blazenut

I was out a house this morning with a peerless boiler. It looked newer, but i didnt think that it looked brand new... S#614834-200902 my code says 2009 Is this correct? Thanks

No, im didnt look in the seems. I wasnt aware of the use of staples. Ive only ever done it/seen it done with roof nails. Either way, they are too tight and not allowing for expanding/contracting right? I wrote it up that: The vinyl siding on the home was found to be wavy in various locations at time of inspection. Many times this is due to improper installation methods (nails too tight). It is recommended that a reputable siding contractor be contacted for potential remedies. Residing may be needed to remedy this problem. This can be a major expense. Thoughts?

I inspected a 4 year old half a million dollar home today that had a terrible siding job. The siding was very noticeably wavy in various locations around the house. Im assuming this is from the nails being installed to tightly? Is there a way to fix this without pulling the siding off and residing? It was pretty much uniform from top to bottom. Click to Enlarge 60.96 KB

Thanks for the detailed answer Jim. I really do appreciate it. And yes, I know, I'm a Horrible speller. I grew up on spell checkers. When are we going to get a spell checker for this forum?

1) Do you guys think that this was a double pole breaker that was "seperated" to function as two seperate single pole breakers? It was installed as two seperate single pole breakers. Is it even possible to do such? 2) What is a ballpark estimate for adding a main disconnect to a panel (or before a panel)? Thanks guys. Click to Enlarge 32.82 KB

I hope this picture does it justice, its the only one i took. Click to Enlarge 44 KB

Dont bother getting one of those 20 dollar ultrafire's. I got one just to check it out, i dropped it on carpet and it stopped working, and now it flickers. This all happened 5 minutes after i opened the box. Im going to get a Fenix since i already bought rechargable batteries (and they would be good for crawls). And for all you Fenix guys out there, my best friend has a Fenix, and my new stinger HD LED IS brighter. The beam is much brighter and travels much farther. Ive used it for several inspections on the same charge and it stills charges in no time (2.5 hour charger, that takes about 30 minutes after two inspections).

Ok, one last thing... I have an off peak meter for my water heater, its one of the ones that you use a triangular key to adust on and off times. How do you adjust the other ones, or cant you? (in case someone asks me!)

Ok, thanks Jim. Thats pretty much what i was thinking. The whole electrical system was a mess. This was a small horse farm and the service was only 100 amp.

Is it ever acceptable to have the same size breaker in a panel as the main disconnect in a panel to another, and so on? Thoughts?

I was at a house the other day that had a single 100 amp service that connected to two meters (pic). First question, if the home is not split into apartments, is the second meter always an off peak meter? This second meter (on left) was connected to its own main panel with its own 100 amp breaker (incorrect wire gauge) connected to all sorts of appliances you would not want on an off peak circuit (stove, refrigerator, ect). The main meter (right) was connected to another main panel with its own 100 amp main disconnect. This panel had another 100 amp breaker that fed another main panel in an outbuilding with its own 100 amp main disconnect (which was double tapped with another incorrectly gauged wire to another main panel in another outbuilding with its own 100 amp disconnect). There was also a federal pacific sub-panel in the garage, and another sub panel in a closet off the kitchen. Is it ever acceptable to have the same size breaker as the main disconnect in a panel to another, and so on? Thoughts? Click to Enlarge 39.66 KB

I bought the duracells and the energizers (each around 20 bucks). The energizers are junk, i only use them to fill up space in the charger so i can charge my duracells. I never let them run out though, i charge them after 3 or so inspections.

What is the purpose of the filter (i think that is what it is)? that is above the water meter in this picture? It has a ball valve under it that when opened would dispense into waste. It is coming from the water softener to the left. Click to Enlarge 28.52 KB

Thanks, i wasnt sure if you should have the wires join in a junction box first and then head into the panel.

So... is it?

(Jim is gonna love me for this one...) Number one on your FAQ post: Is it ok to use wire nuts in the panel? And yes I would love a FAQ for all sections, that way i wont ask so many stupid questions that were answered before i found this site.

I was going to call them directly but it is after buisness hours. Does anyone know the age of this furnace: (it looked fairly old...) Oneida Royal Type: HIBOY S#904089 M#HO-84A-3BC It looked older than 19 years to me... If you have the answer, can you let me know how you came to it, im adding to the sheets that i downloaded from here and im going to post an updated version when i get more together. Thanks

I have been telling people to use a strip of magent from a craft store as a cover if one is missing (i saw one used at a house i was at one time).

Me too, that way i wouldnt have to "bother" some of the guys in here.

Welcome to the club MOB...

I was at a house today that had a lightning arrestor on the panel (it said either lighting or lightning arrestor...it was all scratched up). This is the first on of these that i have seen in a panel. The one wire was loose (see picture). How do these work? And, is this how they are supposed to be installed (directly to the main feed)? Click to Enlarge 57.18 KB Click to Enlarge 55.97 KB

Actually Mike popped on here and posted his answer in just a few minutes...

Thanks Mike. Hey smartypants (Jim), how would I google something IF I DONT KNOW THE NAME OF THE PRODUCT? I just tried to...it's not quite as easy as you make it out. Next time i post something, i wont ask a question... Besides if I hadn't posted this, everyone else that has or will read this will have not learned about this product, unless of course I'm the only one here that was in the dark on this.

thanks

Somebody today mentioned to me today that they thougt there was a valve that you can put on a washing machine supply line that stops the water in the event that a leak would occur. Have you guys heard of this? And what are they called? link?