DonTx

I dunno Norm. Steep learning curve! Perhaps it's just a manufacturers design flaw. You should look into trying to swap this model out for the one that is holding the sign in your other post? [:-dev3] Donald

Mike, Can you make it where forum posters must fill out a profile before being able to post? That would include full name, town, state and valid email. I know it might cut down on the membership but it's hard to take someone serious when you dont' know who's posting. If what they have to say is that important, then there shouldn't be a problem filling out a legitimate profile. Donald

Norm, thanks for the info. I finally found a pic of what I wanted to know about. Does this "ring" inside skimmer housings need sealed? I know, this one is in bad shape, but most I see are in good shape with the exception of any sealant around this "ring". Thanks, Donald Download Attachment: skimmer.jpg 58.68 KB

Hey Holmer, You got ripped for $150 bucks in my opinion. Most of those "submit your site to 1 million search engines" type of business's are scams or very close to being scams. How many search engines can you name? The only search engines you need to worry about are the big ones; Google, Yahoo, MSN and AOL. Many of those "search engines" those companies submit too are non players. Many do not even exist any longer. Besides, they use a program for sumission. That may or may not get you on the search engine. Save you money and do it yourself. If you must use a company, you can try this one. I used a company called I Need Hits (www.ineedhits.com). If your site does not have the proper keywords and meta tags, you can forget about ever getting anywhere on the above mentioned search engines. If Machias is as small of a town as I think it might be, you may be better off advertising in places such as the Yahoo Yellow Pages, Verizon SuperPages...etc. You should also do well by having your website address on every piece of paper you have. Best of Luck and stay away from those bulk submitters! Donald

My guess is '96 on the WH and I would have guessed '81 on the furnace but Mr. Goodman (the inspector, not the hvac manufacturer) seems pretty sure on his dates. Donald

I happen to agree with you on that one. I do a lot of homes for first time buyers and others who don't have a clue what it takes keeping one up. If their willing to listen, then I'll take the time to give 'em my two cents. Some actually implement my suggestions!! Glad your climb went well Mike. Some of us would have learned after falling off of the first one [b)] [V] [:-headache] Chad, I've been 50 feet in a Snorkel lift. That was a little over my limit. If I'm next to a building or something else that I perceive that I can grasp on the way down, I don't get upset. Stick me up in the air with nothing around, then I'm trying my best to sprout wings! [:-angel] Donald

Mike, if he's going to help you raise it and then steady it, then who's gonna carry your gonads? I can imagine it'd be rough with them banging off of each rung as you climbed. I sometimes get request to go on top of 3 and 4 story townhomes. I agree as long as the client is willing to pay the rental on a bucket truck or cherry picker. I've had no takers. I don't know of anyone around here who goes on those types of roofs. I don't like heights. You don't like rats. Are we even? Good luck on the climb. Donald

This series has been very helpful to me also. I wanna see some of those expensive repairs, shell/deck/coping defects, etc. One thing in specific if you have a pic Norm. I keep hearing about cracks around the skimmer housing. I know they need to be sealed. I'd like to see some pics of exactly where to look for these cracks and where they need to be sealed. Thanks Norm! Donald

Did you have shakes originally? Around here wood roofs did not have ventilation since most were self venting. Then they either put asphalt shingles over the wood shakes or tear them off and put decking and asphalt shingles on. They almost always forget to add vents when they do this. 1600 doesn't sound like a lot, but I guess it depends on how bad you want to sell you home and how much your asking for it. Donald

1. I'd call it a defect or at least one heck of a leaf catcher! 2. Double tapping of the main breaker. I'm not sure if this is the main panel or a sub. Add a subpanel or breaker? 3. Looks like some previous repairs to the deck and some staining. I think the garden hose is there to throw us off. 4. A weather cover is needed and if that's the pool lights, a GFCI. 5. Looks like the bonding lug broke off of the equipment. 6. Column not bonded.

