guys in that picture.

What about condo buildings that share forced air heat? How do they skirt this regulation?

Congrats to you all. It's a nasty disease. Runs in my family. In some parts of Ireland, folks that don't drink are called "pilgrims."

Are you sure you're dealing with a wood foundation? I see the timbers in the photos, but they look like they are only for the window well.

$22 bucks, plus shipping, seems a little much for a flashlight accessory. Go to a military surplus store. They should have a bunch of options you can try out, and you can decide which you like. Chances are, you'll change your mind in 6 months anyway.

I have those in my own house. There are even ducts behind them.

They are some cold, stuffy folks.

Interesting point, Scott. High water pressure is generally not a problem around here, so that didn't even cross my mind. Thanks.

Dry pipe systems are usually located in areas subject to freezing, such as a portico, loading dock, etc. They are maintained, by a pump, at a lower pressure than the incoming water supply. (It's isolated from the supply pressure.) When a sprinkler head is activated by heat, the pressure drops even lower, allowing water into the system and to the activated head. Systems are tested at a higher pressure when installed. I am suprised, though, that you found pressure in the system that exceeds that on the supply. Sounds like a bad gauge, or at least a faulty reading. I haven't heard of departments defining residential sprinkler requirements according to proximity to a cul-de-sac, but I know that Fire Prevention Bureaus are pushing for them in residential construction more and more. They are relatively inexpensive to install during construction. If you have one, learn how to shut if off. The fire goes out, or is kept under control, but the amount of water put out by just one head creates a lot of damage.

Terry Don't take anything I said as an attack. You've been here a long time, and I have a lot of respect for your experience and the contributions you make here at TIJ. That said, I'm curious what that last post meant.

Terry You pointed out something interesting about Caoimhín's post, though it was a shot at the time. I'm guessing he doesn't make millions debunking anything. He certainly doesn't make money sharing his opinions, professional or personal, here. I question more the companies that preach the hazards of radon, because they are often the ones making the money doing tests and mitigations. I'm grateful that he's willing to share his knowledge and background with us. We should all do our own research on topics like this. That means research from multiple sources. Caoimhín's one source, and I've learned a lot from his website and his posts, just like I learn every day from EVERY person that posts here.

I just read my last post. Not too proud of the writing. I need a nap, or a slap in the face.

Jodi - Take readings in and around the area of concern. If levels vary, and you think it's because of moisture(as opposed to some other conductive material in the wall/floor/etc), then there's a problem. If the entire surface registers the same low result on a meter, you should be OK. If the entire surface registers the same high result, you have a big problem, or another conductive material behind the surface.

I'm an honorable man. I didn't take a thing.

Closest I've ever come to that: used condoms in a kneewall attic.

I'm dying to hear the full explanation of this. C'mon, learn me sumfin good today!

I think about this from time to time, and occasionally I wish I had used my name. People remember you. Your service is you. I don't think there's anything wrong with using your name. Downside is, if you're ever going to sell your company, your name is on it. That issue doesn't apply to a lot of home inspectors.

AO (Acronym Overload)

If it's really just a 2-wire service, no load calc necessary. It's an inadequate service, regardless of AC. New service drop, new service panel, probably new sub-panels. With all that, and other details that are sure to come up, they should be set to run central air.

Ellen made a valuable point. Provide a great service; charge what you need to cover it. I can't imagine changing my reporting methods if it will negatively affect my product in any way. If I can improve the product, great. If the product stays the same, and it takes less time, great. No way I can justify decreasing my level of service.

In my former life I worked at a couple big public pools. It's amazing the corrosion the chemicals can cause. I left a tool box in a pump room overnight once. Once was enough to learn my lesson.

OK, I'll bite... Thanks for the post, Caoimhin. I understand all you said in your post. In you opinion, based on education and experience that far exceeds those of anyone else here, what test would provide valid data? And, if that test determined an average level of 15.8, as in Terry's original post, would you recommend taking steps to remedy that? Thanks.