Marc

Inspectors in Louisiana serve on the Board of Home Inspectors for no more than 6 years. They can't serve more than once. As in Washington State, the compensation likely doesn't even approximate the inspection sales lost when a board member has to travel and attend a meeting. I haven't served yet, but if I ever do, I've agreed that it'll be all about improving the industry in our state, not about the compensation. I'll likely have to pay for the services of a 'real time' court reporter in order to follow the meetings (I'm as deaf as a post but I can speak fairly well), which I will do if needed. I'll just make certain that while I'm on that board, that I give it 100%, just like each and every one of my clients. Either that or don't serve. Marc

Also check that the draft hood is properly installed. It should clear the top of the water heater to allow ventilation air to enter the flue alongside the burner gases, aiding the draft within the flue while also cooling the flue gases somewhat. Marc

In addition to Mike's suggestions, you might also confirm that the vertical rise of the flue measures at least 5'. Also confirm that negative pressure conditions within the area of the water heater are not excessive. The presence of other vented gas powered appliances within the same space as the water heater may cause sufficient negative pressure to result in draft issues on natural draft appliances. The presence of bath or kitchen exhaust fans, clothes dryers (electric or gas powered) will add to a negative pressure issue. Marc

How so? Marc

Squat in public for a good cause? I'd just give them the money. Maybe that's the idea behind it all. People would rather just pay then squat. Marc

Close but no cigar. One volt is the electromotive force required to create a current of one ampere through a resistance of one ohm. It results in the dissipation of 1 watt of power. Marc

Sounds like a good idea but I get enough 'pie in the face' as it is. Marc

That picture of the thermostat (47.85KB): where's the common wire? Electronic thermostats need the common (neutral) for proper operation.

I know that I'm the odd guy out, but I always recommend that prior roof finishes be removed before applying a new one. Don't ask me for my basis. I've simply seen too many doubled up asphalt shingle roofs with widespread moisture-damaged decking to bother. Marc

You seem to indicate that the furnace works properly for only the first 30 minutes after applying power after which the burner fails. Another 30 minutes of operation is sometimes, but usually not possible by interrupting the power to the unit. I would allow the furnace to function until the burner fails then check for proper voltages at each of the control card terminals. That might point you in the direction of the fault. If the voltages are all normal, I might suspect the main burner solenoid valve. I assume there is no problem with the gas supply or air in the gas line. Marc

All state governments should have minimum standards for home inspector qualifications and the reports that they produce. It's good for our industry but it doesn't appear to me that inspector Jeff Barnes is able to function properly as chairman of the newly created Kansas Home Inspection Registration Board. He has taken advantage of his membership on the Board to portray himself as a superior inspector as evidenced by his website. Mr. Barnes is in a highly visible position and can further improve the image of the home inspection industry in his state by taking the initiative to observe simple ethics. Marc

A plantation home here in south Louisiana built near the turn of the century had six layers of asphalt shingle roofing over the original cedar shingles on spaced decking. During the demolition phase, I had access to a cross section of it and measured the total thickness at 2 1/4 inches. The roofing nails on the top few layers didn't even hit any wood. A lot of dump fees. The framing held surprisingly well and was undamaged. This was 7 years ago before I became an inspector. Marc

I'll wager that she does more 'freelance writing' than inspecting. She has far too loose a tongue. Marc

Jeez Bill! How old are you? Marc

That is basically how I would handle it. I wonder if anyone noticed that narrow stretch of eaves between the bottom of the valley and the rake on that lower roof surface? It looks about a foot wide. Rainwater from an apparently large upper roof surface will add to the rain that falls on the lower roof surfaces to add up to a considerable flow. I've seen cases where the water backed up, even on pitches this high and breach the roof surface, rotting the decking. That valley has a lower pitch because it's at an angle and is likely to be the location of a breach if a breach happens. I don't think the shingle manufacturer intended his shingles to handle this much volume. Marc

Yes. You can refer to an unbalanced neutral as a 4-wire delta as long as you make it clear that the neutral is provided by a center tap on one of the 240V transformers. Because this neutral is a longer 'graphical' distance to one line than it is to the other two, the voltage to neutral on that line is higher, 208V and can be a hazard if not properly identified as codes require. It can certainly be used if you have a load for it. Practically impossible, yes. 'Balanced neutral' means that the utility neutral is electrically equidistant to each of the three lines. The unbalanced delta or '4 wire delta' uses a transformer center tap so it is equidistance to two of the lines but not the third one. That's why it's called unbalanced delta. I should have pointed this out a little more clearly. Thanks. I'm not a genius either, just happen to be educated on this topic. Those were good questions. Marc

