Tom Raymond

Thanks guys. The model and serial where all I could read on the data plate, the rest of it was like a novella in tiny print. I tried to take pictures of it but I can't read those either. Lennox model G51MP-36B-070-01 serial 5803F 67829 I will be searching the lennox website and/or calling their tech dept. on this one. Right or wrong they still need a tech to fix the ducts, roached plenum, and condensate drain anyway. Tom

No manual on site. No service records either. The data plate on this unit was installed under (uhm, over?) the induction fan, making it a real PITA to read, even worse while lying on the floor looking up at it. I intend to call lenox to get their opinion but I thought I'd post it here first. I forced it through two cycles to make sure the diagnostic codes where the same, it's brain doesn't seem to mind being upside down. There is so much wrong with the ducting in the crawl it might be easier to run new in the attic and flip this thing over. Tom At least the filter was clean[]

How common is it to see a furnace upside down? The data plate states 0" clearance to combustables on all sides and 1" at the top, is that the top as designed or as installed? Click to Enlarge 14.91 KB When they added the AC there wasn't enough clearance left in the crawl... Click to Enlarge 27.9 KB I can't tell for sure if the rust is from the coil or the condensate drain that was dumping on it. Tom

Are/ will you be calling out the lack of crickets at wide skylights? I woudn't on the velux units unless they are installed outside the stated pitches. The building I work in (day job) has 14 velux 606's, the 40" ones without crickets and no leaks after 14 years. Curb mounts or other custom flashing jobs I suppose it would depend on what they look like. I wouldn't hesitate to use a self flashing skylight on new construction and prefer the wasco e class for this, but for retro fit the velux s series is the way to go. Tom

Like the crappy manufactured home one's? No, those leak even if they are put in right. Veluxe makes a gasketed skylight called the Q series. Wasco as been making their E class unit for 20 years now. Check them out to see what they are all about. I have installed both, and they work pretty well. Tom

John, Spend some time on the velux site. They have installation instructions for all of their skylights there. You will also learn the difference between curb mount, step flash, and self flashiing skylights. And the illustrations are better than codechecks.

Yesterday I came across one I had to walk. A cape with too many additions; and the listing says newer roof. It looked a little DIY from the ground. From the flat roof on the front porch I took a running start at the valley, I only made it half way up before I started to slip. This slope was all new including the ply. The back side was much easier since they shingled a hidden valley over the old open double cut valley making very nice foot holds to get to the ridge, 14/12 pitch. Check out the B-E-A-utiful flashing job... Click to Enlarge 83.3 KB I needed something to do while I waited for the RE to show up and let me in the house anyway. Tom

John, How often do your clients ask for that kind of stuff? I can't imagine dumping more info on mine, I try pretty hard to keep my narrative under 20 pages so that my report actually gets read. Tom

The fan is there to dry the carpet in the pink bathroom, or is it pink 'cause it's for seated use only? Tom

* Last month, I found a thumb drive in the bottom of the washing machine tub. The one I currently use made through the drier before I found it. It took some guts to plug it in, but it works fine. Tom

Brian hit the nail right on the head. This guy is a celebrity because he is an ass. I loved his show because he is an ass and his clients love him for it, it was great fun to watch. Sooner or later his personality is going to rubb someone the wrong way, and his celebrity status will make him an enormous target. Tom Pin the tail on the donkey anyone?

Darren, That was drier than an HI report. You need a hobby[:-dev3] Tom

This is just a guess, but I'll bet the builder used cheaper window frames that are not thermally improved. Even with the air exchangers functioning there will be massive amounts of condensation. Tom

I guess you're only speaking for yourself, but how does a H.I. determine the condition of a roof from the attic. We're not talking leakage. Well at the house in my last post, the water dripping from the skip sheathing three days after the last rain spoke volumes about the condition of the roof cover, not to mention the T-Locs and the cedar shingles under it. If it leaks you need to tell your client to plan on a new roof, no contractor in his right mind is going to fix a leaky roof and give it any more than a "tail light warranty" (warranty lasts as long as you can see his tail lights when he leaves). I think WJ is talking about looking and/or climbing out of windows in the attic or at dormers. Hell, for that matter he could be talking about looking out the windows from the house next door. Tom

Walter, I liked the closing thought better before you edited it. I didn't walk the roof at my last gig, and my client walked based entirely on my assessment of the roof. It was a steep salt box kinda thing that I could have gotten on if I had to, but it was plainfully obvious the thing was toast. I wouldn't have learned anything by walking it, and wrote exactly that in my report. I don't think I did him a disservice by keeping my feet on the ground. When I can tell from the ground that the roof cover has reached legal drinking age, what value is there in climbing around on it? When I find that same roof leaking, I see even less need to walk it. Tom I'm sure I'll be walking on plenty-o-roofs in this business, but not if I can do an honest job without it.

