crusty

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"In order for that mold to really cause problems you have to eat it in huge quantities," Is this guy for real?[:-bigeyes

What size is the service Paul? The meter is in front of the main breaker isn't it? st

Ditto

Solid advice. More often than not in our business, less is really more. The less you say the more effective your comment. This is a potentially serious finding and the low CO readings really do dilute the effectiveness of any warning you issue on your clients' behalf. Who knows what the readings will be next week or next hour after the heater itself runs under demand for awhile.

My attempts at outlining the details are not accurate. The end mixed results are what stick in my mind. It was a 1970's? project to develop new technology and construction methods in order to build more energy efficient homes, primarily dealing with the design of the building envelope. The raised heel (or "Arkansas Truss" was one of the real positive things that came out of it, of course there were many, but on the negative side, the super sealing of the wall cavities led to dry rot inside the wall cavity. If one were to go back and research it properly , which I can't, I can't find anything when I do a web search; this was most likely the start of the problems we are having with trapped moisture inside the building envelope leading to unhealthy indoor environments, the remediation of which promises to be the next big thing in building technology.

Mike is absolutely right. What the knowledgeable Joe L. mentions in his well written articles for attic and crawl space ventilation in his climate may be right. I don't know, I don't live in his climate. I know my climate and enter 4-6 sub areas a week, getting to see a variety of conditions and problems. As Mike stated Joe's proposal is not universal and won't fly in my climate. More ventilation is better IMO. And so are vapor barriers on the bottom. There is a huge performance difference between areas with hot humid nights and climates where the temps radically drop 30 plus degrees in the evening. This stuff is all starting to remind me of the Arkansas project and the catastrophes that followed as the structure rotted away.

If you ever attend one of Douglas' presentations ask him to relate the story of the house he was called out to for testing of a typical FPE installation. They threw a dead short across a circuit. The breaker in the sub panel did not trip. The breaker in the main panel in front of the sub feed did not trip. The main did not trip. As Douglas relates, it was quite a show watching the fire follow the SE cable to the transformer. But then your clients' sparky did not see that one. I have run into a lot of licensed people in the electrical field whose expertise does not extend much past the ability to strip wire and turn screws. Sad but true. When you're right, your right. Stand your ground. Educate your clients and sleep well.

New construction under most if not all building codes requires fresh air intake for combustion and ventilation of the enclosure. Check your local codes for the exact required configuration.

Ditto, his butt is on the line, in writing, but he is wrong. When a client informs me a tradesperson disagrees I always tell them to ask the specific question and get the answer in writing. Any one on the face of this earth that guarantees any FPE breaker to trip the next time a trip is called for is a fool and this electrician wisely failed to address the undependable tripping aspect of the issue. I would respectfully and pointedly disagree like Jim indicated but would go a step further and have the client point blank address the undependable fire causing tripping issue with said questionably qualified screw turning wire stripper with a license and get that answer in writing too.

I dunno but I would put some distance behind me before I disclaimed and deferred it. I wouldn't want it p_ _ _ed it off at me. [:-scared][:-shake][]

No doubt correct. I have a couple of boilerplate comments to cover this very common situation coupled with another one to instruct the client to become familiar with the location of the main breaker and assure access. Often HOA's have a tendency to lock up the shut off locations creating an unsafe condition IMO.

Unfortunately old news out here.[:-censore

I wrote my own word template, still carry a shell copy on a metal clipboard for field notes and write it at home. When things slow down I will be switching to a laptop with Homegauge software. I finally found one flexible enough to tweak to look like my current report. I will still finish at home but should only consist of posting the report to the web and mailing. I do not intend to deliver on-site. I like the opportunity to proof and edit with my resources at hand. Rather than raise prices next spring I will stop printing and go to an all electronic format and charge a premium if the client wants a printed report mailed to them.

[:-dunce]OOOPS, I misunderstood your "meeting with the builder." st

Jim brings up a great point. If it looks wrong it generally is and your photos show a deficient installation no matter what the material is. Leaks are leaks. Detect, describe, disclaim and defer. Your job is done. If the builder wants to warranty the installation tell your client to have him put it in writing. That generally shuts them up. It's a rare instance indeed when I let anyone other than my client or their agent steal my time. Stand behind your call. It is not our job to go wallow in the mud over these things.

Here is the IRC take on it. Good advice Scott. G2414.5.2 (403.5.2) Copper tubing. Copper tubing shall comply with standard Type K or L of ASTM B 88 or ASTM B 280. Copper and brass tubing shall not be used if the gas contains more than an average of 0.3 grains of hydrogen sulfide per 100 standard cubic feet of gas (0.7 milligrams per 100 liters.

Home Guage also works well and is very adaptable to different reporting styles.

Insulation is insulation no matter which side of the attic floor it is on.

Am I suddenly delusional? RECOMMENDATION : Further evaluation and correction by a qualified state licensed plumber [:-dunce]

I've noted Canadian Colonels, Polish Princes and Greek Generals but am unaware of any English Majors around here.

It should be noted that I'm not too fond of the passive voice either, but it may be that I am prone to using it more often than one should.

I saw another brand that is ventless recently. I forget the name now. Some weird European brand. Have you tried the Bosch web site?

It's a brand new fixture Chris. I didn't get the brand name. There were two in side by side twin sinks and only one had the problem. What gets me is that there would have to be a pressue differential between the hot and cold supply lines for this to happen.