John Kogel

I don't see a lot of fused disconnects but on Thursday I had two of them. My client for the AM brought his electrician pal along, so i invited comments from him. He said those are nothing special fuses, they don't have a delayed response. What is he saying? Is there a slow-blow version of these cartridge fuses? They are 100 amp Jefferson fuses, and the house is about 100 years old. In the PM in a 1964 house I found a Pushmatic panel powered by these Federal fuses. They are 100 amp fuses marked '80' both in pencil and with stickers. What does the 80 signify? 80%? Click to Enlarge 56.29 KB Click to Enlarge 50.22 KB Click to Enlarge 43.97 KB Click to Enlarge 56.16 KB

stick an elbow on it and back away slowly. []

It is too big of a furnace for the unit. They could have an element removed and cut it back to about 50 amp draw.

The 200 amp breaker is just a disconnect as you say, that's ok. I would explain that in the report, 100 amp service with a 200 amp disconnect switch. 90 amps, could there be an electric furnace? A subpanel? I think I would call for an electrician do a load calculation.

Needs an old tube radio on the shelf to complete the scenario. If there was oil on Mars we'd be there now. []

Bill says it is a water-powered winch, a door opener. Are you suggesting he could be wrong? []

I did find one water-powered door opener, but that one is a bucket on a rope. [] I suggest studying the US patent records for the 1920's and 30's, sort of a winter project.

I think I posted pics of this place before. The Traveler's Hotel in Ladysmith, BC. Built before Hitler got his first pair of lederhosen. There was talk of changing the facade in the late 30's, but it never got done. Click to Enlarge 49.71 KB Click to Enlarge 42.71 KB

I think it is a practical way to extend the life of the home for a few more years. It works. And I agree, no need to walk it. Look at the crap on the roof next door. [:-party] I would like to add, for the benefit of anyone contemplating such a roof. Spend just a few more bucks. Add drip edge flashing and gutters before applying the torch-on membrane.

I finally figured out the last three pics. That is dirt on silicone sealer around a shower enclosure. Yes the dirt will often grow mould (mold) and the solution is to remove the old silicone sealer and replace it. Clean the bathroom and you won't get the black dirt. It is normal for any older bathroom, especially one that is rented. Why, because renters tend to neglect the place, expecting the landlord to maintain everything. Yet they also tend to complain if the landlord wants to come in. So you get this type of thing - dirt. We see similar moldy dirt in the window channels. People that clean up their living spaces and wipe the dirt off once in a while don't get this kind of dirt. The stain around the sprinkler head could be moisture from a leak or condensation on the cold pipe. Those other stains, who knows? Replace the ceiling tiles if it is a concern. If you are reacting to those typical, minor stains, you will not find safe rental housing anywhere on the planet, IMO.

Depending on the exposure and roof overhang, I'd maybe put 2 red arrows, 'Seal gaps here and here". I'm not much of an educator. []

I think it helps that the big hollow box behind the faux stone is nailed to the wall. So the downward thrust on the sides transfers to the wall, as long as it is well nailed, that is.

That is amazing. Obviously there is damp soil in that crawl. []

That looks like a gas burner. A bunch of rusted junk attached to the wall. []

Hey Marc, thanks for doing the math. Not too many people have 150 amps to spare for the Tempra 29. But an average household would not be happy with less than that, IMO, if that is about 120k BTU/hr.

Leave a note. Clear junk away from the attic hatch. Clear junk out from under all the sinks. Clear junk away from the E panel, furnace and water heater Clean the chimney and fireplace Replace bad or missing lightbulbs.

The Tempra 29 requires 3 50 amp double breakers. I think there are 3 heaters then, like 3 high powered kettles, and the unit draws 28.8 kilowatts. If you have the space in your panel for those breakers, I'd say go for it. German engineering is usually a good thing.

Yes, you will still want to check whatever structure is above for damage from moisture. I pulled up a carpet one time in a room above the indoor pool. It was not a pretty sight. [:-magnify

In the 80's, the GE Water Bank was given as a free accessory to people that bought an AC. It makes a lot of sense where you have 9 mos of AC. Keep your conventional heater in the loop for the winter months. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2 ... 13,2105156

If you have gas, a demand water heater is your best choice. The GE hot water bank? Google it. In all my years, I've seen one in a crawlspace, connected to the refrigerant lines from a heat pump. The home owner had turned the water off to it. My guess is it was robbing heat from the heating system. I think since you do not have gas(?), look to installing a small electric storage heater in a closet near the bathroom. For the kitchen sink, a small under the sink water heater. Then turn your big water heater down so it is just preheating for the small heaters. Talk to your neighbors about putting solar panels up on the roof.

I suspect the fuse or circuit breaker blew on the transformer, maybe from squirrel damage. The transformer was re-energized, then two days later it failed again, the neutral burned out, causing the fire? Too bad a guy with a PhD couldn't write a better description. []

Is there a solvent or cleaner that won't damage the roofing?

The deck is actually a roof. The roof she has a chimney and the chimney she has a smoky old woodstove dripping creosote all over the place. The deck cover is torched-on mod bit with a light granular topping. What is a reasonable way to wash the roof so it looks a bit better without damaging the roofing? I have suggested strongly that they lay down a walking surface, which will also cover up the stain. Any ideas? Click to Enlarge 29.22 KB Click to Enlarge 70.57 KB

I understand the reasoning behind those vents is this. Where houses are squeezed onto narrow lots, fire is less likely to jump from house to house with the soffits closed off and the vents installed like that on the roof. So it is a good thing. Hey, your skylights are cock-eyed. Must be a local preference. []

Interesting. A thermally protected fan would have been a good thing then? I wonder if they will take the hint and do some maintenance and upgrading..