John Kogel

It could be my fault. I said 'EMF' cuz I couldn't mumember 'flux'. So Marc said 'flux' in a sentence or two. So Bob said .... the rest of the story. [] Condensation in that metal cabinet could be causing corrosion between the steel plates of the core, big word, laminations, but that would only be if the transformer sits idle for some time. Rusty transformer plates can be rescued by careful cleaning and coating with something like varnish. But that would be one visual clue to look for.

Good Gosh Almighty. Erby's right. Look what I done started. Sorry Fellas. Marc I'll see yer one tranny and raise y'all a box full. [] Click to Enlarge 65.94 KB

EMF, electromotive force, is getting the thing all excited. When transformers buzz, they are usually crying for help, overloaded or something. At least I wouldn't ignore it, as that is a pricey item to replace.

Yes, the larger size wire nut can accommodate 6 #14 wires. No, those don't appear to be the large size wirenuts, so it is likely a fault. (I'm not familiar with that perticular brand of "Marr" nut.[])

John, you are correct, if the red and black both use the one neutral, the current on the neutral will never exceed 15 amps. But it is an amateur installation, so you could be justified in calling it out for a closer look. I can't figure out a reason for what he did there.

In the past I have suggested they close off the ash pit with a metal plate. Nobody knows how to use them anyway. Best fix is an airtight wood or gas-burning insert. Safe and efficient, no need to hire a d____f. []

I'm a 'netfirms' kind of guy. My site is $10 a month. Netfirms will still recognize MS Frontpage, which I use because I have it. Frontpage lets you drag pics onto a page and build the page in Normal view, simple. AutoSaves the pics to an images file. I use Filezilla to post new pages to my site anytime I want, so I can change a page in 5 minutes. I use netfirms webmail as well, part of the package.

Big tin snips, sounds like the way to go.The tank service company will clean up the site. That is their bread and butter. Rob, are you saying it could be deemed to be my fault if there is oil in the ground? I found the stupid thing. []

The "Whistler" came to me as a present from Costco and my wife. At that time it sold for $150. Probably not available anymore, knowing how Costco operates. It's ok for what it is. I feel guilty now because I haven't used it for work. But I will someday. The light is not real strong, so you can't see inside a dark space for any great distance. 6 feet with the extension. The image is saved by the monitor unit and can be sent from there by a USB cord to a computer. Click to Enlarge 51.83 KB Click to Enlarge 67.19 KB

A half-buried tank in the crawlspace?? I gave them the number for the guys that dig tanks out of the ground here, but they are machine operators, not groundhogs. I'm thinking two guys with mattocks could dig this tank free and yard it out with a come-along in a few hours. Am I nuts? Click to Enlarge 73.9 KB Click to Enlarge 53.54 KB Click to Enlarge 70.51 KB

Pressure treated wood in the ground will last quite a while. Any cut ends should be coated with a preservative. My guesstimate would be 10 years before you will notice any change in the wood, maybe longer. If the backfill is well-drained, gravel instead of dirt, the posts will last a very long time. So yes, you could excavate and pour concrete piers under there, which is what they should have done, or you could just enjoy the deck and concentrate on getting healthy. In termite country, all bets are off. Termites will find the untreated cut end of the post and start tunneling. But Ontario is only termite-riddled in the Toronto suburbs, AFAIK.

Richard, I carry a slim metal rod with a pointed end somewhere in my truck. Nope, never use it, but for that mystery, I might have prodded the ground below to see if there was a tank there. Judging from the Mickey Mouse clamps and threaded rod support, I'd guess it was part of Mr Handy's irrigation system. We have robots that can carry a web cam into those creepy cavities. You have a dog. He could be sent in ahead to dig a tunnel for you. The possibilities are endless. But in the end, it is quicker and easier to just suit up and do it. Thursday PM, I was welcomed by a swarm of honey bees when I opened the crawl hatch. I put on my rain jacket with the hood and crept my way in like a big old bear. Intimidated them. Got stung about an hour later. []

Thanks, John. I put that pic in my library. Keep them coming! []

I would suggest calling a local mason. Your clients will need one anyway. Maybe it's a new faux brick that only appears to be falling apart? [] Any brick chips on the ground?

Since nobody has responded yet, I will jump in. We can't answer the question. We don't know what is behind the vinyl and we don't know where the chimney is located in relationship to the earth.

Wow. Building Officials in your area are not taking their jobs very seriously. No way that could pass here.

JD says "New Construction", then absolutely I would call it. I don't see a reason to allow new construction flaws where builders bend rules to get it done quicker or cheaper.

Nope, that was lunch. Road kill? Maybe coons, but I figured otters brought the seafood. There could have been any number of critters using that space, easy access. A few years ago, I saw an otter go under my garden shed, looking to have babies under there, maybe. So next day, I got my camera in the hole and snapped a shot of a racoon sleeping under there, no sign of the otter. I closed off the gaps under the shed with metal soffit covers and now they just trip thru the yard to the neighbor's place.

I don't know about inspectors, but somebody's best friend certainly died. [] Click to Enlarge 53.78 KB

I'll see your green cap and raise you a green flue. [] Click to Enlarge 67.61 KB I turned a bit green myself taking this shot. Otters were bringing crab carcasses into the crawlspace, yuck. The stench was coming up the chimney thru the cleanout. Click to Enlarge 44.31 KB Click to Enlarge 48.32 KB

Up in the Frozen North, the flies are smaller so they have to team up and tear the meat into little pieces first. []

Erby is the man. If an electrician were to add a pigtail and a wire nut, it would be more correct. AFAIK, only the newer Square D and newer Cutler Hammer CH breaker are officially permitted to take two wires, (and those two should be the same gauge, but that might just be me. There is less chance of one oversized wire being doubled with a smaller one but we see it all out there.) So I would call for the addition of a pigtail. That old equipment should have a good checkup anyway. Again, some people may disagree and say that Bulldogs are the best. Where are they now? Are they as sensitive as the newer technology breakers? [?]

He cut a couple short on the right. Forgot to identify the neutral SEC with white tape or paint. I give him a B+, with a pat on the head. [] Canadian inspectors would see some errors, but we have some different rules.

Thanks, and good advice, Nolan. 7 no's, 2 yes and 1 hit or miss, that's a pretty good pool poll. [:-graduat

I thought methane was odorless & colorless. That's why they needed the canary in the coal mine. You are correct. I was thinking the smell of sewer gas from a broken pipe should be obvious, but if only methane gas is present, yes, you need to pack a canary with you. I wonder if flatulence has ever killed a canary? Might want to provide him with a little gas mask, come to think of it. []