Danny Pritchard

I think you have a better chance of being hit by lightning than getting sick from your water heater.If you use hot water daily there is very little chance for bacteria to develop.Also if you are on city water supply they put chemicals in the water to kill bacteria.If you have a well you should put chlorine in your aerator(if you use one)monthly. Discarding everything said above you should always eat your greens.

Does anyone know what caused these shingles to wrinkle?This is a 3 year old roof. Download Attachment: Wrinkled roof0001.jpg 85.7 KB Download Attachment: Wrinkled roof0002.jpg 193.51 KB

Thought I would update this post.I saw the buyers agent for this house the other day and asked about the pool.He said a pool contractor came out and at first thought the pool had settled but finally came to the conclusion that it was installed out of level. The crack in the slab was the result of a broken drain line that had washed out the soil beneath the slab and the footer.

Anthony is searching for information.Hopefully he is not banking all his trust in this place.

Norm, Thanks for the info.I do not know if this pool was ever drained for replastering or cleaning.Your poor soil compaction comment is what I believe happened.I could not look at the block wall since it was obscured by a rough sawn 2x6 fake retaining wall.My feeling is that the footer settled in the right corner is part of the problem.This would fall in line with your last comment about soil instabilty.

Thought I would post a few pictures of a pool I looked at recently.This house is located on a sloped lot that goes down to a navigable canal.The pool is within a concrete block stemwall and slab.The block wall is about 1' high by the house and 3'at the rear. The first picture shows about 3" of tile exposed above the water level at the right end of the pool. The 2nd picture has less than 1" exposed above the water level at the left end of the pool. The 3rd picture shows settlement at the right end of the pool decking.There is an expansion joint to the left of this picture that where it butts into the pool has grown from its original 3/4" to almost double that width. Download Attachment: 2 inch drop at pool.jpg 55.09 KB Download Attachment: half inch drop at pool.jpg 47.07 KB Download Attachment: diff settlement at pool.jpg 52.78 KB

Thanks for the responses.My response was basically the same as Kurt and Rambo.

I'm curious as to how the rest of you would report the lack of an expansion joint at the 2nd floor.This is a 5 year old home with concrete block at the 1st level and wood framing above.At the left side corner the builder has separated the stucco between floors but at the front there is no separation.The wall around the window has numerous cracks. Download Attachment: No expansion at 2nd flr.jpg 58.13 KB

I found this to be interesting.This is a 1930-40's home.Someone who did not think the tub drained like it should added an overflow hose line to make sure nothing ever backed up. Download Attachment: Tub overflow line.jpg 61.5 KB

Looks like the last HI that went up there had a plug of tobacco and had to spit.

Looked at a pool today where a metal gutter downspout was within 4' of the pool.Normally these are outside of the immediate pool area.I always check screen enclosures for bonding if they are within 5' of the pool .Would this downspout qualify for bonding.I looked in the NEC at 680.26 (B)(5) but I am not sure that is referring to my question. Thanks,

What is the application?Is it on a shower/tub wall or a wall that never gets wet.Greenboard is the recommended use at wet walls.On non wet walls I have placed ceramic tile tile on regular sheet rock with no problem.I used a mastic type adhesive versus thinset.

Thanks for the respnse Douglas.It looked like someone screwed up to me.An additioal ground rod near the meter is probably out of the question since the AHJ has approved this setup. Yes, I heard something on the local news about assosciating our name with the Jacksons and the possible negative connotations.Hopefully by the time the Super Bowl gets here all that will be forgotten.I'm confident that those in charge of the Super Bowl locally will not allow crotch grabbing ,overexposed entertainers at the event.

I looked at a new home today where the main disconnect was located on the left wall of the home next to the meter.The ground wire was connected to the footing rebar on the right wall approximately 50' away.Normally this type connection is all located together on the same wall within a few feet of each other.My thought was that before the footers were poured whoever placed the rebar for the ground did not know the location of the panel.Normally this is done by the building contractor or whoever places the rebar and not the electrician.Is there a distance requirement for connecting to a ufer?

Did an inspection today on a small office building.The inside had been gutted so only a shell remained.I met the listing agent who let me in.He then proceeded to tell me how the A/C,electric and roof had all been replaced in the last few years.He did this while standing below the area of the attached picture.Yes, that is water running down the wall.The decking in the picture is not as bad as some of the other areas where 2x4's were used to keep it from falling down. Download Attachment: 2311 university blvd0001.jpg 79.82 KB

"They appear to be solid conductors, so "probably" 14 awg minimum. But, like you, I would like to know what they are doing in this panel in the first place. Danny's post and picture would seem to indicate that this panel contains only the main breaker." Richard Moore Rest Assured Inspection Services Seattle, WA Richard, This panel has the main breaker for the house but it also has two other 20 amp breakers that feed two GFI outlets directly below the panel.Those are the wires you are seeing in the picture.Both sets of wires were 12awg. Danny Pritchard

There is no firewall between the garage and house in this area.The garage walls/ceilings are not fire rated .They could be considered a firestop if anything.When I saw this it did not look right.I would think if they wanted more supply air for this area the vent would go thru the roof.That way there would not be a direct access to the attic from the garage. Danny Pritchard

Thanks George,that one slipped by.Here is the attic photo. Download Attachment: Register in garage0001.jpg 81.71 KB

The pictures below are taken in a garage.The first picture shows the gas furnace and gas water heater.The second shows a register in the ceiling to supplement the supply air.The third is the attic view of the register. This is the second time I have seen this setup.The first was a few weeks ago during a framing inspection.I thought someone had gotten over zealous.This house is less than 2 years old and is in the same AHJ area as the first home I saw.Have any of the other Florida people seen this arrangement? Thanks Danny Pritchard Download Attachment: Register in garage0002.jpg 93.52 KB Download Attachment: Register in garage0003.jpg 58.74 KB Download Attachment: limited access ac0001.jpg 70.45 KB

I know that neutrals are not allowed to be doubled up at the main panel but does it apply when they are at the main disconnect next to the meter?The picture is at the main disconnect on the exterior.The panel is located in the garage. Thanks, Danny Pritchard Download Attachment: Doubled up neutrals.jpg 91.83 KB

Personally I like the chart.It is not something that will be put into an inspection report.Also it will not change the fact that if a GFI is needed in a particular location it will not be reported as such.It is simply an informational sheet that can be used in whatever way you feel. Danny Pritchard

Maybe someone got upset and decided to ventilate the pipe with a gunshot. Also don't know about other areas but H-clips were not being used down here in the 60's. Danny Pritchard

I agree with the others that exposed nailheads need to have some goop put on them. Danny Pritchard

Could someone explain why the red wire in the first picture is connected to two breakers.What was the person trying to achieve? Is it acceptable to put insulation around old cloth covered wiring as in the 2nd picture. Thanks Danny Pritchard Download Attachment: looped wire.jpg 74.97 KB Download Attachment: Buried wire insul.jpg 72.79 KB

I found this interesting today.These are steps going to a 2nd floor condo unit.I was told these are the homeowners responsibility.The present owner has glued hardieboard to what I would guess is rusted out metal risers.This was the buyers biggest concern.Walking down the stairs after the inspection the hardieboard gave (2nd photo)way under the buyers foot and he almost fell down the stairs. Danny Pritchard Download Attachment: Hardieboard at steps0002.jpg 82.46 KB Download Attachment: Hardieboard at steps0001.jpg 86.32 KB