Bill Kibbel

https://inspectorsjournal.com/forum/top ... C_ID=19327

If it's equipped with a Humiditrol, you would clearly see the dehumidification coil downstream of the AC/HP coil. There would also be a Tee in the AC/HP vapor line. If it's a HP, the model number would have XP or HPX. Did you see a reversing valve in the outdoor unit?

Air-cell must be a generic trade name. I've seen the term on K&M, JM, Ehret and Gast products and many times in old mechanical engineering books describing the product.

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That was part of the Keasbey & Mattison Company, manufacturer of many asbestos building products. I'm intimately familiar with one of the factory buildings that manufactured that brand, the company founder's mansion and several of the executives' homes. http://www.oldhouseweb.com/blog/the-cas ... -asbestos/ Coincidentally, I'm in Ambler next Tuesday to inspect a medical office building that used to be a K&M exec's home.

...8 years ago.

We need to complete what hausdok suggested in post #4.

I don't do WDI so I don't make the active/inactive call. There were plugged drill holes in the impervious surfaces around the building. There was plenty of damage in the basements and crawlspaces. Repairs were inadequate/incomplete. Tubes were only randomly scraped. I don't know if soil treatment was the only application. I would guess that infestation that high above grade would have colonies established well up in the building. Plenty of evidence of long term leaks. Most areas seemed fairly dry right now, except a large tower platform that had extensive damage. Mud seemed really moist in that area. The exterior walls are constructed of granite and cast stone. All the wood floor structures, platforms and the roof structure are entirely supported by the stone walls. The interior of the stone walls have plaster on expanded wire lathe attached to wood furring strips. I'm quite sure the furring strips were the path for them to ascend to the rafter sills and then into the roof structure

This is by far the highest infestation I've ever seen. This roof structure is about 70 feet above grade. Click to Enlarge 44.69 KB Click to Enlarge 44.04 KB

The backflow device in your pic is a double check valve assembly (under the hanging instruction sheet) that has 4 test cocks sticking out the right side.

Yes, it's a surge protector supplied by the well pump manufacturer. Many of the older ones are tear drop shaped or heart shaped. They're usually hanging out of the pump control box.

Did you put a pressure gauge anywhere on the "house" side? I suspect the fire suppression piping system is pressurized to 110, but the backflow device does not allow that pressure to transfer into the house piping.

https://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum ... C_ID=17629

I've read about old construction methods of using hewn timbers for footings when they are to be below the water table and are likely to remain saturated.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, ranging timber is the name for logs that were rough hewn square. There was a rule in the 18th century that stated all corners must be square and each side must greater than 6" and less than 12".

It's the same process and material used for relining municipal sewer lines. It's a mix of latex, Kevlar and zinc. I think one brand name is Duct Armor. I've recommended it for specific buildings that would be difficult to retrofit new duct systems. I think it's supposed to be 1/4" thick when applied inside Transite ducts. Should have the ducts scoped after application to check for complete coverage.

It's the same name and logo style I've seen on very old Hoffman water heaters (around 1920). They were all cast iron and manufactured in Ohio. It looks like Clayton & Lambert of KY bought the name and changed some of the parts to steel.

Yes, it was hard to understand that a lined chimney is unlined. Folks come here to learn from guys like you with decades of experience. You want them to identify a terra cotta lined chimney as "unlined"? Any home inspector could immediately loose all credibility making such a statement. The same thing here. Whether it needs it or not, they sell them a reline. Every single time, no matter the size or condition of the flue. Sometimes the new liners installed in correctly sized and perfect condition flues are too small and the appliance or fireplace doesn't vent properly. They still walk away with their hands full of money.

That's RE-lining - not installing a liner in an "unlined chimney". Many chimneys around here with terra cotta liners are about due for relining, particularly when the oil or coal equipment has long since been converted to LP or NG. Oil heating equipment alone usually tears up TC liners at between 40- 55 years. TC liners seem to hold up quite well to wood, unless there's been a chimney fire.

Liners are required for oil as well. That's not my question. The picture of the chimney in the OP clearly shows a terra cotta flue liner. You said it is an unlined chimney. Let me rephrase my question. Why is a terra cotta flue liner not a flue liner?

Since when is terra cotta not a liner?

In these parts, you're required to size the pump based on the fixture units. The pump manufacturer prescribes the basin size based on the GPM. My last pump required proper sizing for a run time range of between 15 seconds - 4 minutes.

First you have to determine the needed GPM of the pump, based on fixture units plus the total head. Then, refer to the pump manufacturer's chart for the correct size basin for proper pump frequency.

Mike L, Could you write up a quick piece about all this to go on the front page here at TIJ. If you would, please start a new topic under "The Latest News For Home Inspectors" forum. Use lots of key words about mold. TIJ articles show quite well in Google.

The capacitor mounts to the side of the blower housing. Some techs leave the old one and strap in a new one where it's easy. John - the blower door switch opens the circuit, but doesn't discharge a capacitor!