Terence McCann

Thanks for the heads up.

I've never seen that either. How old is the home Joe? With 18" soffits you may be right about the ice damns - any sign of damage in the attic? I feel stupid saying there is asbestos on the pipes (as I'm sure you know that). Picture #3 shows an example of a bucket trap [:-paperba

I heard this cat named Bill manufactured it: I love the name of the boiler, but then again I would. The name plate looks like something produced in the 60's.

Hi Dave: Did you pull the front panel to look at the combustion air piping? All the 95% I've seen are hard piped to the fan with a sealed combustion chamber (then the extra opening in the cabinet really doesn't mean anything). The condensate line needs to be trapped as well. I just downloaded the picture to my desktop to blow it up and have a look-see. The installation of the hot water tank is messin' with my head. Tell me if I'm seeing this right. The furnace and hot water tank are sitting on a raised OSB floor correct? That is a standard hot water tank that sits on feet with an open area underneath for combustion air (same one I have in my condo). It looks like someone dropped the hot water tank through a hole in the OSB flooring - is this correct? What is below the OSB flooring? Looks like a pipechase but how deep is that area. That's a really strange installation (I'm wondering how safe). How is it getting combustion air?

[8] (I like it)

I wouldn't say that - I always buy some popcorn.

I haven't. However the more I think things are standard the more I find out that they aren't If you go to "new files" on this web site I u/l a Trane installation manual not to long ago. I tried to u/l the Carrier manual as well but it was over the u/l size limit. Do you have a link for the manual?

You can't have a hot water heater in a bedroom closet. The furnace seems to be getting it's combustion air from the outdoors by the looks of the piping. I see you've looked through the installations instructions - on the job site or via the internet? If you've found them over the net do you have a link? I'd like to see them.

I always test them. I also ride a bike (motorized or not) with out a helmet, run in the hallway with scissors, drive my car with out my seatbelt on (unless I spot the man), eat medium rare steaks (because their just so friggin' tasty that way). I even sneak a cigar upon occasion. Honest to God I sometimes wonder how mankind has evolved (or not). I must admit though that I won't percolate in a public hot tub (just to creepy) but to test them? With regards on how to clean them - follow manufactures recommendations. If that is not available then put some Cascade dish washing detergent in the tub with hot water (low suds - less cavitation of the pump) run for 10 minutes, drain & fill with plain hot water, run pump for 10 minutes, repeat processes. After that light candles, open a nice bottle of wine and enjoy your new house. And yes, I've actually said that.

Not to derail the thread (but I'm going to anyway). Looking at John's pooch it reminded me of this sign:

There was a bunch of standing water around the drain pipe (and smelled to high heaven too, PU).

That helps, thanks. Any idea on why they ran the drain line right up to the screen? Built in 03. Click to Enlarge 43.66 KB

Anyone have a cutaway showing the correct installation of the drain piping as applied to a shower pan?

Correct, it's for the central fire alarm system - it will flash when the alarm is tripped (or should if the duct tape wasn't on it). [:-crazy]

Well ya learn something new everyday - I wasn't aware of that. Thank's for the info.

That's sad... truly.

Was Sandstone ever used on older foundations then? I had thought that the old stuff around here was Sandstone.

Depends on outdoor temperature. Does the t/stat have a switch labeled em.heat (or something similar)?

Thanks Jim.

I'm not sure about that Kurt but you should call it out: WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.) Name of Product: Easy-Bake Ovens Units:About 1 million Manufacturer:Easy-Bake, a division of Hasbro, Inc., of Pawtucket, R.I. [:-party]

Leaving light bulbs to help spread the light - I had been schooled, and believed, that trying to heat electrically was one of the most inefficient ways to heat. One reason for the heat pump was the thought/theory that if you had no other choice but to heat via electricity then running a compressor produced more more btus, per dollar, than strip heat (up to a given temp). In trying to become a more understanding Irishman I'm open to further discussion (as long as it doesn't contradict my preconceived notions). Any white paper?

Or another way of saying it is light bulbs are designed to produce light with heat being a unfortunate secondary byproduct.

I turn my electric lights off when I no longer need them, typically because the sun has come up - your mileage may vary.

Hi Ruben, Were you leading the training as part of a home inspector school or a local chapter home inspector association?

Tnxs Cary. I'll give them a call and discuss it. It's a lot cheaper than who I've been using. I've been accepting credit cards since 2002. On numerous occasions the client had forgotten the checkbook but still carries plastic. I'm a firm believer in 0 receivables.