Bill Kibbel

They are both safety devices that sense a flame and shut down the gas valve, if the flame is not present. I'm not sure how it works, but a "radiant flame proving system" was the subject of failures and a recall for at least 1 manufacturer. A "flame rectification proving system", uses an electrical current to detect the presence of a continuous flame. This was probably a replacement part for the original, problematic radiant proving system.

I've always called it a reglet as well, but I think that is a recent use of the word. I've never seen reglet, in texts before 1900, referring to anything but a flat moulding used to cover joints, separate panels or divide compartments. In the past 30 years, no one who installs flashings knows what it is. In the last 10, they've lost the ability to even install the counter flashing.

No. It's done that way to avoid the horror of actually going to the truck to get the saw and cutting one piece. It's wrong, but very common.

It'd screw up my Patek Philippe watch that I wear just for crawlspaces. It'll also wipe out the programming on the new pacemakers. I have 2 tools that have magnets in my box. Hasn't been a problem.

Most old-house basements here were originally 5'-6'. Many are later excavated, well below the original wall (no footings here). There is a satisfactory method of retaining the soil below the foundation. Google-up "foundation benching". Or you can hire a waterproofer to make sure that every last bit of earth gets pulled out from under the foundation. Chris, thanks for the new vocab - I'm going to use it in my new boilerplate. "Underminement of the footing can effect the stabilizidity of the foundation, resulting in settlementatude".

Can anyone show a comp shingle manufacturers instructions that indicates the J-flashing is acceptable? Can anyone show that anything other than step flashings are acceptable against sidewalls?

What format is it in before you convert it into a PDF? My program writes it into Word, so you can easily go back to the root file, make changes to protect confidentiality, and then convert it into a PDF under a different name. He's just making an excuse to avoid a flogging in front of his peers. I would consider reviewing a report, but only after I inspected the same building.

Torsion rod springs. For replacements, I'd look for the name of the manufacturer and Google-it-up.

Will, They're not "reading" voltage, just detecting an uncancelled magnetic field.

I saw that, but didn't think it was the same. Guess mine is just a more recent edition. I tried the Upload Manager as well and it gets stuck just the same. Maybe it's on my end. My 2-cans-and-a-string phone service just completed an upgrade Monday so I got DSL yesterday. Might be a firewall thing.

"When there was a call for heat or AC, both units would come on". That's the system my wife must have ordered. When it's in the 90s, she drives around with the windows and sun roof open and the AC blasting.

I'm unable to upload a file to the TIJ library. It's the Concrete and clay roof tile installation manual from the Tile Roofing Institute. The upload file window just sticks on "Sending request to www.inspectorsjournal.com". Some other suggestions: 1. Google "split cylinder tile" or "mission tile" 2. E-mail some Florida inspectors - that's the only type of roof I see when flying over the Sunshine State.

I've never seen it and the single oblique slot configuration isn't on my chart.

If you don't go up on walkable roofs around these parts, you'll be writing checks to many past clients. If they don't discover a problem during their ownership, they'll find out about it when the next buyer's inspector does a mediocre inspection. There is an established standard of care that needs to be met, no matter what the published standards don't require. Send some of those ordained-by-heaven sweeps up here. I've only met 2 that are thorough and don't use every sweep and inspection to swindle homeowners out of thousands. There are several municipalities here that require chimney certs for resale. I've been involved in hundreds where the sweeps have blatantly prescribed unnecessary work. I also have at least a hundred pics, on my current hard drive, showing obvious issues that were missed by previous, recent inspections. I ladder-leap-frog at least a couple times each week. I carry up either a 12.5 Tele-steps or a 20' extension. I used to pull up a 32', when needed, but now I can only hoist a 28'. I've never had a ladder kick out, or even slide a centimeter. I've never damaged a shingle, punctured a membrane or scratched a metal roof. I've never heard of an inspector injury from this practice, but several have occurred from ladders set on decks and slippery patios. I have a really cool collapsible stepladder and I attached a shoulder strap. When folded it's 6' by 4".

That boiler was manufactured well before 1940.

