Brian G

Originally posted by AHI What about Carbon Monoxide detectors? Do any of you recommend those anywhere in your reports? If so where? Oh hell yes. I recommend low-level CO detectors to everyone with any gas appliances, without fail (google "CO-Experts model 2004"). I have a section at the end of my report called "Other" that I use for all the little things that really don't fit well elsewhere. Brian G. Gotta Have a Catch-All [:-thumbu]

Originally posted by Les Brian, how did you figger out how to write the man quote? Does it really need the apostrophe?? I'm pretty sure "man's" is a contraction of "man has", so the apostrophe is needed. That's the easy one for me; you always need it with a contraction. Brian G. Does This Prove Men Can Have Contractions? [:-bigeyes

Actually I said I was gonna leave this one to you boys. I'll pass. I've never so much as drank a diet cola in my life, let alone dieted. I'll suffer along as is for now. Brian G. Keeping the Tool Shed for Now [:-slaphap

Originally posted by Jim Katen Your competition is driving around in finely tuned formula one race cars and you're driving a go-cart. I'm not at all sure that's true. We all know that lots and lots of the HI's working now have reports that look and read very much like that, or worse. Around me it's all go-carts as far as I know. Get yourself some decent paper forms. Use them till you know what you're doing. Then buy a good program such as Intelligent Reporter, InspectExpress or 3D and customize it to fit your writing style. There are very few inspectors who have the computer skills to write a program that's better than any one of the dozens of programs already out there. I think there's some confusion here. John isn't writing software, he's writing boilerplate for software he bought. My apologies for being blunt. Unlike Walter or Brian or Scott, I'm not a southern gentleman. Hell, I'm not even as diplomatic as Les. We wouldn't have it any other way Jim. We need at least one "bad cop" in the bunch anyway. Mind if we call you "Simon"? Les can be Paula Abdul. [] [-crzwom] Brian G. Simon Says....Fix Your Crappy Boilerplate [:-yuck]

Originally posted by Les Brian, You remain the southern gentleman! I appreciate that Les, but I'm not just being diplomatic here. I already did many of the things some of you are telling him not to do when I started in this business. I went out and bought software, and being instinctively dissatisfied with the boilerplate I starting working on it before I had a license or did a single inspection. Nothing could have convinced me to use a checklist. My early, home-spun comments were only marginally better than what came on the program, but I didn't have TIJ to help me. I didn't find out what good reporting was supposed to look like until I joined ASHI and found their message board. At that point I immediately did what he's doing now; sticking my neck out, asking a lot of questions, and rolling with the punches that resulted. Even now I'm in the process of revamping my entire m.o., from hardware to software to boilerplate, because mine are far from perfect. In short, I actually agree with what John is doing (more or less). If you can get your software set up and learn a lot about the difference beween good and bad reporting, why would you not do that before you went out and began making yourself responsible for inspections and reports? I don't see the sense in that. He might screw up? Well hell, let he who is without sin on that count cast the first stone (or post his first-ever report for merciless TIJ scrutiny). A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. In the end, that's what it comes down to alright. Brian G. Professional Hardhead [^]

I'm gonna leave this one to you boys, but just for the record: 6' 3" at 210 lbs. The problem is about 10 or 15 of that is in one lump right above my belt. I never had a problem with that in my life until the lost year of appraisal. Too much desk time. Now I can't shake the belly I gained. Brian G. I look Like a Snake That Swallowed a Dog [:-slaphap

Originally posted by AHI How could this be bad? I see it as a benefit to the safety of the home occupants as well as additional liability protection for the HI. Am I missing something here? It's really a style question in my opinion, not a right or wrong/good or bad question. Getting it right and getting it all across to the client is what matters most, not how you choose to format it. If you're convinced it's a good idea you should try it. If for some reason it doesn't go well, drop it. There is the issue of how to work that with a summary, which I know you intend to have. I don't think it would be good to have problems listed two or three times because they fit more than one catagory in the report. Brian G. The Other Meaning of H.I. is Highly Individual [:-mohawk]

