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Bill Kibbel

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Everything posted by Bill Kibbel

  1. Bill Kibbel
    The major CSST manufacturers have had their tubing tested and approved for outdoor installation. However, it needs protection from physical damage when installed on a building from grade to 6'. I have heard that a couple municipalities might have their own rules prohibiting CSST on the exterior.
  2. Bill Kibbel
    Your newly posted pics clearly show that house got brickfaced. It's a 2-coat stucco type application with the second tinted coat scratched off to look like mortar joints. In addition to the surface cracks, in the basement/crawlspace you'll find brick powder. The Portland-based brickface coating does not allow moisture to migrate to the exterior, causing nasty stuff to happen to the old skin-fired bricks concealed within.
  3. Bill Kibbel
    That home is clad in a new brick veneer. A "solid" brick wall would also have header bricks to tie the wythes together. In the pictures posted, I can only see stretchers in each course. Are you 100% sure it's solid brick walls?
  4. Bill Kibbel
    There used to be a gas pipe feeding out, probably to a generator.
  5. Bill Kibbel
    My wife does the open hearth cooking thing. We once had a fireplace you could use for a garage for a VW Bug. I've seen a few that have windows and seating inside.
  6. Bill Kibbel
    Inspection - I don't know if it'll feel like I'm taking a tour or giving the tour.
  7. Bill Kibbel
    It'll be sad to see what's happened to this estate. I've heard that there's significant damage from roof leaks and decades of neglect. I'll bring my good camera and get some shots to compete with Mike L's photos. Exterior: Interior: http://philly.curbed.com/archives/2014/ ... ng-20m.php
  8. Bill Kibbel
    Top bearing trusses, like most steel bar joists, don't bear on the bottom cord.
  9. Bill Kibbel
    I had success several times using a combustible gas detector to find the source of sewer gas in buildings.
  10. Bill Kibbel
    I've appreciated folks correcting me when I use the wrong term or spelling, particularly when it's a term used in reports. Spell check won't correct lentil to lintel. I'm fortunate that we pay people to type our reports. It gives me more time to focus on everyone else's writing.
  11. Bill Kibbel
  12. Bill Kibbel
    Small in-ground gasoline tank. I've seen that exact valve/nozzle on the right several times on gasoline pumps on old farms and in a large garage. The hand pumps are usually rotary style. Ever see a building with gasoline lighting?
  13. Bill Kibbel
    Who's Tom? Tony is correct, feed wires on load terminals. It's very common, even though the manufacturers instructions and the sticker on the GFCI terminals tell you how to install the wires.
  14. Bill Kibbel
    I'm guessing Woodruff by Masonite. What length are the panels?
  15. Bill Kibbel
    1. Damaged/bent or clogged ignition crossovers. Click to Enlarge 39.05 KB 2. Clogged orifices. 3. Low gas pressure. If it's the last burner after the valve on each furnace, I would investigate #3 first.
  16. Bill Kibbel
    Effervescence is little fizzy bubbles. Your foundation might have efflorescence. I see snakes occasionally, sometimes in living areas of the home too. I usually run away screaming like a little girl.
  17. Bill Kibbel
    That's a barometric draft control. It's only manufactured to be installed on a vent connector or in the chimney flue for oil-fired heating equipment.
  18. Bill Kibbel
    Doesn't CA use the UPC? I seem to remember something about CA requiring dishwasher discharge has to be installed with an airgap fitting above the flood level of the sink.
  19. Bill Kibbel
    I've had major problems with Netfirms since they were taken over by EIG.
  20. Bill Kibbel
    Don't step on the standing seams!
  21. Bill Kibbel
    I think the referenced chart applies to vents, not vent connectors. G2427.10.3.2 (503.10.3.2) Multiple draft hood. For a single appliance having more than one draft hood outlet or flue collar, the manifold shall be constructed according to the instructions of the appliance manufacturer. Where there are no instructions, the manifold shall be designed and constructed in accordance with approved engineering practices. As an alternate method, the effective area of the manifold shall equal the combined area of the flue collars or draft hood outlets and the vent connectors shall have a minimum 1-foot rise.
  22. Bill Kibbel
    Read Jim K's post #6 here: https://inspectorsjournal.com/forum/top ... IC_ID=5929 Should be in the home inspector school textbook.
  23. Bill Kibbel
    I don't mention s-traps unless it's recent construction or recent kitchen or bath remodel. Once in 29 years a client called to tell me the plumber installing a new sink said the trap is "illegal" and shouldn't have "passed" my inspection. This was a 260 year old house with a 1930s kitchen. I had one similar call for a drum trap.
  24. Bill Kibbel
    The pressure/gauge is an issue. pressure should be around 5 PSI per 8' rise. Weil Mclain is a simple but good boiler. The push nipples between the cast iron sections can fail on older models at about 20-35 years. Now they use O-rings that can fail at about 20-35 years. There's a white sticker on W/M boilers with numbers after "CP". Enter the numerals for the age here: http://www.weil-mclain.com/en/weil-mcla ... cp-lookup/
  25. Bill Kibbel
    Could be, but I don't know why the hot coat. Fingernail pinch test the edge of a seam.
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