Jerry Simon

I wonder why Jay Balin, from Wisconsin, would care.

Perhaps a private reply to the gentleman would have been appropriate. Addressing us all with such a reply sounded a tad condescending. Some well-taken points, though. And, the lack of bolding, italics, and underlining was easy on these old eyes (thanks).

Uhmm....ok. But, your response even made my eyes hurt (again). Would love to see one of your reports.

Made my eyes hurt.

No, no, no. NO. The purpose of a hearth extension is to prevent radiant firebox heat from lowering the kindling temperature of combustible materials in front of and around the hearth, including combustible plywood that might be under tile just in front of the hearth (under the hearth extension), and any wooden trim around and too close to the hearth (there are specific guidelines for such). That the purpose of a hearth extension is to prevent sparks & embers from setting stuff on fire is a commmon misconception (though it does that also). One could greatly benefit from taking Dale Feb's fireplace inspection course for home inspector's.

Yes...if memory serves me, green is 30-ampere, red is 20, and blue is 15 (I may have blue & red reversed...hate my over-50 memory).

I've heard it's a regional thing. Around Chi-Town, they're installed horizontally...the ground hole on the side.

Mark, Is the area in the attic above a bath? I'm guessing it is, and this is simply mildew on the underside of the roof deck, promoted by bath moisture naturally migrating up into the attic. The black stuff on the shingles is algae, not tar. The algae feed off organics found in the shingles. When the new shingles are installed, nailing copper strips along the roof ridge will keep algae from growing on the new shingles; the ions in the copper will run down the roof and kill any algae growth. For a good example of this, one that can be seen daily driving up and down the block, look for a roof with a lot of algae. Pay close attention to the shingles right under the metal flue chimney housing...not a speck of blackness (algae) under the chimney.

Serves ya right for 'spectin' in Kurt's backyard.[^]

"Put your name on your vehicle. I've gotten calls when I'm stuck in traffic." Me too. More like "learn how to drive, a**hole", though.

AND gone is that dead weight hangin' on your side.

"Potential hazards related to these wiring mistakes include over-heating, fire, and accidental shocks." As opposed to intentional shocks? [^]

I guess what I've been doing and being fooled by is running the heater out of hot water so I can test both elements, turning on the upper one and test using a clamp meter, then turn the upper one back down and then I turn up and test the lower one. With only cold water in the heater, I can then check both elements. Hmmm...never realized it was one or the other...thanks. But the way I do it, I can check both.

"on dual element water heaters only one of the elements will operate at a time." If you run the heater out of hot water, both elements will operate at the same time.

"Sorry Kurt, but until you win a playoff game, I'll only see Da Bears as another loser NFC Central team." Chris, Sorry, but playing Minni in the dome, with only a small error/interception to hurt, and coming back pronto with a first class TD to win ain't no small accomplishment. You're wrong, BUUUUDY. See ya in January. Oh, and did ya see the game last night?

I count four layers.

You just don't like little dogs and cute ponies.

"Anyway, I have heard it said that the tree is looking for moisture and nourishment and there is very little of either under the slab. Therefore the tree roots don't grow under the slab foundation and no damage results. I'm not an arborist, but it makes sense to me." Paul... About 12 or 13 years ago, I saw a heaved slab in a house with a slab-on-grade foundation. Since the house was 40 or so years old, I said, and wrote, something stupid like "the movement likely won't continue". Gosh I said some idiotic things when I first started. Anyway, I was greener than the large tree next to the house, not even realizing the tree's roots were the culprit of the heaval. Fast forward 10 years...my prior Client can't sell the house. Three home inspectors with three different buyer's all flagged the *abnormal and quite serious* structural movement. Naturally I got a call from my old Client. After meeting him at the house again, I realized what I missed the first time...roots from the large tree next to the house obviously had heaved the slab. And, thank goodness, my stupid ten-year-old statement had held; the movement did not continue. Thank goodness for mature trees. Anyway, I recommended a review by a structural engineer to add *meat* to the root assumtion. The engineer concurred, wrote a fancy report, the Client showed the report to the next buyer, and voila! May be rare, but perhaps there was a water source under the house. Goodness, that was the most sleep I ever lost over an inspection issue.

Contact Mark Cramer at besttampainspector.com and buy his software (Intelligent Reporter). He won't tout it...doesn't have to...it's one of the best.

"this is the only device you can use & you won't like it." I'm stealing that...the "you won't like it" part. Will fit in many situations.

"Since this is the "main disconnect panel" the intermixing of grounded and bonding conductors is acceptable?" What's a bonding conductor?

http://www.radonseal.com/pumps/water-powered-pumps.htm

"In any circuit, the electrons don't flow, contrary to popular belief. They wiggle back and forth." Not that you don't already know it, but as explained to me by a knowing type of guy, you're right; though he said the electrons jiggled. I s'pose wiggle is okay too. He also said we have no clue how electricity really works...we just sort of (try our best to) control it. Hey, you got a *Table of Contents* feature in your software...now that's Wigglin'-Jigglin' Cool!

Want to really hurt your head... A theory of quantum mechanics says an electron does not exist until it is observed. It only has a potential for existence. Furthermore, when an electron in an atom changes orbit, it does not move through what we perceive as physical space. It simply disappears, then re-appears in its new orbit. Put that in your bank and cash it.

I believe that's the main electricl panelboard for the house. By the by, a butler-bell (or I should say the switch for one) is often found in the middle of a dining room floor. For the petite foot of the lady of the house.