Originally posted by Scottpat When I looked at those pictures I could not get your wooden water heater pan out of my mind. Are you sure that you are not teaching a wood working class at North East Mississippi Junior College? Hah! If I were and this guy was student, I'd give him a big fat F- on this project. Any smart TIJ'er could've done much better. Brian G. Home Project Improvisation 101...Sign Up Now! [:-graduat

Originally posted by Jim Katen In this case, I have no idea. Was it set up to be switched off from the house or something? No, I think this is just a case of someone getting their hands on a panelboard that had no enclosure, which they decided to use anyway. I suspect it walked off a commercial or industrial jobsite someplace; a shunt-trip main and bolt-on branches? On top of everthing else there was nothing in the garage but plain ole' 110v outlets and switches. Shunt trip breakers are just remote control breakers. I believe they use a solinoid to literally kick the breaker off. I think they only work one way. That is, once tripped, you've got to reset the breaker manually. Ah-so. It's a remote control crazy society we live in, no? The only place I've heard of them being used is in conjunction with fire systems. A fire system might be set to shunt trip an exhaust fan or an elevator for instance. Interesting. One system controlling another. If the shunt wires aren't connected to anything, I don't see how it would cause anyone any problems in a garage though. They weren't, and I don't have concerns about that part. It's the "no enclosure" thing that concerns me most, with all that entails. Brian G. Get A Can or Get a New Panel [:-bigeyes

Hey Jim, 'zacktly what is shunt-trip breaker good for anyway? Brian G. Shunt 'Cho Mouth (I'z Just Talkin' 'Bout Shaft) [:-censore

Originally posted by Jim Katen Since the AC unit has two blowers, you want to be sure that the service tech can switch off all power to both motors at the same time. Two, two-pole breakers wouldn't have achieved that. Possibly, but wouldn't they normally just supply power from one double pole breaker and distribute it inside the unit to run the different parts? A very unusual house, this one. It's the same one that had the 83 gallon/1973 water heater and a three-bowl kitchen sink with built-in stopper mechanisms on two bowls (like a bathroom sink). Brian G. At Least This Job Isn't Boring [:-alien]

Yesterday I did a house with a detached garage, both just 2 years old. In the garage I found where someone had taken a panelboard out of a commercial/industrial breaker panel and mounted it in a wall cavity (the walls were sheathed inside with OSB). It still had the interior covers to keep fingers out, but no enclosure at all. Wires were just run into the cavity, stripped, and hooked up. This was a 200 amp, 30 circuit Square D panelboard with bolt-on breakers. The main was a big ole' shunt-trip unit. I've never seen anything like it. Anybody else? Of course, I told them how lucky they were to get such an expensive panelboard in the deal. [] Brian G. "Further Investigation Recommended" [:-mischie Heck, I can't remember ever seeing a bolt-on panel in a house before. Image Insert: 14.69 KB Image Insert: 11.64 KB Image Insert: 12.93 KB

Originally posted by inspecthistoric I can still wriggle into openings about the dimensions of my clipboard. In fact, I can get into homes through the doggie door. Yeah? Well who the hell asked you Kibble? Pipe down over there, will ya? [] Brian G. A Man Who Wore 29 x 35 Jeans At 18 [:-weepn]

Originally posted by inspecthistoric And the home inspector is paying for it 'cause he said "The bulb's just burned out". Excellent point Bill. I sometimes get tired of saying "It's probably just a blown bulb, but I don't know that for sure", but I keep saying it. Brian G. Assume Nothing [?]

Hi Jim, No, I'm familiar with all of the variations of quads, 1/2 size, wafer, etc. This was 4 standard single breakers factory built together into a 4 pole breaker. It was a first for me. It's posted below (thanks Mike). Brian G. Always Something New in This Business [:-boggled Image Insert: 13.31 KB

I could do a few of these per year if I kept my mouth shut about the downside. People call about it once in a while, I tell them about the state's disclosure law, and they never call back. Brian G. Me & My Big Mouth [:-bigmout

Originally posted by Jim Katen One time, the realtor, the buyer and I were huddled around one of these things while I explained what it did. There was a long, skinny thread-like thing hanging out of one of the pipes. The realtor said, "What's that?" I recognized it immediately as a rat's tail. Grabbing it firmly, I yanked it out and held aloft a wriggling rat of medium size and foul temperament. You're terrible person. Keep up the good work. [:-angel] Brian G. Never More Envious of Another Inspector [:-slaphap