Brandon, You replied while I was editting my post. Read the second paragraph. Tom

I understand the refund. My point was that the funding assistance is at least as involved as the audit/inspection. The article is setting up an expectation that the auditor is going to do all this work for a very low fee. The consumer expectations are not being set by the auditor, and as professionals we see the reality that money is going to be diverted from the funding sources. The whole thing is broken. The consumer protection that is forced on the inspection industry is delibertely trampled on in the auditing industry. If I am prevented from working on a property I inspect, how might I perform an audit and sell the upgrades without violating my COE? Tom

I think the idea has merit, but they sure have left a bunch of holes in it. The auditor will help with the grants and tax incentives? For who, the buyer or the seller? How is the buyer going to benefit from the seller getting an audit and/or incentives? How much is that going to slow down an already down market? Having done the paperwork required for CDBG projects, I would charge at least as much for the administration work as I would for the inspection, there is no way I would lug all that gear around for $150 and even less of a chance that I'd mess with all that red tape for that kind of coin. Those are two very different skillsets and the auditor is only getting compensated for one of them at those rates. Then there is the conlfict of interest problems associated with auditors/inspectors recommending repairs or upgrades and then assisting with the funding. Kinda sounds like the sleazy broker games that got us into this mess in the first place. The only thing they got right is that when all the experienced construction folk start doing audits, the quality of construction will go down, the number of defects will rise, there will be more issues for the inspectors to find, and the system will be self perpetuating. It would make a lot more sense to require a home inspection for government backed loans, and then expand on that after the bugs have been worked out and there are enough sales to support the inspectors out there. Add meaningful tax incentives for the buyers to make energy efficient improvements, and you might actually improve the market conditions and reduce energy consumption. Tom

John, There are all kinds of free photo hosting sites. Your ISP may have one built in. I use picasa from google, but I use it so infrequently I always forget my password. Look around a bit and I'm sure you will find one you like. Tom

That would be NY. Tom

Thanks guys. He has already told me the next house is smaller and newer, so I think I'll stick with my price. With luck I may actually come out ahead and work less for that fee. The RE was working to renegotiate before I was done with the inspection, so I shouldn't have been surprised that they walked by the time I'd delivered the report. Tom

...do you give him a break on the cost of the next inspection? Tuesday's job had some major roof issues that my clients were not fully informed about. The first time they or their agent had seen the roof in daylight without snow on it was at the inspection. It was totally shot, was missing a square of the third layer, and had at least two patches of different color shingles of a square or more each. It was leaking at the inspection and it hadn't rained in at least two days. My best guess is 8-9 grand for replacement. Of course the seller hadn't disclosed the roof condition, but they did say it was old and probably should be redone in a few years. They held out through three rounds of offers before accepting at nearly the full asking price, and now are refusing to budge on the roof. The house is being liquidated as part of a divorce settlement. My clients love the place, but not enough to pay full price plus buy a roof before they move in, so they are going to walk. They already have an appointment to see another property on Sunday, and want me to inspect it as well if they make a move on it. To complicate things, I already gave him a discount on the first inspection because I have known him for more than 15 years and consider him a friend. I didn't give him much, I would have to do 8 jobs for him at the reduced price before I end up doing one for free. So do you hold your rates in a situation like this? I'd like to be helpful, but I gotta eat too. Thanks. Tom

That is pretty standard practice with energy improvements though. Check out BPI and the EnergyStar improvement programs. They are both designed to have the insepctor/auditor find a deficiency and then sell the upgrade. The 1 year ban is pretty generous, in NY it's 5. I live and work in a pretty rural area, and my day job is selling home improvements. I've been doing this long enough that there are more than a few homes where I have done multiple projects, working for different companies or in alternatate capacities each time. It's only a matter of time before I am called to inspect a house that I have built or worked on. I am going to have to be very careful when that situation reverses. Tom

Thank you Jim. I had exactly the same feeling about it sounding like a solicitation. That's why I posted it here. I was completely stumped as to how to fix it, until now. It was a valid concern raised durring the inspection, and I felt I should report it. When it came up the RE started in with the CYA disclosure form crap. I think the topic deserves more attention then that. Walter, coming from anybody else I would have thought the entire post to be BS, and chalked up the eating paint comment as folklore. Coming from you I believe every word, and I know you know better. Tom

The horizontal pipe is the drain for the kitchen sink that is off to the left of the picture, it continues to the right, where it turns 90 degrees toward the viewer, just off the picture again. About 10' from there it connects to the main stack. The left vertical pipe is only connected to the horizontal drain pipe. It is open at the tee, and in the sump pit. Even if it was supposed to be the sump drain it be spraying the ceiling. I just noticed looking at the pictures again, the horizontal sanitary tee is even installed backwards. I guess I'll have to chalk it up to another case of "shouldn't do it yourself". I already told them to rip it out and cap the holes in the drain pipe. Tom