msteger

I would consider any panel over 30 years old suspect and worthy of an evaluation by a licensed electrician to make sure the components are in good working order. Mechanical and electrical systems just don't get better with age.

Is that a copper service grounding wire at the top of the neutral bar on the right side of the 1st photo? Maybe what I thought I saw isn't a grounding wire. Does anyone else see what I thought I saw?

The link doesn't currently work. Can it be accessed elsewhere?

I think I recall seeing a few recalls or class actions not too long ago, and think it was related to specific Carrier units. Don't remember much else though.

Thanks for the info, Mike.

As others have mentioned above as well, when I see homes with soffit and ridge venting as well as gable vents, power vents, etc. I note the attic ventilation was "Mixed Ventilation Types" and tell the client that some roofing shingle manufacturers (like Certainteed) require removal or covering up the older vents, and keep only the soffit and ridge venting. Certainteed puts that requirement right in their install manual; other companies, like GAF, Tamko, and Owens Corning "highly recommend" doing the same. I also tell the client that should an issue arise in the future and a Certainteed rep comes out to investigate a claim that Certainteed may void the warranty on the spot because the ventilation requirements were not met. I have personally seen this happen in a home I inspected 4 years ago, I noted this condition, the new buyer did not heed my suggestion, and when they called the shingle manufacturer to file a claim and their rep came out, he noted the improper attic ventilation and did void the shingle warranty then and there. The home owner than called the roofer who installed the roof, but found out he had gone out of business 2 years earlier.

I recall reading in Code Check that gas pipes shouldn't be run in chimneys as your describe. Am I wrong? Also, why didn't they run the furnace's PVC out the side of the home instead of running it vertically up the chimney? What happens when the PVC gets to the top? Is there another elbow and piece of PVC to allow the condensate to drip onto the roof (past the mortar cap)?

Randy.. its not too common here until into the 1960s. Being here in PA, where we didn't have statewide building codes until 2004, I see all sorts of weird things. I do a lot of rural homes, so virtually no building codes ever until a few years ago. Lots of ungrounded 3 wire receptacles, etc.

"Also note there are 2 furnaces, 1 in the attic and 1 in the basement. The basement B vent connects to the attic vent and there is only 1 vent that goes thru the roof." Maybe I am reading this wrong, but are the attic and basement furnaces sharing a flue in the attic? These are both natural gas?

Yes, I mis-spoke. Sorry for the confusion.

I saw one of the new all season heat pumps recently at a home show. I don't have the specs anymore, but it was supposedly able to provide heat (without a backup source) down to below 0 degs F. Of course, the thing is pretty expensive right now.

Good resource. I often see unprotected CSST run into gas fireplaces and burrs in the metal opening can damage the CSST.

Simple answer, no. OT - OF!!! M. So, was AHI confusing the CSST with appliance connector material? (see top of this page) CSST doesn't need a piece of PVC pipe (for example) where it passes through a floor or wall, but a plastic appliance connector does? I see the plumbing code requires flexible tubing to be protected from mechanical damage, such as where it passes through something.

I do the same. If the basement is missing insulation (I see this commonly here in PA), or the attic insulation R value is lower than today's standards, I note it in the report and recommend adding more insulation to help lower energy costs. I don't make a big thing out of it, unless it was a hour newer than 20 years, and the attic insulation was missing, for example. I have seen new homes totally missing attic insulation.

It was CSST and feeds a gas stove in the kitchen above this area. Does this type of installation for CSST require a sleeve (like a short peice of PVC pipe) where the CSST passes through the floor? I call this out all of the time for CSST feeding gas fireplaces. You check out the CSST right where it passes through the metal opening and often it is burred. Sometimes I find leaks here too.

Date code info is in their serial number, not model number.

John: The run from the furnace to the chimney was approx. 12 feet. There was indeed a pitch upwards towards the chimney connection. Matt

Thanks Guys. That cleared things up. I am still puzzled, however, about the code statement about "Combination gas- and oil fuel-burning appliances". Don't think I've ever seen an appliance that burns fuel oil and natural gas. Do these exist? "2006 INTERNATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE® CHIMNEYS AND VENTS - 503.5.7.4 Combination gas- and oil fuel-burning appliances. A listed combination gas- and oil fuel-burning appliance shall be permitted to be connected to a single chimney flue. The chimney flue shall be sized to properly vent the appliance." Is the reason the smaller vent has to be on top have to do with less heat and the bottom larger vent will help both vent upward and out?

Thanks for the help guys on this one. So, if one appliance is fuel oil and one is natural gas, they can share the flue but the gas one needs to be on top of the oil one. Side by side for this example arrangement is NOT OK, correct?

I use my nose. If I think I smell gas, I get my TPI gas sniffer and try to pinpoint the leak location. If I find it, I wrap the pipe w/ some red tape so it can easily be found again.

Yeah, I think it varies by locale.

some good info. The deck receptacle issue was news to me.

While it looks like crap, that is allowed. The manufacturer designed those other knockouts for a purpose. Hi. They can't be bundled for more than 24".

I was always under the understanding that gas fired appliances can not share a chimney flue with oil fired appliances. In my particular case, I am talking about a gas fired water heater and oil fired furnace venting into an unlined chimney. The two metal vents entered the chimney adjacent to each other (one above the other). The JLC field guide (volume 2 page187) says no, as well, but the national fuel gas code says this is Ok. JLC - "Never vent gas burners along with oil or solid fuel appliances in the same flue." 2006 INTERNATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE® CHIMNEYS AND VENTS - "503.5.7.4 Combination gas- and oil fuel-burning appliances. A listed combination gas- and oil fuel-burning appliance shall be permitted to be connected to a single chimney flue. The chimney flue shall be sized to properly vent the appliance." If I look at both (the JLC book and IFGC), they contradict each other. Which one is correct? I've attached a photo. Oil fired furnace is the lower vent; gas fired water heater is the top one. Is this type of installation Ok (assuming a proper flue liner) or not? Thanks. Image Insert: 117.38 KB

How do we access the archives? Couldn't easily find it.