SNations

I would think that excessive voltage drop would be a problem long before any kind of excessive heat or mechanical failure. Maybe the solution is to measure the voltage at or near the main panelboard. Of course that's just a snapshot based on current load conditions.

OK, that's a bad thing. Now I'm curious: has anyone ever heard of a service drop failing because it overheated? How much heat would it take for it to fail? Personally, I can't believe that in a million years that would happen for 90 feet of #3 Cu to a 200 amp service.

Marc, what bad thing do you see happening from the service drop being smaller than the SEC needs to be?

Here in Chicagoland I've never seen any type of openable transom in a steam shower. Another interesting geographical variation.

I don't want to minimize your electrical problems, but if your crawl space is moist then that's a big problem unto itself. You need to dry out your crawl space. Seal it off from the outside. Vapor barrier on the ground. Ventilate it with conditioned house air. (Can you connect it -- or is it connected -- to the rest of the basement?) Insulate the outside walls.

And then what? Replacing the duct system is only an option for Mike Holmes. I'd do a duct leakage test and then I'd measure the airflow from each register. Then I'd take that info along with a visual examination of the system and give them some recommendations. At the top of the list is probably calling Mike Holmes. Nowhere on the list is to keep working with the same HVAC contractor who provided the original opinion. I once did an energy audit for a client who told me that her living room was always cold. One supply register was closed and the other was almost totally blocked by the couch. There might be a simple solution to improve things.

Hi Douglas,The first paragraph of the code the Jim posted says, "Indirect waste piping shall discharge into the building drainage system through and airgap or airbreak as set forth in this code." The IRC definition of "indirect waste pipe" is: A waste pipe that discharges into the drainage system through an air gap into a trap, fixture or receptor. So the IRC leaves off the air break part (and also uses two words for "air gap"). Referring to the picture that Nolan posted, that's not what I think of when I envision an air break, because I envision that to mean that the pipes aren't touching at all (overlapping, but not touching). If you say it's an airbreak then I believe you. But it certainly is not an air gap. Right? So the IRC doesn't prohibit Nolan's example, as far as I can tell. Also, I'm not aware of any authoritative requirement (except for the California code that Jim posted) that AC condensate must drain in an indirect manner into the building's drainage system. I've seen the requirement, but not from an authoritative source. Are you aware of any such source, such as the IRC? Do you know if the International Plumbing Code addresses this issue?

Jim,While it's clear that the OP's installation is fine, the last paragraph of the code you posted isn't totally clear to me. Do you think that this code is calling the connection to the tailpiece (like Nolan posted) an indirect connection? If so then I'm not seeing it.

Don't bother to hire a home inspector to look at your foundation. That will be a huge waste of money. It's pretty clear that your foundation is fine -- at least the part that's visible, and an inspector can't see the rest anyway. Call an arborist if you have concerns. Who told you the tree has a fatal wound? Do you believe that person? Do you want a second opinion? Are there branches that threaten your house? Has this tree stopped growing? Is it at a stage where the roots are done growing and now the tree will either thrive or die? The concerns are primarily with the tree, so call a tree person if you have questions.

As I read it this section describes the plumbing for an indirect receptor but it doesn't define what needs to be plumbed that way.

I'm also looking at the 2012 Code Check, and under "Condensate Control (AC & Condensing Furnaces)" it says: "May drain to indirect receptor (lav tailpiece, tub overflow)" and under the '12 IRC column it says [local] and under the '12 UMC column it says {312.5&6}. Maybe the plumbers do consider this to be an indirect receptor but it doesn't seem to fit the definition.

I still don't see it. Do you have something like Nolan shows, where the condensate drain line T's into the sink tail piece? Your reference doesn't seem to prohibit that. A receptor is defined as receiving discharge from indirect waste pipe. Indirect waste pipe is defined as a waste pipe that discharges through an air gap into a trap. Certainly what Nolan shows doesn't have an air gap, so I don't see how it's prohibited by the IRC.

Who says it's a violation of the IRC? Can you quote a section or reference a section number? Your local jurisdiction may not allow it, but that's for them to explain. I would point to section 1411.3 to show that it's not a violation.

As a dues-paying ASHI member I want to echo the idea that ASHI should play a huge role in helping Mr. Russell. This affects all of us. I trust that our board will lead on this issue.

I think you have a lot more investigating to do before it's time to bring out the codes. A blower door test would be a good place to start. They should have measured the humidity during the winter if they wanted to diagnose the problem. The newest (and fairly tough) International Energy Conservation Code didn't take effect in Illinois until January 1 of this year, so that's not in effect. Plus, this being Chicago I think you need to start browsing Chicago code if you're going to try to compel the builder to do anything useful.

A sub-slab radon mitigation system might help.

Huge mistake to list "use recycled products" ahead of "improve energy efficiency" in the hierarchy of green building. HUGE.

There's a big difference between an advocate and a zealot, isn't there.

I had a co-worker once who, after somebody else who should have known better stuck his hand into a piece of electronic equipment and shocked himself, commented how interesting it is that so many really good swimmers drown. Familiarity really does breed contempt.

yes, a 3 ft minimum height is required and the chimney should be 2 ft higher than any structure in a 10 ft radius. In that case, I suspect the taller chimney was installed after which would explain the height difference and the roof vents are brand new. Around here it's sort of common practice to stagger the heights of flues that are near each other, so I don't think the different heights necessarily indicates that they were installed at different times. And I don't think the 3-2-10 rule applies to other nearby flues.

What's the difference between semi-rigid and flexible metal? I always thought they were synonymous. In fact here's a link to a dryer manufacturer installation manual that says on page 31: "Use rigid exhaust duct or 521P3 semi-rigid flexible metal duct kit." So they seem to think the two terms are interchangeable. Download Attachment: dryer info 503806.pdf 695.93 KB

I'm not sure what you mean here. IRC still doesn't allow single wall connector in an attic or crawl space. 2012 -- G2427.10.2.2 (503.10.2.2) Vent connectors located in unconditioned areas.

I can see this guy's point, to some degree. But the solution, if there is one, doesn't involve limiting the post-inspection negotiating rights of the buyer. It involves requiring much better pre-offer disclosure from the seller. Information is the great economic equalizer, and that's what we provide.

Thank you Kurt. You've made my point for me. If better spec sheets call for sloped flashing, then doesn't it follow logically that sloped flashing is better? I don't think JLC is wrong in their best practices specifications. Further, here's what Building Science Corporation has to say on the subject. From their document "Info-303 Common Flashing Details": QUOTE: Head Flashings Head flashings are used to direct water away from openings such as windows and doors. Head flashings should be installed with a positive slope to the exterior. The cladding above the head flashing should never rest on the flashing as this leads to problems with the flashing being bent in the wrong direction and sloped back towards the building. Head flashings should extent (sic) laterally past the opening on either side. END QUOTE Translation: the marble should roll off. Remember please, I'm not defending Mr. Marble's reporting methods. But I think to be fair to him and to this forum we have to acknowledge that he's right on the technical merits. To his great credit, Mike did this in his first post on this thread. And Kurt, you did this over on the ASHI forum just a few days ago. Regarding the TPR discharge pipe in the sink, you said that you wouldn't report on it, but (again to your great credit) you acknowledged that it was in fact a cross connection. So please, let's at least acknowledge that both JLC and Building Science state that flashing should be installed so that it's sloped. Then we can haggle over wether or how it should be reported.

OK, I'm going to break the cardinal rule of a discussion like this: I'm going to ask a question that I don't know the answer to. Why do flashing products for multifamily jobs come with a built-in bevel, but not flashing for single family construction?