Brian G

I spent about 15 minutes poking around my CD, didn't do any good. It may be in the manufacturers' instructions. Brian G.

What? That's an air gap...you know, a vacuum breaker. [][:-dev3][] Brian G. Fireplace Plumbing Expert [^]

About #05 there Donald, hell, the man used several bags of cement mix. What do you want?! [:-irked] Brian G. Simply Unbelievable [:-banghead]

Okay, just what in the heck does it mean when a gas water heater is set on "vacation"? Is it on, or not? Or will it only drink beer and yell at the little water heaters for disturbing it? [:-gnasher] Brian G.

I feel silly asking this, but is ivy any threat to a painted cement block wall (outbuilding)? I always recommend people keep that sort of thing off of most other siding / exteriors, but the ladies sometimes think it's simply charming and leave it anyway. [-crzwom] Brian G. Maybe I Should Drape Myself in Ivy.... [:-dev3]

#1. Why would any intelligent person do this? #2. The water heater is sitting in a drain pan, which has a drain line to the exterior. Can the relief valve piping just run down to the pan and use that drain line to reach the exterior, or does it need to go all the way out itself? Needless to say, the pan's drain line is regular PVC. #3. Why would any intelligent person do this? Brian G. "God chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." [:-boggled]

Amazing. It gets me when these states go from having nothing (any jackass with a ladder and maybe a box of cards) to a law that will stymie all but the most determined AND well-heeled newbies. 96 hours of training, $7500 (or whatever) for the mentor, plus the lost difference on the next 250 inspections, tools, cards & brochures, website, etc., etc., etc....ouch. Straight from one extreme to the other, damn that middle ground. Brian G. God Bless MS

I sort of like the 3 years requirement for grandfathering, but not the 350 inspections. There are always those who try to jump in at the last minute to slide under the grandfather line, but 3 years....? The 350 flat-out favors big-market players and BUCKETHEADS who get steady numbers from thier crooked realtor cohorts. I like the 96 hours and the testing, but I'd rather see the testing apply to everyone ("Grandfathers" included). If Grandpa can't pass the test, maybe he needs the training too. The rest of it stinks to high heaven. That kind of thing has been implemented in other states, not to the benefit of anyone as far as I can tell, except those already "in". Asking existing inspectors to train their soon-to-be competitors is totally counter-intuitive, unless one plans to take advantage of them. I wouldn't do it. I hope ASHI wasn't a prime mover in this legislation, but it wouldn't surprize me a bit. Pete, did NY have any law on the books previously, or was it wide open? It seems to me there were some previous threads here about New Jersey and/or Pennsylvania having problems with this "mentoring" set-up, try the archives. Brian G. The Wretched Scent of Protectionism Wafts Through the Air... [:-yuck]

Come on all you stout hearts, where are those test scores? [:-graduate][:-dev3] Brian G.

Originally posted by bradfeldt Bested by a desert-dwelling desk jockey! Oh the humiliation! [:-bonc01] (Good show Matt) Brian G.

Originally posted by charlieb Better be careful with the "bar" talk around us ex-drinkers. For a second I thought I saw "Belly up, the bar is open Brian". [:-dev3][][:-dev3] Brian G. If I Relapse Now It's Charlie's Fault [:-drunk]

Damn Charlie, that's some fancy guessing. Remind me not to play Battle Ship with you. [:-dev3][][:-dev3] Brian G.

Holy Cow, I'm right up there with Crazy Chris Prickett! I think the regional approach is interesting, but may be problematic as well. For all I know there are large pockets of oil-burners within 100 miles of me, just none here. Then there's the way people move around these days. If one passed a regionally adjusted exam in Texas, would he still be qualified if he moved to Maine? Food for future thought Gerry. Since you agree with me about code certification, why not consider making certification in the IRC a requirement for the "Master" title (somewhere down the road)? Leave the code testing to the people who write it and devote your HI exam to investigation, diagnostic, and reporting issues. Throw in a worthy Standards & Ethics exam and you would have a package few could argue with. I have to admit the "Master" title still bothers me though. A hot shot could accomplish all of the above in the course of a year or two, yet still be rather inexperienced. Oh well, I stick to my original statement... Anything that raises the bar is welcomed. Brian G.

Agreed, again to a point. Thank you Gerry, agreed on all counts. Brian G.

Yeech! I got a 68. Of course, 20 points behind Lord Jim after 2 years in the field isn't the end of the world, but still... Like Jim I thought some weren't very relevent and some didn't have what I thought to be the correct answer in the possibilities. A lot of it seemed more like a code test than anything else, which is natural to some degree, but I usually look that up where and when I need it. I don't know enough of it though, which is why I joined the ICC. I'm sure I missed a lot of the questions about certain heating systems too. I studied all of the above before the NHIE and passed it, but in the time since I've forgotten the bulk of it because I never see anything but gas or electric forced warm air here. Criticize me if you will, but I'm not going to spend time reading-up on oranges when I work in an apple orchard and there's more to know about them. So Gerry, how is this to be administered, online or in person? Is it an open book test, 'cause I assumed it wasn't and didn't lay a finger on a book or Code Check? If it's done online you would have to consider it open book, I think. Alright my imported colleague, I've obliged you with public candor, so kindly oblige me likewise. I'd like to hear your thoughts on Mr. Gromico's (?) unvarnished efforts to undermine other state and national tests by compiling the test questions for NACHI members to peruse. As one who is responsible for compiling such a test, do you feel such actions are appropriate or ethical? Brian G.

I'm sure there are lots of people who need it and don't have it, but that's definitely a bit propaganda-ish. Everyone lives in a flood zone? Not unless some wise / crazy man is building a really big ship somewhere to hold two of every animal. [] Brian G.

Hmmm...then again, maybe I won't get around to it. I hate being spammed. Brian G.

Gerry, I'm in favor of any genuine efforts to raise the bar anywhere in our profession. I haven't taken either yet, but I'll get around to it. Brian G.

I have yet to see a cedar shake roof here, but man those are some HUGE gaps. It looks like they were running short and started stringing them out to compensate. [:-boggled] Brian G.

Oh boy, a real can-o-worms. Last I knew for sure, only the Ideal 65 was approved for such uses as far as wire nuts went. There is (or was) also a more expensive compression connection system out there called Copalum (?) or something like that, but one had to be trained / authorized to do it ($$$). I think a few other manufacturers' have gotten into the wire nut act since, but I'm not sure. Whether any ole' wire nut will work is another question altogether, but as an inspector I wouldn't go near that debate with a client. No way. My understanding is that many of the original problems with aluminum NM cable was related to mixing the AL wire with devices and connectors designed only for copper, so there are genuine technical problems with such practices. Err on the side of caution here. Defer to the "qualified electrician with experience working with these materials". Brian G.