Nolan Kienitz

I posted some information about the change earlier this year. 2015 New Rules for Water Heaters

Flex ducts is at about a 98-99% rate down here. Seldom see metal duct in new construction and if I do it is very 'spensive custom home. Cost to replace flex duct here would be a serious draw on the bank account.

That adds to the frustration with all the BBs and the advertising links. They randomly pop up when one least expects it. I have a blocker running on my browser so I never/seldom see the advertising. On another 'independent' HI forum the advertising banners have started to appear "inside" some of the initial posters to any given thread that has been started. I've talked with some other HIs about this and some have signed off or removed themselves from that BB. Reason being is that with a random search a thread could be found and the results could be interpreted as that inspector supporting the advertising that is now "inside" his post. I've refrained from posting over there mainly because of such.

I think I did about 10 of them back in the very early days (10-13 years ago). Problem in Texas is that the folks calling have no concept of distance and especially the fact that Texas is a rather large state. Many times I would get calls to do some 'drive by' something-or-other for all of $45 (no mileage) and the location was San Antonio and I'm located in Plano. Had a couple of callers tell me that it didn't look that far on the map ... it is only an inch or two. The clowns calling need to go to the 'clown college' classes. Goes without saying it didn't work for me. BTW - are you licensed by TREC to do home inspections? I can't find your "Larry Harding" name on the TREC database.

I like black iron pipe coming through the furnace sidewall. Flex pipe coming through the side wall of a furnace that is "hanging" in an attic and "moving" can quite easily cut through the flex and end up with a gas leak. I am not fond of the grommets and actually have seen very few and the ones I have seen are dry rotted and worthless. So ... for 13+ years down here in TX when I see flex going through the sidewall I write it up. Pretty much the same as Jim L. Keep in mind that a rather large percentage of furnace units are in the attics in Texas and are strapped and hanging and thus 'swinging' when in operation.

I agree with what many others have posted ... this thread is a "wealth" of information from everyone. Stuart - one thing I've learned over the years (and with input from the TIJ experience) is to keep your comments "short and to the point". No need for the $25.00 words that no one can understand. You are not writing a Pulitzer prize winning story ... your are inspecting and providing a description. Take good images and use brief descriptions. Kurt M. made that very clear to me many years ago. I've been doing residential inspections for 13+ years and still learn each/every time. ... and hooking up with Michael will educate you even more when it comes to your website/social media presence. He is excellent.

Heck ... remove them all and combine all branch wiring into a legacy FP panel !!!

The lightning current overheats the stainless on the CSST and melts a hole in it. It's not unlike a wire too small to carry the current flowing through it. It overheats. Steel pipe is thick enough to carry it without fail. I've known something similar to happen on a house that I had previously inspected for an HI client. He had not yet closed on it when lightning struck it. He asked me to return to assess the damage. I traced the various paths of the lightning currents attempting to reach the earth. One of them began with the water heater flue, progressed to the water heater itself and the steel gas lines then to the earth but also from the water heater through one of the two flexible copper water connectors, copper distribution lines then the earth. In the process, it blew a pinhole in the corrugations of one of the connectors. The Fire Marshal was the first responder and noticed it. It wasn't CSST that blew, but it's the same type of failure. The corrugations may be a factor. Lightning currents include extreme frequencies and the electro-magnetics of such frequencies in a corrugated linear conductor could end up being very complicated, like way over my head complicated. Marc EDIT: Grammar What is interesting is the focus on the CSST product and seldom is anything mentioned about the corrugated appliance connector that is pretty much the same thing. Marc's experience shows that connector is just as much of a target as CSST is.

Les, From what I was told this morning she (young man's mother) has been doing presentations about the state trying to inform the public. Some folks have not been impressed with the presentation as there seems to be a lack of "professional" support to explain more details about CSST / bonding / grounding, etc., etc.. I can't say as I've only learned about this site today. As you noted ... it is about education and learning all we can.

There are only a few W/H manufacturer's left in the USA. So many products are 're-branded' for the applicable vendors. The W/H age files that are in the TIJ Library break some of those down. Below is a cut/paste from InspectApedia and their information relating to USA-made W/H's. Not the best layout for easy viewing, but still ... data is data. ===================================== United States Water Heater Manufacturers & Distributors Mr. LeMarr points out that presently in the U.S. the remaining actual manufacturers of domestic hot water heater heaters are American, A.O. Smith, Bradford White, and Rheem companies, though their products may be branded among the many names listed just above. LeMarr also informs us that water heaters made in Japan and China are entering the U.S. market. Whenever we have updates to this water heater age and identification chart we'll post the latest version of it here. Water heater label-brands currently distributed in the U.S. include Ambassador water heaters, American water heaters, ACE water heaters, A.O. Smith water heaters, Apollo, Aqua Temp, Aqua Therm, Best water heaters, Bosch water heaters,Bradford White, Cafos, Champion, Crosley, Energy Saver, Envirotemp water heaters, GE water heaters, Glascote water heaters, Golden Knight water heaters, GSW, Hotpoint water heaters, JC Penny, Jetglas, JW or John Wood, Kenmore water heaters (Sears Brand), Lochinvar, Lowes, Mainstream, Maytag water heaters, Montgomery Wards, Knight, PermGlas, Reliance water heaters, Revere, Rheem water heaters, Rheem/Rudd/Richmond water heaters, Rinnai, Security, Shamrock water heaters, Standard water heaters, State/Reliance/Sears brand water heaters, Thermo-King, Vanguard water heaters, US Craftsmaster, US Water Heaters, and Whirlpool water heaters. URL to above source: W/H Manufacturers/Brands