Maybe it's just the perspective of the photo, but it looks like it seriously impairs access to the unit to me. Brian G. I Had a Girlfriend Like That Once... [:-eyebrow

Originally posted by Richard Moore But...I still don't see why that would negate the need for a normal safety reverse feature. I agree. I have a door like that, and I don't see how one has anything to do with the other. I'd ignore the stupid instructions and tell my client to get the optical sensors (if they weren't there). Sorry to hear about the fingernails Richard...ouch. I lost two to a truck door as a kid. They were very slow healing, which helped me to never let that happen again. Brian G. Agony Is Memorable [:-bigmout

Originally posted by SonOfSwamp Has the world gotten so specialized that we need home inspectors to point out bigass dead trees? In the summertime? When deadness couldn't be more obvious? I think there's more to blame than just specialization, but the answer is often "yes". I'd say that 75% of time when I point out a big dead tree within reach of the house they go "Wow, I didn't even notice that". Does the RE agent think the guy's not going to notice? I don't know what they think Walter, but I sure know what they're praying for. Shame on them; good for us. [:-paperba Brian G. Per'fessional Daid Tree Pointer-Outer [^]

Originally posted by Jim Morrison Where I come from, most water heaters last somewhere between 5 and 10 years. I know we're starting to drift here, but only 5 - 10 years on average? What's in the water up there? [:-crazy] They typically run 15 - 20 here, sometimes longer. Last week I saw an unusual 82 gallon unit that was 34 years old and looked brand new (Crane brand). "The gas fired water heater is already 8 years old, you should be prepared to have to replace it at any time." Tisk-tisk Jimmy. A run-on sentence; Bonnie's gonna rap you on the knuckles. It seems like a disservice to advise someone to euthanize something that might still be useful for years. I think the situation is key there. If it looks crappy and it's in the attic with no drip pan, waiting is not smart. If it looks good and it's sitting in a drip pan on a slab, waiting isn't that risky. Brian G. Please Euthanize My Body Once My Mind Is Gone [:-boggled[:-drool]

Originally posted by randynavarro Aluminum roofs aren't all that common here. If I came across that roof in my locale, I would throw in some reporting language to the effect that it is a "unique" roof to our area and I'm not too proud to admit I wouldn't know much about its install details, life expectancies etc. I would do some common sense look-sees, (flashing, corrosion, etc.) but be very clear with the client its important to track down the mfr. and the contractor that installed the product so they can get any warranties and additional product information. A sensible approach, and right up-front with the client. Sounds good to me. Brian G. Know What It Is You Don't Know, and Admit It [:-angel]

Originally posted by StevenT ...... shouldn't the main panel be bonded back to the meterpan, where the GEC is? It is bonded, via the neutral bonded to both. Another wire would be harmless, but redundant. Brian G. Redundantly Harmless & Harmlessly Redundant [:-boggled

Originally posted by Les I told my lovely wife about it. My wrists and ankles will never be the same! You love every minute of it, you dog. [:-dev3][-crzwom] Brian G. My Wife Beats Me, But Not the Way I'd Like []

Originally posted by AHI Rather than sticking ones fingers in there, what is a safer way to spread the wires to provide clearance for the clamp? You can buy insulated electrical tools like pliers or screwdrivers that should work well, but I'm not sure what you're going to be amp-clamping in a panel. The only place I ever do that is at the AC disconnect, where the clamping is usually much easier (others will vary on that). I carry a long, thin insulated screwdriver just for poking around in main panels, trying to see how things are done around sloppy wiring (Klien 601-8 INS). You should get really, really comfortable with your knowledge of electrical before you consider messing around inside panels. Shutting off the main I am sure is one way. I would never shut off the main unless there was a serious and immediate problem. It may not come back on when you're done, you might screw up someone's computer, clocks will be flashing all over, etc. Is there a suitable tool available or something else makeshift? Anything totally non-conductive could work, like a short wooden dowel. Brian G. Clamping Down On Lousy Wiring [^]