Brian G

Originally posted by kurt Other possibilities include the muni guy simply not knowing anything. Just because the city guy says it doesn't mean it's correct. What he said. The city AHJ's here allow a few things that are unquestionably against the code they claim to be working under, but there's no higher authority around to straighten them out. Contractors will say anything. I can't imagine any legitimate building code allowing plumbing vents to simply terminate open-ended in the attic. You may get the chance to show up a few people on this one. Brian G. Jodi's Turning Hammer on Us [:-thumbu]

The most durable water heater ever made? Have they seen the one somebody posted made of monel? I appreciate the efforts to be environmentally friendly and efficient, but it seems to me a tankless would be better at both for that kind of money. Brian G. Built Like a "Tank"? []

Originally posted by inspecthistoric ......trailer-park home compatible. Heyyyyyy..... [:-irked][] Brian G. In Trailer Park Home Land [^]

Ye gods. Note to the plumber: How art thou stupid, let me count the ways. [:-dunce] Brian G. When Do We Hit Bottom? [:-crazy]

I agree; there is no advantage for consumers, only disadvantage. Truth be told, this is just one of those "because we can" things that never should have been allowed (like backwiring devices). I'm of the opinion that a single main should be required for residential service equipment, period. That would be the simplest and safest situation for consumers. Brian G. Maybe Someday [:-indiffe

Originally posted by Richard Moore This whole thread seems to be going nowhere fast, has nothing new or of interest or educational value, and is only serving as rather smelly bait that might eventually lure the truly obnoxious into our midst for a bout of schoolyard name calling. As much as I enjoy anyone highlighting Nik's true colors, I must agree with your assessment of this thread, and the likely outcome. So...would any of our "constructive" regulars really mind if I deleted this whole mess before it degenerates further? Or at least locked it? Either is fine by me. Brian G. Smelly Bait Indeed [:-yuck]

Originally posted by Raymond Wadn If licencing occurs there will be no need for CAHPI in BC as licencing negates the need for Associations. That hasn't been the case down here. HI associations continue to grow, slowly, in spite of the steady march of licensing. I can't for the life of me figure out why CAHPI would not participate in "Consultations" that the BC government is conducting into the home inspection profession in B.C. Better to have some input than none at all as a form of protest. I'd have to agree with you there, and that's what the big HI orgs down here did when they couldn't stop licensing. Brian G. Bonehead Move, Eh? [:-taped]

But it's been working for years with no problems..... [:-mischie Brian G. Crispy Critter [:-bigeyes

Good job Kyle, and thanks for the pdf ammo. Brian G. Fire Prone Equipment Strikes Again

Originally posted by Jim Katen In my experience all kinds of morons write all kinds of stupid things on their company letterhead. Yep. I've twice had licensed electricians refuse to correct this issue, in writing on their company letterhead. Around here it's more of the "We've always done it that way" and "That's how Old Man Jones taught me to do it when I came up in the trade" than anything else. I was soooo glad when the NEC got specific on this subject. This is the worst instance I've run across. All the grounds and neutrals for a whole house crammed into just six terminals. Image Insert: 149.06 KB I still write it up, but it rarely gets fixed. Brian G. Carrying My End Is All I Can Do [8]

Last I knew Siemens did not own Challenger, but that's been some years now. These companies do get bought out this way and that often enough to get confusing sometimes. However, even if Siemens does own Challenger that doesn't automatically mean interchanging the breakers is kosher. If the Challenger breakers haven't been tested and listed by UL to go in the Siemens panel, technically it isn't allowed anymore than any brand that Siemens doesn't own. All that said, I've yet to see or hear of a single, actual problem from putting Brand A breakers in a Brand B panel. Physically, the Siemens and Challenger breakers are virtually identical. Brian G. Love That Sparky Logic [:-boggled

That's what I'm thinking too. They set it up to make people gasp at the photo, but didn't plug it in. It looks halfway down in the water as it sits. One good wave from somebody moving would be the end if it were for real. Brian G. It's Either Fake Or Darwinism at Work [xx(]

Originally posted by John Ghent I have crawled on it and I had to add a paragraph in my report about how I could not be held responsible for damage to it while in the crawl space. When you crawl on it you crack it most of the time....... It cracks just from a single person crawling on it?! Jeez, that's flimsy stuff for something supposedly similar to concrete. Did you get an idea of how thick it was John? Brian G. Neutocrete or Neutocrap? [?]