There was a meeting this past Friday with the TREC Inspectors Advisory Committee and one of the agenda items had to do with CSST. There are a number of documents that were prepared for the meeting about suggested changes to the TREC Inspection SOP and verbiage in the mandated TREC report template preamble. From what I learned today it is being taken under advisement/review by TREC Legal. Usually when that happens changes end up being made. Also in the documentation was a web link for a site that was started by the family of the gentleman who was killed in the home in Lubbock, TX that had CSST that was damaged with a lightning strike. The young man's parents are endeavoring to make deficiencies with CSST known. I've not reviewed the entire website and only want to present the URL here as a point of information as it is related to the original story I posted. Brennen Teal Foundation

NAECA (National Appliance Energy Conservation Act) rolls into effect this spring and affects water heaters. Many of the W/H manufacturers have information about this and the impact to manufacturers, builders, installers and ultimately the homeowner. Here is a PDF from State ... Download Attachment: NAECA_Builder_Brochure.pdf 785.95?KB Just ran across this URL for what is called: Appliance Standards Awareness Project

Clay tile roof and one is messing with web chords?? And the he adds the weight bench ... Lord help him.

... and don't forget the radon from the beloved granite counter-tops. I believe that data point hit a peak in 2008 with articles in many locations. A Google search will give you plenty to read including the one below from "This Old House". Radon - Granite Counter-Tops ... This Old House Bottom line ... be aware, learn ... but "chill out"

I'm sure others who have/use Square are also getting messages about a pre-order for the new reader that will be EMV (chip card) capable. Square Reader ... "chip card" ... pre-order INFO

I've not noted any speed issues with the new Ricoh. The battery is more robust than what I have in my Pentax and I get good mileage out of it. Recharge once flash goes off in dark attic takes a bit of time, but not enough to give me any heartburn. RE: Batteries for the Ricoh WG-20 last a long time for me. As Jim L. noted ... if taking a huge number of images I may have to slip in a 2nd battery to complete the inspection, but doesn't happen too often for me.

Pentax is now known as "Ricoh" as they (Ricoh) bought out Pentax in the past year or so. I got a Ricoh WG-20 this past July and am very pleased with it for my inspections. I still have my Pentax W90 that the Ricoh replaced and it also still works fine. Nice to have a good backup. I ordered a silicone sleeve for both the Pentax and the Ricoh as it helps provide a bit more "grip" for the camera(s). I got mine at Target (online) as they had the best price at the time. Ricoh WG-20 ... Target Ricoh WG-20 ... Amazon

Appears that agent is in cross-hairs on this one ... Indiana: Meth Contaminated Home

Maybe the data label had a required value of 35. 15 plus 20 ... hey, I'm there!! [^]

No the shower is separate. I did the tub a couple of years ago. Shower is not huge, but far larger than a typical single-stall shower. No exotic spray heads and such. Just two heads with a valve to switch between the two. The 2nd head is handheld. I'm kind of a KISS person. Less things to 'go wrong' that way. I'm looking up the Kerdi system to see what I can learn on that.

... and here you go Enjoy [^] [utube] " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344">

Continuing the 'slight' thread drift, but Chad noted he built a shower using a system ... I figured I could add the YouTube below about the "Wedi Board" system. I'm intrigued by it and am wondering about input from others who may have had some experience with it. My wife and I are finally getting around to remodeling our Master Bath (2-year planning project). Our house was built in 1982, typical green board around shower and flexible membrane shower pan. I'm preferring to try to get it as "right" as possible when I get all torn out to studs and start the refacing. It's a 14-minute video from the manufacturer, but easy enough to fast-forward to get basics. [utube] " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344">

... And speaking of "points" ... there is always the shingle nail (points) that have pierced the CSST and caused gas leaks. Happens on re-roofs or even some new home construction when the CSST has not been properly installed with adequate clearance from the roof decking. Been a few issues of that down here with resulting lawsuits as well.

As noted the insurance company was doing it's job ... that being not to part with any or as little money as possible on any claim ... (my $0.02 about the insurance company's job). So, they and their legal folks take a scatter gun approach and throw the spaghetti on the wall and see where it might stick and then pursue that avenue. The HI that Jim noted was first thrown under the bus by the CSST manufacturer after the insurance company first came after them. That company peeled apart the TREC SOP and took items out of context and said that the inspector was at fault due to "x, y & z" that had been taken out of context. Actually he had done precisely what the TREC SOP required ... IF you read, understand the entire SOP. The insurance company loved that (what the CSST manufacturer put together out of context) and then broadened the suit to also include and nail the inspector and his insurance. Not for anything ... CSST and reporting of same is a standard topic of conversation at most every HI meeting in Texas since that happened. And, as Jim noted, the AHJ(s) that have gone way overboard with bonding runs on everything metal in an attic is close to humorous ... except that we inspectors have to be very careful so that we don't get clotheslined with all the bonding wires strung from flue vent pipes, dryer vent pipes, CSST and on and on. An interesting world we're blessed with down here with some of these things.

I'm sure it is out there in use, but I've only seen it via advertising and the CSST manufacturer's in their efforts to paint it as a superior product over the original yellow-jacketed CSST. It's called "CounterStrike" and made by TracPipe. I won't put their URL on this thread. Just Goggle it and you will get plenty of links.