Terence McCann

Don't go to youtube much but I Tivo VH1 Classic all the time. You know you're getting older when words like "classic" pop up. I consider myself very fortunate to have grown up when R&B was just starting to blossom. My sister was into the Beatles, my brother was a Stones fan and I dug Clapton in all his different incarnations (plus a whole slew of others to numerous to mention). I will say the best concert I attended was Pink Floyd right after Dark Side of the Moon was released - good stuff. On a side note, there was a tribute to George Harrison on PBS a while back - I think it was part of "Great Performances" as seen on PBS. If it comes around again don't miss it. As always Clapton does an outstanding job. [:-party]

Well... it is a hot water tank (a vessel that holds hot water) but perhaps you were thinking hot water heater. Focusing on incorrect language isn't all bad though, it helps us (me) become better at what we (I) do. When all is said and done the written report is all that is left and we (the home inspection profession) are judged by its contents. Perhaps though the delivery can be improved when applying constructive criticism.

It's known to blow up in California however.

Takes no time at all to knock out a quick sketch and you can insert notes inside the drawing. I use 3D in which Rapid Sketch is akin to an addon module & this allows the sketch to be part of the written report. RS has a free trial so you can play around with it to see if it's something you'd like or not.

Rapid Sketch is a autocad-lite program that allows one to draw out a footprint of a home/structure. I've used it on numerous occasions to give a good detailed and professional drawing when referring to a problem/defect. Folks are always impressed when the see the sketch and I feel that it gives HLIS that something extra that helps us standout from the competition. You can see it here: http://www.rapidsketch.com/

[:-bigeyes Wow Les - I'd say you've done your share.

As I read through the posts I tried to remember if there was ever a home I inspected that didn't have at least a few problems and I can honestly say there hasn't been. It may not have been as sexy as a bowed basement wall but defects nonetheless. Perhaps I live in a defect prone zone. [:-magnify

Any of the lamps on touch-me circuits?

Good stuff Charlie. Reminds me of when I was in grade school and we use to practice hiding under our desks in case of a nuclear strike. Stop, drop and cook.

That's what happens when you're out of 90s but you still have a hammer (and you don't think anyone will ever see it).

Beautiful Mike - thanks for sharing.

Kaplan will buy it 6 months down the road and then shut it down. [] The ASHI School Launches The Ultimate in Home Inspection Education October 29, 2009 Dear ASHI Members, "The ASHI School" is the official name of the joint venture between ASHI Education Inc. and the education powerhouse of Casey, O'Malley & Associates. Based on the premise that home inspectors learn best by doing, The ASHI School is scheduling pre-licensing/business start-up home inspection classes nationwide beginning in November and continuing on a regular basis thereafter. This comes at a time when the profession's education philosophies are in need of re-engineering - what happened to real live on-site training? The answer is now here: The ASHI School. ASHI Education Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Society of Home Inspectors ("ASHI"), with a mandate to offer a full range of high-quality education programs to anyone affiliated with, or interested in, the home inspection and related professions. The ASHI School is the first program offered under ASHI Education Inc. The ASHI School features live educational classes that include more time on real field inspections than any other school in the nation. Courses focus on starting and operating your own successful inspection career and business, as well as performing inspections in compliance with the ASHI Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. The courses are designed as an intelligent blend of pre-class study materials, live classroom lecture and actual in-field inspection training. Nearly half of the course hours are spent learning by doing real inspections. And, this is just the beginning. Currently in the planning stages, The ASHI School will make turnkey education sessions available to ASHI chapters, and offer a special program for non-ASHI members who take the full 10-day courses or attend the upcoming InspectionWorld Las Vegas pre-conference New Inspector Career Day. Casey, O'Malley Associates bring to the joint venture two of the nation's most well-known figures in the industry, Michael Casey and Kevin O'Malley. Their team of experienced and dynamic instructors will be conducting the courses. Learn more about Michael Casey and Kevin O'Malley. Class locations and dates can be found at www.theashischool.com. For additional information or to book your seat in the next class, contact: Barton Robertson, Managing Associate, Casey, O'Malley Associates

Funny stuff Chad.

pretty, witty, gay

singing gay songs

Hey Bill, a question regarding that article: Anyone who has used Oxy- Acetylene for brazing etc. knows how dirty Acetylene burns on its own. How did they get around this or did they?

from every joint

I blame Kurt for the mess we're in. Sorry, just thought I needed to place blame - like McDs and hot coffee.

Sounds like one of the drains are plugged. Check your piping.

Can't piss off the customer but don't want to leave the company on a precipice either. A real conumdrum. You just have to keep up the good fight - it is what it is.

Looks a lot like a fan used on Radon systems..

Well hell.... I use the TK11 all the time however, truth be told, I miss the baton size of the Ultra Stinger. I always put the flashlight in the rear pocket and with the TK11 I have to dig for it. Also for some strange reason I put the TK into my tool pouch upon occasion then I have to stop to look for it next time I need it (out of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most). Looks like a new toy tool for HLIS. John, did you look at the TK40? What drove your decision to purchase the M30? How long does it take to charge the batteries for the M30?

Hi Mike - actually I did take two covers off. The wiring was 3-wire romex. The date of the townhouse was accurate - it was a complex of 48 units.

To pick this back up again... Besides a booltleg ground what would be some of the other conditions that would cause the Ideal tester to show false ground? I had a condo about a week ago where every outlet on the 2nd floor of the home showed a false ground while every outlet on the first floor was OK. The panel was in the garage so it was a lot more than 15' away. The home was built in the late 80's so proper grounding shouldn't have been an issue.

Why would the presence of steam traps be tied to the presence of a condensate pump? In the other steam systems I've seen, the condensate just flows back into the boiler directly. - Jim in Oregon On a single pipe system, the old style system present in older homes, the steam and condensate share the same line with gravity assisting the condensate return. In a two pipe system, as you have there, there is a condensate pump that pulls the condensate back from the system via the condensate return line. Without traps present you'd be blowing live steam back to the pump - which happens quite often as traps fail. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydronics# ... pipe_steam