The 3 phase configuration is used in most utility power transmission and distribution applications. The only other configuration in current use is DC (like the voltage from your car battery). Several decades ago, a few 2 phase systems were in use but have since been replaced by 3 phase. The primary attraction of the 3 phase configuration is that it delivers more power per length of conductor. It is the most economical use of copper, aluminum or whatever material is chosen as conductor. It also is an ideal choice for powering induction motors. 3 phase induction motors have a much higher starting torque than any capacitor-start single phase motor. You will notice that 3 phase AC condenser units do not have nor need start capacitors. The simplest way to explain 3 phase is to visualize 3 portable power plants alongside each other that are of identical manufacture. Each one is a single phase source of AC power. AC means alternating current, which means that the current alternates in direction from positive to negative. Most gasoline powered portable power plants run at 3,600 RPM which is 60 revolutions per second. The frequency of electrical power used in the United States is also 60 cycles per second. Now, visualize that we expose the shaft of the rotor on each generator and we bolt an arrow onto it so that the arrow rotates about its center just as the rotor does. When the power plant is running at 3,600 rpm, the arrow is also spinning along with the rotor, and the vertical distance from the tip of the arrow to the shaft of the generator goes from a positive number when it’s above the shaft to a negative number when it is below the shaft. Let’s now rotate the position of the arrow on the shaft so that the arrow is pointed straight up when the voltage on the generator leads is at its positive maximum at that point in time. Mathematics will show that the vertical distance from the tip of the arrow to the shaft of the generator varies in exactly the same fashion as the voltage on the power plant. It’s called a sinusoidal waveform and all countries that use AC power also use this same waveform. None of us have eyes that can follow the arrow tip at 3,600 RPM but if we could, the vertical distance to the shaft is what the voltage available from any household outlet would be proportional to. Now let’s add a sprocket to the each generator shaft. What we have now is 3 power plants alongside each other with an arrow and a sprocket attached to the shaft of each generator. Let’s number them #1, # 2 and #3 from left to right. Adjust the position of the generator shaft on power plant #1 by pulling on the engine crank until the arrow points straight up. Do the same for #2 and #3 except that the arrow should point 120 degrees past #1 and the arrow on #3 should point 240 degrees past #1. Now let’s link the 3 power plants together by installing a common bicycle chain on all 3 sprockets. Start it up and if the leads from the three power plants are properly connected to each other, you will have a 3 phase power plant. Apart from the mechanics, it would work. There are different ways to connect the generator leads, depending on what type of 3 phase configuration you want. See the attached drawings for the two most common. Click to Enlarge 25.74 KB Click to Enlarge 27.14 KB A 3rd configuration, called ‘open delta’ has only 2 transformers instead of 3 but functions identically as a regular delta configuration except that the available power is much reduced from that of the transformer nameplates. This is concern for the utility and not the home inspector. Open delta is often used where most of the electrical loads for a particular application are single phase loads with only a few three phase loads which are usually electric furnaces or AC condenser units. The home inspector can identify a 3 phase panel by the presence of three ungrounded bus bars instead of two. 3 phase breakers may or may not be present. The third bus bar also may or may not be connected. This happens sometimes when the electrical service to a residence has been demoted from 3 phase to single phase. If the inspector encounters this, he should be concerned with whether or not the size of the original 3 phase panel remains adequate for the loads present. The power available from a 3 phase panel with a given ampacity served by single phase power is much less than that of the same panel (same ampacity) served by 3 phase. Available currents remain unchanged. The inspector should report the characteristics of the service supplied by the utility, whether it is 3 phase balanced neutral, 3 phase unbalanced neutral or single phase. He should also report the available voltages. It is vitally important that the inspector report on an unbalanced 3 phase installation that the voltage on one certain leg of the panel board (identified by orange markings on the main service conductor) is 208V, not 120V. It IS possible to install a single pole breaker on the 208 bulbar. What’s important is that the load on this breaker be a 208V load, not 120V and that the breaker is rated for 208V service. Marc

'Introduction to 3-phase electrical systems for home inspectors' coming up. Marc

And by the way, 100 amps is 100 amps. As Freud once said, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Marc

I don't think I've seen more than half a dozen in 6 years worth of home inspections, but I do my own evaluations of them. My engineering degree prepares me for it. Would TIJ like me to write on that topic? Marc

Perhaps get out your multimeter and check the voltages. If you find the voltage to be 208V from one leg to neutral but 120V from the other two legs to neutral then it's an 'unbalanced neutral' configuration which is most popular among residences served by three phase power. A few installations might have a 'balanced' neutral configuration in which case all three lines will measure 120V from neutral. The balanced config has 208V between any two of the three lines which most appliance nameplates accept in lieu of 240V. Marc

That's what I thought too. Most condenser manufacturers use compressors made by Bristol, Copeland, etc but Trane/GE has their compressor. Marc

Goodman condensers and air handlers have very simple designs, nothing fancy. Easy to purchase, not difficult to work on like Carrier residential units. You need less parts in the truck to complete most servicve calls. Good long life. Marc

I'm not the best man to do everything, Chris. Don't want to be. Just want to be the best home inspector. When I'm wearing my home inspection cap, I don't wear a roofer's cap, framer's cap or builder's cap though I've worn them before and many others too. I wear just the home inspector's cap on that job because those are the only liabilities that I'm willing to assume at that moment. I do use every bit of knowledge that I have to come up with a report that paints a picture of the condition of the dwelling that is as precise as possible for my client. That, for me, is a challenge because there is so much that I cannot see when the house is completely built. Of course, everyone's entitled to do business as they wish and I still learn from a lot of people who participate in this forum.

But what about the conductors? They can't stretch.