Brian G

That model furnace was made from 1983 - 1989, 40 - 50,000 BTU's. The water heater is a 96 or an 88, but I don't have a cross-reference on those. Brian G.

If it's steep enough to be scary I try to walk the ridges and valleys, then work other spots with a ladder at the edges if needed. Getting on one like that just isn't worth the risk to me. If you ever start sliding you probably won't be able to stop, and grabbing for the gutters at the edge just isn't my idea of fun. I don't get paid enough to risk serious injury and I'm allergic to pain. [:-splat] I refer back to my earlier "Fear, or wisdom?" comments. Brian G. Never Had a Broken Bone, Like It That Way [:-hspin]

I've never even been on a 40 ft. ladder, much less hauled one around. I'll bet they're nice and bouncy when you're about midway up. [:-sick] Brian G.

I was catching up on my reading in the June issue of Fine Homebuilding when I ran across a short article about a new series starting this month on PBS. It's called "Energy Wise Healthy Home". It's 26 episodes following the construction of a 7,000 sq. ft. house designed to be able to run on $200 a month in utilities and is enviromentally friendly. According to the host / builder they will use materials and technologies "available to everyone" (everyone who can afford a 7,000 sq. ft. house, or everyone?). It will supposedly air sometime on Saturday afternoons. Has anyone seen it? Sounds like it might be worthwhile, who knows. Brian G.

I ran across this in a magazine. I'm interested to hear the thoughts of some of our masonry gurus (and anyone else) about this design / idea. It seems sensible to me, but I'm no masonry guru. I also can't help wondering if the masons might be extra sloppy if they knew this stuff was there. http://www.mortarnet.com/MortarNetfrontPage.asp Brian G.

There was another comment in that article which struck me. Douglas wrote, "Having been out of the trenches for close to seven years, I cringe when I think of all the nonsensical stuff I used to try to get people to do, and the incredibly important stuff I didn't understand at all." Is it just me, or has Douglas described the unspoken, nagging fear of every HI with a conscience and enough sense to have a vague idea of how much he does not know? Brian G. Not That I Ever Have Such Doubts of Course, But I Have This Friend... []

I have to echo Crusty and Kurt, and I don't know of any HI that will turn on breakers under those circumstances. It may well be turned off for a reason. Eric, gently but firmly remind your client that the property still belongs to someone else at this point. If anything goes horribly wrong you're the one who would have to pay, not him. Besides, it's a dryer, not a space ship. Tell him if he's concerned to go by, turn it on himself, and run it. Brian G. Client, Risk Thy Own Hiney [:-mischievous]

Well, in at least one sense that violates the manufacturers' intent, if not specs, since they make no such panel for a reason (100 amp 40 circuit). It would be pretty easy to overload such a panel, or in this case the feeders. You could always calculate the load I suppose, but that sort of slippery slope ain't for me. I would recommend installing the proper sized feeders for the 200 amp rating, whether they were actually using more than 100 amps or not at the moment. If they chose not follow the recommendation, YA is C. They don't even make a 150 amp panel beyond 30 or 32 circuits. Brian G.

The check is in the mail. Betcha' never heard that one before. [] Brian G.

It's always interesting to get a glimpse behind the codes, like the one Douglas provides about how that particular rule made it into the book. One guy wanted it in, and used one freak example to push for it. The "AII Dirty Words" was also interesting, but a lot of those have never found their way into my reports anyway. Worry about, charge, price, cost, sales pitch, perfect, dozer bait, best, wasted or trashed, guaranteed, or absolutely...not part of my vernacular. But they also jump on "appears to", advocating instead "my observation is", as being "more informative" in a report. I can't agree. While any word can be overused or misused, I think "appears to" is more descriptive to the average person when discussing a situation where you can only go on what you have seen, but don't know for certain. An "observation" could be factual or subjective. "My observation is that the sky is blue with scattered dark clouds." (fact) ..."My observation is that it may rain later." (subjective). How will the client know which one you mean? If the idea is write a report which is as accurate and understandable as possible for the client, I'll stick with "appears" until I'm convinced otherwise. Brian G.

Mains? Plural? How many are there? Is this a main lug panel being back-fed? Details man, details! Brian G.

The idea has been around for quite a while. We sold a different brand years ago when I was in that biz, but I never liked them. No one can convince me it's as good, or even half as good, as twisting them together and then twisting on a wire nut. Electrical connections just isn't a good place to save time, IMHO. It's a good place to take some time. Brian G.

Sadly we don't have ROWS of 100 year old houses here, but now I won't be able to look at ones' chimney without checking for lean or twist in a particular direction. "Following the sun" sounds goofy, but you never know... If that's it, I should be able to see down here for sure. Brian G.

I've weighed in on this line before, but I'll say again that I believe antibacterial soap is a FAR greater threat to the general population than mold ever thought about being. We live in the most neurotic country in the world. I also agree with the statements about the need to expose / exercise the immune system to maintain it. Science fact as far as I know. When we were kids my brother and I used to cut poison oak vines loose at the bottom and swing on them. It was a vine, we didn't know. To this day I can handle poison oak or lay down in poison ivy with zero effects. Brian G. HEPA Filtered Mask? I Don't Need No Stinking HEPA Filtered Mask! [:-masked]

Lord, I haven't seen lead-head nails since I was a kid. I didn't dream anyone still made 'em. Every barn, shed, and other outbuilding with a tin roof used to have those, but as Kurt suggests they're rather hit-or-miss on sealing. I would also recommend caulking all of them. Brian G.

Norm my friend, let me suggest a minor style alteration for the sake of clarity.

1. I'd report that as FUBAR. 2. Garden-variety double-lugging, recommend qualified electrician, rewire, etc. 3. Probable leakage. Evaporation doesn't require a garden hose to keep up. Disclaim. 4. Has to be at least 5 feet from the inside wall of the pool, unless seperated by a barrier. I'd tell 'em to replace the cover as well. 5. If that's an equipment ground it has to be connected to a terminal, not spliced 6. No visible grounding lug. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't...assume it's not. You could check continuity to something you know is bonded. Brian G.

Exactly what is the difference supposed to be between normal concrete and this stuff? I can't find where they tell you that. For my money, mold is much bigger as a business than as a problem. And as far as I know concrete is not a vapor barrier, it's permeable. Vapor retarder, at best. Brian G.