I actually use my Sure-Test first and only use my three light tester as a second opinion. The three light tester will not tell you about a false ground. If you're only testing a few receptacles with a Sure Test then you could be missing false grounds or excessive voltage drops. Donald

Paul, I've seen that happen on my inspectors Sure Test. I have the older ST-1D unit and mine will show an open neutral. This is only one reason I haven't bought one of the newer Sure Test. Why should I have to carry around a three light tester to tell me about an open neutral? Donald

Around here this system is catching on with low to mid end homes. From what I hear, it's a faster install and the price is comparable to CPVC. Donald

Thanks everyone, guess I overlooked that in the installation instructions. Rich, You can go here and see about the Manabloc system. http://www.manabloc.com Donald

This Manabloc installation has a main shut off where the lines enter the home plus the individual shut offs at the manifold. Is it required to have individual shut off valves at the sinks? Donald

Thanks Norm and Paul, That is my current practice. If it's not labeled, I don't mess with it. I was just curious if there were instructions for operating the equipment. I've found some vague info on the 'Net. I'm also currently talking to a pool contractor to work out a deal to take me along on some of their inspections. Donald

Is there any book, video, published tech paper, etc that will tell you the proper sequence to turn the valves to obtain certain functions? Especially those three way valves. I've heard you should never backwash a filter so I try to be very careful with any valves and lines going to the filters. Donald

I'm not a pool guru, this is why I love Norms pool pics. I'm gonna give it a try. 1. Someone used a ground rod for bonding the pump motor. I believe it's suppose to be a continuous bond of all equipment and metal materials within 5 feet of the pool. 2,3,4. I have no idea what the capped PVC lines represent. #4 looks like someone took out some equipment and left the line open. Possible contamination? 5,6. No anti vortex covers? 7. I'd say the pump motor housing is rusted through and recommend replacing the pump motor. 8. The little plastic shield is missing over the energized wires. I don't know if there's a code dealing with the timer box being so close to the hose bibb though. Donald

I have to agree with Kurt. This was hashed over and over on the ASHI board a while back. Although I've heard the horror stories of how inspectors are sued into bolivian because they used code, no one has yet been able to present a court case where that has actually happened. I'm afraid we have another urban legend on our hands. It's my belief this all started a long time ago with minimalist inspectors not wanting to know some codes. Perhaps they lived in an area were multiple codes were adopted by numerous city and counties and they didn't want to take the time to learn all the relevant codes. If I lived in an area like that, I might be inclined to use the word "industry standard" instead of the code. Then again, it's not hard to find out which city/county uses what code and then to find that code in one of the books and/or CD's. As for codes in inspection reports, on new construction I not only use the code word but the code number and just for good measure, the actual code. Donald

Dang, that's so good it's scary! I'd team it up with the "The model home has one right there" defense and watch the Super try and explain that one away. I'd love to be a fly on the wall of his trailer when he read that. [:-nonono] Donald

I believe I got this boilerplate from Mr. Jowers. It originally was written about GFCI's being only in one bathroom and all other bathroom GFCI's tripping to it. I've reworded it to fit other situations such as this one. "I acknowledge that the 'code' does not legislate convenience or common sense, however, the 'code' is only 'the minimum' starting point, not a 'maximum' or even an 'average'. A person will have to walk into the bathroom to turn the light on when entering from one side. One would expect, in a house of this size and scope, for a light switch to be placed inside the door of each entry." That might work, Donald

Norm, As I understand it from a past Client, the pool contractor constructed the steps wrong and now they are saying they can just rebuild them without destroying the integrity of the rest of the pool. I'd guess they are going to tear them out and redo them. Donald

Great info Norm! Thanks a million. Question. Can steps to a pool be redone without affecting the structural integrity of the pool? (gunite) Donald

Thanks all. Mike and Paul, I've had that manual for a while and use it quite regularly. Only it says nothing about testing standards. I've racked my little brain for the last few days trying to figure out how they could take moisture probes with the mesh. I've also wondered how they sealed the vapor barrier when they penetrated it with a drill. I'll bet they are only sealing the hole at the surface of the stucco. I've seen moisture test performed from the sheetrock side. This makes more sense to me than poking holes in the stucco. I do a fair number of visual stucco inspections. I've been asked several times if I "probe" the Stucco. I've always said "No". I've wondered where they got this idea, know I think I know. Donald

They've been doing it for years. They charge about the price of an EIFS inspection $$$$. I was curious as to which industry standard they might be testing to, if any. I also do not understand how the moisture meters keep from going bezerk with all that wire mesh. Donald