chrisprickett

Kind of like porn- I know it when I see it. FWIW, I went over to my neighbor's house and turned on his gas fireplace. Considering it was 111 degrees yesterday, he was extremely accomodating. I let it run for 45 minutes. The wood laminate flooring that butts the unit reached 86 degrees. Then I went over to the wood shutters on the west facing windows. They were 116 degrees. Using your logic, I will now need to write up any wood that gets direct sunlight as a pyrolytic condition: Prolonged exposure (about 8 hrs a day, about 50 days a year) to radiant heat. I will also need to write up all of the roof trusses and sheathing, as they reach temps of more than 145 during the same period. But (me thinks) that would be conduction and not radiation.

Gettin' senile on me, Kurt? Image Insert: 26.2 KB

About half of the homes we inspect (and we inspect a whole bunch) have gas fireplaces. Some are as old as 15-20 years and while some have a hearth, most don't. Never seen any signs of pyrolytic deterioration. Even when there's wood or carpet butting the unit.

nope

Scott's therapist asked me to refrain from any further public humiliation. [:-taped] Scott and I are more complimentary, businesswise, than competitors. We refer each other often. He's busy, like me, but with different stuff.

I've gotten a few emails from TIJ members asking if I'm still alive. Last I checked, yes. I used to be a regular, but the last six months or so, I've been MIA. All is going very well, just been busy being a "manager" and raising a wife and three kids. I've also been working on a couple projects related to my neverending pursuit of fame, fortune and early retirement. Hope to have some good news on that in the coming months... Happy Father's Day to all!

Condemn it yesterday! What is stopping the whole thing from just rolling forward when a good wind gets up under it? A couple of roofing nails?

Got weep holes/weep screed?

I just pee in them[:-tong2]

Jim, That's basically my point- what are the consequences of introducing the fresh air using the various methods in my area? I'm not an HVAC expert, and my reading audience is your average homeowner. This is what makes this article challenging. I need to explain what is going on, why it's often done wrong, and the consequences to the average Joe. I have to do this while keeping it around 600 words and making it entertaining enough for someone to actually want to read! Your point about where the exhaust, or lack thereof, is a very good one! I'm guessing that once the house is pressurized, the fresh air opening becomes useless, and the auto fan is just recirculating stale air. In many cases that recirculated air is partially the crap that is pulled from the attic, thus making the air even nastier.

Darren is correct, I am talking about introducing fresh "make-up" air, not combustion air. That being said, I do see builders installing systems where make-up and combustion air come from the same source: attics! The general idea for my article is to look at the different, and often stupid, ways that builders are trying to combat homes that are built too tight.

I'm writing an article on the good and bad of the different types of make up air practices that I see in my part of the country. I'm focusing on three main practices: 1. pulling make-up air from the attic (where there is usually two gas furnaces located)via an opening in the return air register box. 2. pulling from a roof mounted boot via an opening in the return air register box. 3. Using an auto-setting that runs the air handler fan every hour (factory set) along with practice #1 or #2. I'd like to hear your opinions.

Um, that's "semi" nude, and I had them photoshop bubbles over my nipples.

What Bill said.

If you moved to Anthem, AZ after being in the engineering field, with 28 years in the HI biz, and you failed to note in your report that Anthem is smack dab in the middle of major expansive soils zone, you'd be liable- even though we clearly are not required to comment on soil conditions. If you hang your HI shingle in a particular area, the eyes of the court will see you as the "authority". Don't get me wrong Rambo, I'm not saying I agree with it, I'm just giving you the reality.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers in California that certain gas-fired horizontal forced-air furnaces manufactured by Consolidated Industries (formerly Premier Furnace Company) present a substantial risk of fire. There have been about 30 reports of fires and damage to homes associated with these furnaces, as well as failures of burners and heat exchangers that can lead to fires. The furnaces were installed exclusively in California. Unless you inspect in CA, you never would have heard of it. I'd be interested to hear what our CREIA buddies have to say about this particular recall.

Your talking to an Eagles fan...that is about as glorious as it gets! We booed Santa Claus (he had a bad year) and cheered Michael Irvin's career-ending injury.

(As per our agreement) Oh when the Saints, pay off the refs, Oh when the Saints, pay off the refs! No the Birds cannot get the game ball, When the Saints, pay off the refs! Oh when the coach, can’t find his stones, Oh when the coach, can’t find his stones! No the Birds cannot get the game ball, When the coach, can’t find his stones! I guess we’ll wait, until next year, I guess we’ll wait, until next year! For me to yet again be disappointed, I guess we’ll wait, until next year!

Code violation? Definitely. Future problem? Who Knows? Fix? Pretty simple. Just slip another 2x under that ridge board and secure with some appropriate hangers.

Alright, Bayou Boy, you're on! Shame you're not at IW this week, we could fight it out in person. Here's the bet: Loser writes a 100 word rhyme, to post on TIJ, about the glorious victory of the winning team.

I get in Tuesday night.

My Iggles live to fight another day. Next stop, Brian's "house"!

Scott Warga, where are you??? http://www.nationalbuildmasters.com/ That being said, my experience (if you find anyone in AZ who has done more construction inspections than me, I want to meet him) is that 9 out of 10 times, you want to exhaust all avenues with the builder before you hire an attorney. Make a complete list of your complaints and send it to the President of the construction company, registered letter. If you get no/bad response with the builder, file a complaint with the ROC. Next, call Channel 15 (602-685 6328) and ask to speak with Vanessa Weber, the producer for "The Investigators". Tell her I sent you. If all else fails, then call an attorney. Be prepared to shell out $5-$10K before you get any action. also be prepared to fight for a few years and possibly end up divorced, crazy, and/or in jail for homocide.

If he's in an expansive soil zone (which is likely) a trough drain would only make matters worse. There is absolutely no way you could make a retro-fitted trough drain watertight. Once the water seeps around the drain, the driveway will heave. Replacing it is the only real solution. It's likely only a 4" slab with no re-bar. the replacement should be at least 6" (8" is better) with turn-down footings at the perimeter. We have no frost lines in this area, so frost heaving is not an issue. What McBride is describing is as common out this way, as gators in south Florida. The builder should know better.

http://www.rc.state.az.us/Acrobat/Publi ... 200610.pdf These are the state standards. Read page 13, it's a slam-dunk.