Terence McCann

It would appear that it is Adobe Flash Player 10. Ezra, do a Google search for Adobe Flash Player Ten - download and install. Doing so should fix the problem.

Going from memory; IRC states that chimneys, in that configuration, need a cricket if over 30" wide. I would tell the client that when it comes time for a new roof then have one installed.

Don't remember if it was here or over at the ASHI board but we had a discussion about PRVs. I was under the assumption that you had to have an expansion tank because the PRV would not allow for opposite flow however Jim Katen informed me that they do make PRVs that will allow for opposite flow. I still recommend them though - it's good piping practice. That is true when you have a conventional water heater. But with a tankless, I don't think they need one because you have nothing to expand. I'm not sure Scott. Just the act of heating water will cause expansion but I guess it's minor compared to a 40 gallon tank sitting at 120° ?? I have 0 experience with tankless hot water systems. Sounds like good CE credit for ASHI.

Not on the hot water tank itself Jim but on the city water line coming into the home. I'd say at least 60% of the homes I do have one installed (my home too). The main problem is that *some* of the PRVs are one way flow only. When the hot water tank heats the water it needs somewhere to expand. With out the PRV it just expands into the city water system however when a one way PRV is installed there's no where for the expansion to go so the P/T relief valve starts to weep. An expansion tank will take care of the problem though. I'm sure I'm not telling you anything new though, more for the benefit of the new inspector(s) out there. A few years back I was going round & round with the city water department. Out of the blue the water pressure coming into our homes (in the association) shot up over 100 PSI. My toilets were making a strange noise at the fill valves so I checked the incoming pressure. They'd work on it and a week later it would shoot back up again. We all have PVC piping here and one of the neighbors had a line burst, on the second floor, and it flooded out the home. The city water department would take no responsibility stating that anything mechanical can (and will) fail. Their right.... We had a meeting of the home owners association and it was decided to hire a plumbing firm to install PRV and expansion tanks in all the homes. It's good insurance and piece of mind.

Don't remember if it was here or over at the ASHI board but we had a discussion about PRVs. I was under the assumption that you had to have an expansion tank because the PRV would not allow for opposite flow however Jim Katen informed me that they do make PRVs that will allow for opposite flow. I still recommend them though - it's good piping practice.

I use the one that came with it. During the home inspection I keep it in my back pocket and after it goes into the holder on my tool belt.

I use the rechargeable (2400) and can't do more than three inspections before I have to swap the battery.

It's great to have you here Frank, welcome. Misinformation about deck construction abounds. Perhaps you can talk about the importance of the ledger board attachment to the home. What is the correct way to attach the ledger board to the home?

It must be in a new version. I have an Office Premium package from 2003 and that version of Word doesn't have it. OT - OF!!! M. I have Office 2003 as well Mike, it's the student edition. I buy all my software at the local college book store - great savings. If you go here http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin ... ber23.mspx you can read up on it. You can download Microsoft Speech Recognition Engine v5.0 for free as well.

As a FYI Microsoft Word has speech to text built in. Open Word. On the Tools menu, click Speech. You're asked if you want to install the feature. Click Yes. After the installation is complete, click Next to train speech recognition. Training begins with help in adjusting your microphone I've never tried it so can't say whether it's good or bad.

How many square feet is the home Chad? 15k+ ?

The equipment room is beautiful - it's refreshing to see that type of workmanship. Lucky dog...

This is a common belief however it's not based on any fact. Rooftop HVAC units, as seen in most commercial buildings, do just fine sitting out in the weather year after year. The key is not setting the outdoor unit on the ground and then putting mulch around them - they will never dry out = rust. One of the things I (we) see is home owners putting protective covers over the outdoor unit (condensing unit) to keep the snow off them. No one goes up on a roof to wrap the HVAC units in a protective cover and they do just fine. In case you're thinking about it save your money. []

They're common place up here on new homes. Nice actually, keeps the weed whackers away from the condenser fins.

Wow, hope everyone is OK.

Absolutely - no argument here. I told the client that the installer took the skinny on the entire installation. Like I said, I can't remember ever seeing a h/w boiler without a PRV.

John, Why wouldn't a ball valve feed work on a hot water boiler? Open it up ocasionally and put a little water in. Low water cutoff is now required for hot water boilers. Well, I find it hard to believe one could keep a 12lb pressure on a boiler with a ball valve that has 70 to 90lbs of pressure when it is opened. I guess if you don't have the money to install a proper feed then you could do it if you visited the boiler frequently. Did not know LWC"s were required now. Once the boiler fills to 12# very little attention to makeup water is needed. If you have to keep adding water to the boiler you've got a leak somewhere. This is for hot water/hydronic system boilers.

Sorry, should have been more clear. There is a ball valve on the city water line so you can fill the boiler to 12# - just thought a pressure reducing valve should have been there as well. From my Google searches it would appear that it is not mandatory to install a PRV but is common practice type of thing.

Hydronic boiler retrofit with no city water pressure reducing valve present, just a ball valve. What is the code or common pratice regarding this? I've always thought that a pressure reducing valve was mandtory.

Now, now... remember the cup is half full. You were up in an attic and you didn't stick you foot through the ceiling![]

You could open up the door and what appears to be a boarded up window - then put a ceiling hung hot water (or electric) unit heater to keep the room warm. This can be done in conjunction with what Mike recommended.

Ever had your home and attic checked for mould?

Most circuit boards have an LED that will blink, in different patterns, to notify you of a problem. Example would be; three rapid blinks means (fill in the blank). If you have the manual for the boiler it might have the information in there or perhaps on one of the panels that covers the control section of the boiler. Problem is that most supply houses, for parts, only sell to contractors. Typically the best thing to do is call a local heating contractor to troubleshoot and repair.

Not bad John.

No good deed goes unpunished.