Many years ago I inspected a large old home for an attorney that's a partner for a well known NYC firm. The hydronic heat pipes had more asbestos hangin' off than on. The radiators were recessed into the walls and the enclosures were lined with asbestos. She wasn't concerned. She's been the plaintiffs attorney on several asbestos injury cases against big name corporations. She's not at all concerned about asbestos in her home. She would only be concerned if she worked in a factory that manufactured ACMs. PLEASE EXCUSE THE RANT DRIFT, but Richard brought it up. I ranted about testing vermiculite in another recent topic: www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5379 "I'm rather surprised to find out that inspectors (that I respect) are actually taking samples of vermiculite to be tested for asbestos fibers. I don't recommend anyone even consider having it tested. Read the public info brochures on this topic and you'll find that analyzing vermiculite for asbestos is inaccurate and negative lab results should be interpreted as inconclusive. Are those that grab a sample and send it to lab: -employed or subcontracted by the lab and covered by their insurance? (I don't know of a reputable lab that would even accept unqualified samples) -taking samples from 3 different locations and keeping the samples separate? -taking samples from the bottom, not the top of the filled cavity? -informing their clients that a negative lab result does not mean the samples sent do not contain asbestos fibers? -informing their clients that a negative result certainly doesn't mean that the vermiculite in their attic does not contain asbestos fibers? In my opinion, testing vermiculite for asbestos has the same value as mold tests from home inspectors". "Since 80% of all vermiculite (before 1990) came from the contaminated Montana mines , It's best to treat it the same as known asbestos containing materials".

It's much more common to have leaks that allow gases to escape between sections than water leaks at the push nipples. Do you ever see leaks at the push nipples of radiators? Contractors used to carry Kaowool rope and use a chinking chisel to reseal the sections. Now they just sell you a new boiler. Why not open the sheet metal? I had a 35 year old steel oil boiler today that was just serviced and "certified" on Oct. 4th. I removed one side of the jacket to show that the domestic coil gasket had been leaking for at least a decade. They need a new boiler.

In addition to the plastic, described above by Bain, the piping from the radon mitigation system is usually extended under the plastic.

I usually see that most responses are intended to help improve an inspectors ability. The tone of some of the responses is a result of GOMS (grumpy old man syndrome) but the intent is the same. I've never read a question here that made me think the person asking was an idiot. I'll cancel the meth addict intervention we were planning.

Terry, I've heard of Hocking Hills. It's near Columbus right? They're probably the only hills in the state. [:-tong2] I spent some time in OH; Grandma was in Shaker Heights, Niece & Nephew were at OSU, Sister is in Cincinnati & I went to Wittenberg U for a short time. We'll check it out the next time we drive through. Terry & Mike, I'm not up on the science behind refrigeration, but the flow of refrigerant through a "T" is what came into my mind first. I even joked with the buyer and said "how does half the refrigerant know it needs to make a left?" I thought twinning referred to installing 2 systems into a single zone duct system and the "kit" would be the new controls.

Thanks for the replies, guys. Where's Terry? He seems to always have the final word HVAC issues.

GFCI protection would be required around here, but it doesn't have anything to do with the proximity to the sink. I think the 6' rule is for laundry, utility and bar sinks. It would be because the receptacles could "serve countertop surfaces" of a kitchen.

I inspected a large farmhouse today that had heat pumps retrofitted in the mid '90s. There are 3 condensing units and 4 air handlers/evaporators. Back-up is a propane boiler for hydro. The "twin" air handlers in a basement are connected with a "T" to a single lineset that connects to a single condensing unit. I've never seen this set-up before. I've seen many split ductless ACs and HPs that have 2 or 3 indoor units running off of a single condensing unit, but they all have separate linesets. Anyone else? I was looking forward to seeing this system in action, but the right system wouldn't work on any mode. The condensing unit was 2 tons and the evaporators were each 1.5 ton. Any comments?

I'm quite sure al-oo-minium liners are fine unless it's a "cold" chimney (built entirely external). A chimney, venting a Cat. I steam boiler sized to heat a 12 unit building, ain't gonna be cold. If it's the same Bob I spoke with recently (we've both been speakers at a few of the same seminars), he's singin' a new tune. He now says only SS, unless it's down South.

Faceted conical roof - topped with a finial. It probably belongs on the building. Like many Queen Annes squeezed onto urban lots, there might be a projection on the facade below that roof that gives the appearance of a turret or tower. This is a pinnacle: