jodil

We do have hard water here, whether we have limestone I dont know? I'll have to find out. Literally, 2 out of 3 water heaters I inspect look like this or worse. I did not check the water temp at the faucet, it wasnt hot enough to sting, so I didnt bother. So boviously this IS a problem. Should I start testing the valves? Should I call it out as needing a professional?

Aaron where did you get the "inspector shall" language? So, I guess some of you do and some of you dont. I'll have to ask my plumber friend about it then. Most TPR valves here have green corrosion such as the one I have attached. Is this normal? What causes this? Image Insert: 55.94 KB

CAn someone explain to me what is "flux?" Almost every valve I see here is corroded with the green stuff. What kind of airborne contaminant would cause this? I figured since 90% of valves (and alot of fittings) look like this is what normal.. Thanks

I read that it is recommended to home owners to test the TPRV on your water heater. Does anyone recommend this in a report? The material I was reading stated that 80% of TPRV's dont work and can get stuck open with debris.. It personally wouldnt want to test mine and run the risk of getting it stuck in an open position.. Just wanted to see what anyone else had to say about this. Also, how much is too much corrosion at the bottom of the discharge pipe? thanks

Good, I figured it was. From the threads in the topic Jim posted, it sounds as if the general opinion is "not a big deal." I personally feel responsible to report the possibility of asbestos containing isulation in someones house.. Most people here store things in their attic and use them frequently. So if you do report on it, what do you suggest the buyer do about it? thanks

Several weeks ago I was crawling around in this attic that was full of this "stuff" and got pneumonia two days later...coincidence? Now I just started a new project remodeling a little house and I knocked out a wall today and all of this stuff fell out of the wall. Is this vermiculite? Thank you for your answers! Image Insert: 87.84 KB

Thank you for the info Les and Chad. I understand your revisions of the paragraph I pasted from another website. And yes, Les I agree that a new inspector must develop their own writing and reporting skills. But in cases such as these, I honestly dont know enough about the issue to even report it. I dont know if FPE's are recalled, not up to a particular code (not that I wouldve put that in a report anyway, just using as an example), just have a bad rep. in general...etc. Thank you for your good advice

Thanks Mike, Sorry, I never think to search before I post. Ill start doing that more. I found this reporting verbage: *** Safety Warning*** I have observed a Federal Pacific Electric "Stab-Lok" service panel in the house. This panel is a latent fire hazard: it's circuit breakers may fail to trip in response to an overcurrent or a short circuit. Failure of a circuit breaker to trip can result in a fire, property damage, or personal injury. A circuit breaker that may not trip does not afford the protection that is intended and required. Simply replacing the circuit breakers is not a reliable repair. The panel should be replaced, and significant expense may be involved. Additional information about the fire and shock hazards associated with this equipment can be read on the internet at http://www.inspect-ny.com/fpe/fpepanel.htm

This mornings inpsection turned up this Federal Pacific main panel. There was two GFCI breakers inside that did not trip when I tested at the outlets (I read in an independant article that was one of the problems with these panels, non tripping breakers.) There were a coupld of other issues as well. My question is: Are all Federal Pacific panels defective? If yes, how do I report this? Do I refer to some recall of some sort, or other verbage suggested? Thanks for your answers! Image Insert: 178.74 KB

I had posted a question about a frozen plumbing vent a while back on a home that had been winterized. House obviously vacant, a week ago the propane tank ran out, furnace went out, and many of the pipes froze and burst. (of course the seller is peeved at me for not indicating the tank was low, but 1. I dont inspect LP tanks, 2. Hes not my client) So anways, why would this of happened if the home was winterized? I went out there and there was pink splash marks of anti freeze all over the place.. Thank you

I have a moisture meter (two prong) but I dont feel that the results are what I am looking for. I have tested spots that I know have been repaired and they still register as containing good amounts of moisture.. I dont like replacing my own gut feeling with tools. I want as little amount of gadets as possible. But this is one area that I feel that my judgement needs to be enhanced by SOMETHING.. Ive read alot about the infrared camera. Interesting but too pricey for right now.. and Chris, no I dont like spiders. But I have a allergy to insects period. Mosquito, bee, ant and especially spiders make me swell up like a balloon. And ND is a breeding ground for all kinds of the ugly little creatures. Repellent doesnt cut it for me.. I went to the ER four times last summer with mosquito bites. Its ridiculous. I was fully anticipating a couple of "eww the girl doesnt like spiders" jokes, just like in nearly all the topics I have posted, someone feels like they must throw in an ex wife comment or something gender specific.." Im actually finding it to be funny.. Its kinda like having a large group of brothers to talk with and give me shit from time to time...sorry if it ruffled your feathers les..

Ok I understand that eachneutral wire must be along under its own screw on the terminal bar at the main. But is it ok for a grounding wire to be under that same screw with the neutral? (I would guess no) Or if the ground is just in the next hole under its own screw? But subpanel grounds and neutrals separated... gottcha

Well, the big day has arrived and I am quite sure without even doing the load calculation worksheet that it is not possible on this current system for an AC unit. There were three panels, but I was able to identify the main fuse as just 60 amps.... This house has two kitchens (all electric appliances) electric dryer, about five million recessed lights, and three pronged outlets all non grounded of course... That worksheet that someone posted in the topic is really hard to under stand... In fact I dont have a clue what its talking about. I have a different one that my wonderful friend George Wells (bestinspectors.net) sent me... I'll ask him if I may share it.. Its alot more user friendly and simple for people like me

Mike, Yep I ordered it and its on its way. The weatherhead comes in at roof right above panel 1 & 2 (which are in the basement.) I have no idea whats behind the gutter at panel 2. Honestly this mess overwhelmed me and all I could think was "oh shiittt!" Also, dont forget my double tap question. On panel 2, does the double tap rule apply to fuses also?

I was fully aware of what I was getting myself into when I chose this career path. The only "broad" in a tech school of ex contractors, home depot employees, and basic grunt workers. Needless to say, I was not too intimidated. And I meant "smart little inspectors" in the most endearing way... call a women little and she feels thin and happy, call a man little and he feels likes a wuss.

Thanks Les, What am I looking for the label to say? I mean, what should I reference in the report pertaining to the verbage on the label?

First question, almost every stain I see has some amount of moisture registered. What tool can I use (or buy) to more accurately determine of there is an active leak? Second...Now no smart ass comments here just cuz y'all know Im female...this is serious now! My plumber (a man) told me about a personal spider repeller device thingy that he saw at a trade show. It clips onto your clothes and transmits some kind of signal to make spiders go away.. I cant find it anywhere, ever heard of it? Thanks

I suggest a Lincoln Aviator.. Perfect size, and for the COLD days in Canada (or ND) a tushy warmer.... The gas mileage sucks though.

Thats great Erby! Thank you! Im going to start using that verbage right away. Heres another question, what if you have only one buss bar in the panel and all the neutrals and grounds are jambed into it? I see this alot....Then what? Thanks Jodi

A home yesterday built in 57 has 3 panels. Two in basement, 1 in garage. How do you tell where the main breaker is? Panel 1 Image Insert: 218.88 KB Panel 2 Image Insert: 229.47 KB and Panel 3 Image Insert: 133.16 KB Panel 3 cover would not come off (even with all my clients manly power.) It was in the garage. Panel 2~ Does the "double tap" rule apply at fuses? Theres a couple of terminals with two and three hot wires attached? Thank you, Jodi

Ex wives? Huh? I dont get it...... Im starting to get used to your smart ass attitudes here, and ignoring the comments is becoming easier ;D Thought you might like to know that when my client took his parents over to see the house, the mother spent "A LLOOONNNGGG" time in the bathroom and the delayed fan started smoking!!!! Needless to say the homeowner is not sticking by his "It was made that way" bullshit anymore.... Jodi

A couple questions. What is a parallel conductor? How do you know if a particular breaker is rated for two wires? I have asked a similar question before, but I need to know the exact verbage of what it says on the inside of the breaker.. Thank you!

A topic I can reply to that doesnt call for experience and knowledge, yay! I had servicemaster (yes the same place that steam cleans dog pee out of your carpets) come and give me an estimate for mitigation. There solution was simple and inexpensive. Vapor barrier on floor of dirt crawl space, fan powered vent on side of wall in crawl space...$300! Obviously I know more needs to be done that just that. But my point being, in many states there is no requirements for certification or licensure.. So any schumck (or dog pee cleaner) can call themselves a radon removal service. Kinda scary. I wonder how many people will die of lung cancer thinking their radon issue has been taken care of.

I dont know if it is only 120V service. I just mentioned in the beginning of this post that we have that type of service here. The topic got exploited because many members I guess had not heard or seen of such inadequacies! Ill find out and post soon...

My question has two parts: I met with the electrician that had wired a friend of mines house today to go over some issues I had with the panel. Some were justified, others (in the electricians eyes) were not. In this first pic as you can see theres a bunch of double tapped neutrals. You cant see it in this pic, but there are a couple of scorched neutrals at the bottom where the plastic coating has melted off. This has been a continuous topic of frustration for me. Yes I know it is not right. But EVERY electrician I have spoke to (or gotten chewed out from) says thats the way they do it... So now what? Then pic two... This GFCI breaker has two hot and two neutrals. You can see the plastic in the breaker is cracked. The electrician says this is the way it is supposed to be wired... (just an fyi this one breaker controls garage, baths, and exterior.) What do you think? Image Insert: 402.11 KB Image Insert: 165.53 KB