Scottpat

Slab construction.... Hose bib and HVAC lines near the area. HVAC lines are most likely going straight up the wall to the attic. The water supply for that hose bib is most likely coming up from the slab, so this where I might start looking for the problem. It could be condensation from the HVAC lines, but the house has been closed up for awhile I'm betting on a pin hole water leak.

It really looks like that is mud/dirt that is migrating in through the drain tile. Honestly it would be at this point that I would exit stage door left and punt to a basement/crawlspace contractor who specializes in wet areas. My SWAG is that the tiles are clogged with muck from drain water, either from a spring or groundwater drainage.

Would you remember which mortgagee letter that was? Marc The letter about the 203k requirement from HUD was sent after so many 203k consultants complained they would not have time to get a HI license. They have basically put it on hold for now, but if you are in a licensed state they want a copy of your HI license. The attached letter was sent to all 203k consultants. The requirement for the fee paid is on the application, it is not on a letter. Ken Walker who is over the fee paid inspectors for HUD could tell you the date it was enacted. His direct number at HUD is 202-402-2073. It will not be on any mortgagee letter..... It has nothing to do with the loan but the qualifications of the person acting as a consultant or inspector. Download Attachment: 203kconsultantletter.pdf 80.69?KB

FYI, HUD now requires fee paid and 203k inspectors/consultants to have a home inspectors license if their state licenses home inspectors. Actually they are kind of holding off a little with the 203k consultants, if you have a license they want you to send in to them.

True... What about a slab coil vs., the "A" coil that looks like was used. A slab coil takes up about a third of the space of an "A' coil. Just a thought...

I agree that it is wrong, but is it even possible to correct it with such limited space?

Look at the purchase of an IR camera just like you would a computer. You go into it knowing that a newer, more powerful and cheaper model will be out in ess tan a year. So, you buy the best that you can afford at the time and make the best of it.

They built in a PVC safety pipe. It will melt when the first one blows if the second one does not open!

I found a few friends yesterday in this crawlspace. I stopped after a few feet when I found this frog and I started to sink. I had to change my Depends after a couple of them jumped into me while I was in the crawl. You just do not expect things to hit you when you are in a crawlspace. Click to Enlarge 42.25?KB

Honestly just put down whatever makes you happy and enjoy life and what you do! If you fret and worry about every little aspect of what you do and write it won't be long before you start second guessing yourself and you start dreading just getting up in the mornings and doing inspections. This thread made me go back and look at several old reports of mine and I discovered that it is common for me to use several terms and phrases when reporting items, the following "appeared" to be the most common. When I want to indicate that an item was inspected I found I used: " Appears servicable"; "_____ was working or turned on during the inspection"; "The ____ was operating". In court cases it is not common to hear an EW use the word "appears". The EW needs to reflect that they have no doubt about the subject and "appears" is too passive of a word for EW work.

As we all know whenever we hear about a complaint you always have two sides to the story, I'm sure the same holds true with issue. If you look into the ASHI program you will find that a good deal of the per-school material is online and some is mailed directly to the students. It is sent to them within a few days after they register. This is not the entire story, I'm sure......

Darren, posted the most cost effective way to help a little. The best way is what Nolan posted, but I agree that the ROI would be years away. I would not even worry about it.

Google is a wonderful tool! http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serviceable

What Mike posted is true in all licensed states that have their own SOP. Always use your state SOP. Honestly they are all pretty much the same when you get down to the basics.

I see electrical stuff all the time that is installed wrong but it is functioning. I prefer to use "Appears Serviceable" or better yet "It is working" or "It turned on and appeared to be working".... Depending on my mood is what I write down.. Today I'm in a Appears Serviceable mood!

I think it is more of a local thing as Kurt pointed out. I tell folks that they need them but in all reality the washer is not the big worry for leakage; it's the water connections and those cheap rubber hoses! Modern washers just do not leak like they use to be prone to doing, but those rubber hoses burst all the time. I tell my clients to invest $25 for a pair of braided stainless connector hoses for their washer.

Hire yourself a good home inspector to take a look at the home. The faux stone is basically just stuck in place via a mortar bed. The grout is more decrotive than functional.

I have never seen a check valve that close to the pump. All I have seen are further up on the line and I have never seen one horizontal. I have no idea if they work on their side, but I doubt the manufacturer of it approves it for that type of install.

Did you see a real vent line or is it just the pseudo vent line from the grinder pump? I would not even call that setup a "wet vent".

Contact the Trane technical department and see what they recommend. Go straight to the source!

Here is a Tennessee waterfront view from a home that I have been doing bi-weekely inspections for the past nine months on while it has been built. Granted the water is about 500 feet down the side of the bluff. From the master bath.... Click to Enlarge 38.68?KB From the porch... Click to Enlarge 46.51?KB

Okay, that is your choice and loss.

I urge all of you to give EBPHI a call or email and get your name on what they call their SME list. SME stands for Subject Matter Expert and they are the folks that actually write the test questions for the exams, they also have the help of professional test folks in the process. I know several on this thread have been SME's. The pay is non-existent, the food is very good at the meetings, and the relationships and knowledge you will build and gain from the process is priceless! Also when the call goes out for new board members you should consider putting your name in the hat. They rotate 1-2 folks off almost every year. Most serve for 6 years on the board. Again the pay is non-existent, the food is always great, the meeting locations are nice and interesting, the knowledge you will gain is priceless, and the relationships you will build with inspectors from the US and Canada will be more than you could ever imagine. Most of all complete the study and send it back in....

Denny, you need a can of that spray on rubber sealant to seal that pipe! Ya' know the stuff that the guy sprays the screen door on the bottom of the boat and then puts it in the water! []

I'm still looking for mine.... I'm starting to feel left out... [:-weepn]