Bill Kibbel

I don't have any personal experience, but I read about them every few years. I've never seen any legitimate, completely unbiased and conclusive study/research that substantiates the claims of these electronic frequency softener salesfolks. I think they're as effective as the strappin' of magnets to the water pipe. The only result is the same as some patients that are prescribed sugar pills - "Wow, it's much better now". If someone disagrees, please post a published conclusion based on qualified research results.

I thought I recognized the name. I found it in the 2009 Edition NFPA Gas Code Handbook. Mr. Torbin authored a supplement in the handbook titled Update on the Design and Installation Requirements for CSST Gas Piping Systems. I don't see any mention of "CSST should be kept away from other metal components to the extent possible". I don't find it anywhere in the 2009 gas code or anywhere in my handbook. Mr. Torbin's text does however, support what Mr. Katen has been explaining. "Electrical Bonding and Grounding, has been revised to require that all CSST systems be bonded to the electrical service ground where the gas service enters the building using at least a 6 AWG copper conductor or equivalent. This bond is intended to divert much of the lightning energy directly to earth before it can jump to another nearby electrically conductive pathway, such as copper water pipe or electrical wiring". I'm thinking what was said verbally may have been misinterpreted. He may have been explaining what could/did happen when CSST, not properly bonded, was near other conductive materials.

If there's no opening for regeneration, it could well be a Culligan. They originally didn't sell water softeners. They sold a service that softened water. The "Culligan Man" (a franchise) appeared regularly at customers homes to switch out canisters.

It could be an old filter, if it contains sand/gravel/clay/bone charcoal or an old softener if it contains gravel & zeolite. If there's no other opening than for the 2 pipes, it was the type that got switched out on a regular schedule.

That would be for a cast iron or enameled steel tub. Acrylic tubs need to be fully supported on the bottom. Setting the base in a mortar bed is preferred. Asphalt shingles are used in cheap construction. Some acrylic tubs have a foam pad pre-installed. These pads are also set in mortar if the floor below the pad isn't level. Select the tub and make it like the picture in the instrucciones.

It's called V-crimp seam metal roofing. If the date of the house is correct, the roof is not original. That type of preformed panel wouldn't be manufactured before 1915 and wasn't widely used until the '30s. It's galvanized, not terne coated. It was considered inferior by metal workers as it didn't require seaming tongs or soldering irons (or any skill) for installation and the fasteners were exposed. It was popular on farms and remote rural areas, 'cuz it was a do-it-yourself roof, without special skills or tools.

Most of the roof inspection requests I get are for commercial buildings. I insist on inspecting the "underside" of the roof too. I once had a call to inspect "only the roof" of a small apartment building. The appraiser had some concerns and the lender insisted on a roof inspection. I mentioned in the report that the (active) chimney that collapsed has left a big leaking hole. The owner of the listing agency demanded it not be included in the report as it wasn't part of the "roof system". I refused and the listing broker informed me that I will never work in that county again. That real estate company is now gone, but I'm still here.

In addition to what Jim said: There are still cities and towns that require whole house traps. I've had plumbers insist they be torn out immediately after the municipal inspections are completed. Whole house traps were very commonly recommended by septic system installers. A handful still do. I've found that typically buildings built before 1940 have the traps installed within the footprint. After WWII, they're most often in the yard and have a vent next to a clean-out. Some areas have the whole house trap near the street - they were called "curb traps".

Note: Greg sells and installs manufactured homes.

Clams have butts? Yes, and they're very tight because it has to keep out the whole ocean. I think Mike O. and my father are of the same generation.

The only incident I've been involved with was there were multiple failures of PEX in a building, that was traced to storage/handling issues. There were several splits that leaked. The evidence pointed to extended exposure to direct sunlight.

Not one word of what you typed matters in lawsuits like this one.

I get it - it's a kickstand!

I think you're saying that the mold is visible/growing on the "living space" side of the drywall. If it was from what you suggest, the drywall, insulation and framing behind would likely be a saturated mess. My guess would be that moisture inside the home is condensing on the cold "vaulted" ceiling. I would suspect an insulation problem and this has been developing for some time - they're just now clearly noticing it. I'd be suggesting a method to measure moisture levels well above the finished surface, to determine if I was right or wrong.

Scott is correct. WRB was not a requirement in the IRC until the 2006 edition.

Am I the only one that can't come up with something that doesn't use the words "spinny thingie"?

Dale Duffy made it up. John Bowman is the "Director". Their address is a UPS store. Nuff said.

Mike has hit the nail on the head. If your client is in PA, we've been monitoring this closely and the only "reports" of the tainted drywall from PA were a small handful of complaints filed with the CPSC. As of this date, we have not found a single documented, laboratory confirmed case of this product in PA.

In a box somewhere, there's a photo of me up on a thatched roof almost looking as if I know what I'm doing. I'm even wearing an authentic cap. Thatchers traditionally used pole ladders. It's a long pole, split in half for rails and drilled for rungs. They can be as tall as 50'. In the UK, they also use "push-up" ladders. They're similar to our extension ladder, except they're often 3 section! There are also "hanger ladders", that hang from the ridge.

Yeah, I didn't see this question, Mike. If the Frontier Culture Museum recreated this Irish Farmhouse correctly, they would have used what's called "peat sod" for the "underthatch". It might look a bit like the dirt clumped from under grass sod, but it's quite different. It's vegetation that already decayed in a marsh.

EPDM is synthetic rubber. The top manufacturers (Firestone, Carlisle, etc.) require a protective barrier called paver mat, between concrete pavers and the roofing membrane. Carlisle has a rubber paver that doesn't need a mat. You should be able to easily find if the mat is present.

Sacrarium "In the sacristy you will find the sacrarium -- a special sink with a pipe that bypasses the sewer, unlike an ordinary sink, but instead goes straight into the earth. This sink is made thus to preserve the dignity of sacred things which can no longer be used. For ex., the sacred vessels are rinsed there so that no particle of the consecrated Host or no drop of the Precious Blood will end up in the sewer. The first rinse used to clean Altar linens, old baptismal water, sacred oils, blessed ashes, etc., all these are disposed of in the sacrarium, returning those substances to the earth". From http://www.fisheaters.com/churchbuilding.html. After finding this, I gotta go put the correct terms for the parts of the church in the report.

Wow Jerry, thanks for the superfast response. It was holding up this report.

I am inspecting a very large church, 2 schools, rectory and convent at a property this week. I have questions for any Catholics. What is the room called, where the priest prepares for mass? There are a pair of sinks in this room. One is small and round and has no trap. The drain doesn't seem to tie into the waste piping of the building and might just dump into the ground. I'm guessing from the extra corrosion that it might be used for dumping leftover wine? Is there a name for this sink? Click to Enlarge 46.87 KB

I did what you suggested. My wife wants to me to ask you what to do with the stuff that was plugged into the circuit that is no longer supplied from the breaker I pulled. GE uses a paper sticker too.