Jerry Simon

Kurt, I actually ended up researching this a while back, Chicago's greatest recorded snow depth was 29 inches of snow on Jan. 14, 1979, so to meet the 12" rule in Chicago the vent terminal should be at least 41 inches above horizontal external surfaces. That assumes a lack of snow drifts. You know we get 'em 3'-4' high, if not more, easy. Back as a service manager for a builder, time when the first generation high-efficiency furnaces were installed, I got a call from a neighbor to a house we built that water was coming out of the front door. Turns out the homeowner was in Florida, and didn't know the *low* exterior flue our heating "expert" installed was covered with a snow drift and the furnace couldn't start. That, and the below-zero temps told the story; frozen and burst pipes throughout. As I recall, the house was a week out of warranty.

That's been my experience, having had three separate infestations in my own house. Each time, I found the leak and the resulting rotted wood below, replaced the rotted wood and fixed the leak, and no more ants. Thus my "get rid of the moisture" comment. I've found hundreds of active carpenter ant infestations over the years, and each infestation was inside wet, rotting wood. I've also seen dead ants on occassion, but with no signs of active infestation, along with a complete lack of wet, rotted wood. The severity of this problem, and the degree of *need* for moisture/rotted wood, may also be a local phenomena.

I used to think that, but I've got personal experience that says no. That's a neat trick. How does an organism survive without moisture?

Get rid of their source of moisture and they'll (have to) leave.

Wanna chance to get your t-spot back? Even up? Sure, why not. Last year both teams were up, this year they're both down. Sounds fair enough to me, but when do we get a shot at your boys in the dome fer Pete's sake? [:-irked] Are you going to New Orleans for IW? Brian G. Throwing Good Money After Bad? [:-wiltel][] No, won't be at IW. You'll have to mail the t-spot.id="maroon">

Hey, Goodman...looks like next week could mean something for you guys, along with losses by Minnie and Wash. Wanna chance to get your t-spot back? Even up?

I once remodelled gas station showrooms. We got *kits* with thousands of pieces; brackets, panels, nuts, bolts, thingys. I would still be reading the directions if it wasn't for my partner who immediately picked up pieces and started putting them together, correctly. This was one of those "if you don't do step A before B, you're screwed when it comes to steps W, X and Y". He just looked at the pieces and *saw* how they should go together. Smartest guy I ever worked with. K-Mart sucks.

I didn't think anyone would believe it isn't on the floor, but it isn't. It's right above a garage workbench; the top of the bench covered with floor tiles. With the shoes nearby, again, didn't think I'd be believed. Heck, looking at the picture, I'm starting to wonder... By the way, Mr. Katen, I stole some of your words. I wrote in my report "the neutrals are wrong for all sorts of reasons, with sugar on it". Gonna use the sugar comment again. It's funny, yet speaks volumes. Thanks.

I'm guessing Alabama.

Drain.

Yes.

Why would this trap be here? It's downstream from already-trapped kitchen sink and slop-sink waste lines. What problems does double-trapping cause? Siphoning-out both? Image Insert: 159.58 KB

Comments...? Image Insert: 156.14 KB

Just so's you'ze guize knows, we in Chikaga don't hype dis mold ting. By the by, next October 31st, I'm going to go to the party as *mold*. Image Insert: 116.69 KB

I could care less if I find mold that speaks English and tells me it's mold... That's funny. Gonna use it.

O.K. But did you ever ask when the baby was due and she was not pregnant? I did. I told my Client I'd have to check with my HVAC guru. Hari Patel was my Client's name, as I recall.

Do you mean the newspeople, setting people up, claiming false headaches; or the mold guys?

I've been sick. Sick over guys -- or is it just one guy -- in another thread repeatedly calling lath "lathe." It's always something, WJid="blue"> At least you weren't being "lacks".

Yeah, Dry-Block, that's what I was looking for...thanks. Any ready way to know if any certain split-face was made with or without Dry-Block? (Probably not, my guess.)

Anybody (read "Kurt") want to list the key points to the *good* split-face block versus the *bad* block that allows moisture intrusion. Got a report I'm writing that needs to address same. Thanks much for any help.

I ain't complaining about being slow. I actually welcome it. Just wondering why, all of a sudden, people are seemingly awe-struck by a quote that's perhaps fifty bucks higher than others.

I bitched to Kurt Mit about this a couple weeks ago, but he didn't give me the shoulder I needed. Guess I better buy him on of those lunches. Has anyone found that the downturn in the RE market has created a lot of price shoppers? I've had at least a half-dozen calls in the last couple weeks, calls where you don't normally have to sell yourself or your service; calls that start out "you did my uncles house and he raved about you" or some such, and then when I quote my fee, silence. Just got off the phone with another one, and hoping she'll call back after checking with hubby (but not holding my breath). Is this the market doing this, and if so, why?

I did #4 (a couple times, off my tailgate).

No. Automobile-generatated carbon monoxide can enter the house through such ducts, killing everyone in the house. Please, call an HVAC tech to do this correctly.

Yes, if the current vent is sized and configurated for the extra BTU's. I've got a local HVAC guy you might want to consult. Shoot me an email if interested (and you should be). jerry@illinoisbuildinginspection.com