I also left FREA for BRP this year. The rates are much better, depending on your history. I was also not happy about an article in FREA's magazine, but that's another story. Brian G. Money Saved Is Money Earned [^]

I've seen that photo before. It's funny, but I suspect it was staged. That rig wouldn't last two minutes in there without something bad happening. Brian G. Then Again,You Never Know [:-dunce]

We're glad to have you dropping in Dan. When I find a Zinzco or a FPE panel, my report includes URL's/links to your web pages (and a few others) on those particular subjects. I hope that's okay. I do it to further educate them and hope it finishes convincing them to replace the thing. I sold electrical supplies for a local wholesale supplier for several years, covering everything from DIY'ers to industrial accounts. We sold virtually every brand of breaker available, including Zinzco and FPE, as replacements. I regularly saw burned-up Zinzco's and FPE's, but never thought to save any of them for very long. I did keep a few of the really spectacular ones for a while, to show all the electricians (for the Wow! factor). I wish I still had them. You would have loved the Zinzco's with dime to quarter sized holes burned/blown in the sides. [:-bigeyes Similar damage to any other brands was very rare, though all had failures here and there. Brian G. Burn Baby Burn [:-hot]

I sympathize with the family, but whether or not Zinzco was once cutting edge stuff is irrelevant to our job today. Even with all of the brands that have come and gone throughout the history of breakers and breaker panels, it's the second-worst designed type I know of. Brian G. FPE..Alone At the Top [:-yuck]

Jodi's a posting machine now, Jodi is. [] Well it's only smart, if such a fabulous resource is available, to use it. Good for you. I can't think of any other harm that might come from the frozen-over vent pipes, other than possibly cracking the pipes themselves (swelling from the inside?). We don't have that particular issue in Mississippi. [:-cold] Brian G. We Scorch More Than We Shiver [:-hot]

Yeah.....what they all said. And some other stuff too....yeah. [^] Brian G. Spendiforously Articulate []

Hi Jodi, Welcome to the board. I see you are, or were, a realtor. I hope you'll stick around and take the fantastic free education this site offers, but you'll need a thick skin. Please don't take any realtor knocks or jokes personally. We would need a lot more information to make any kind of call about that set up, but the short answer is that it's fine if it's wired properly. If you want to go into more detail, go for it. Photos can be a big help to. Brian G. The Man Cave Has Been Invaded [-crzwom]

I carry a lovely ice pick in the tool bag, but I don't need it much. Years of carpentry experience makes it unnecessary most of the time. Brian G. "Pick" Your Poison []

Hit me, Mit Man. No rush, just whenever. brian@accuspecllc.com Brian G. Not Literally, Of Course [:-fight]

Score one for the good guys! [:-party] Brian G. Dere Ain't No Sucha Ting [:-blindfo[xx(][:-fight][:-gnasher[:-hot][:-mean][:-mummy]

I worked on a bunch, but only built one. I'm living in it, and with any luck at all I'll die in it. It was a great experience, though I could have done better on a number of things if I had done some HI work first. I'd like to see the comic book style too, but I'm guessing it's bitch to email. Brian G. The Adventures of Mitenbuler Manid="size4"> [:-masked]

I took some pretty good radon training when I decided to try it as an add on, run by Auburn University, but when the guy said vapor barriers and venting did no good in crawl spaces no matter how they were set up, I started asking questions. Who tested that option? Exactly how did they set it up? He had no answers, but stuck to his assertions. To me, just as a common sense thing, it seems totally logical that those methods could have a big effect on the radon level in a crawl space. It certainly seems as reasonable as the idea of venting the underside of an entire slab by creating a vacuum in little one spot. I can't help wondering if whatever testing was done on vapor barriers and venting was done by someone who either: (A) had some sort of stake in selling radon venting systems, or (B) knew jack-squat about construction and didn't think the details through. Maybe I'm wrong, common sense doesn't always work out where science is concerned, but I wonder.... Brian G. 2 + 2 Usually Equals 4, Not [8]