BlackJack Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Here's one I did on the 7/12/05. This was a new townhome install. $379,000 - 2000 Sq. Ft. home. I called it out for visible corrosion on the gas valve housing and enclosure fins and missing the temp. control knob. Drain pipe connection not glued either. Heard today the builder wiped it down with WD-40 and called it good. #@$%^!! Guess $379k doesn't buy what it used to. Client is threating to back out of the deal. Not for just this item, but others. Download Attachment: 2005-07-12 10-26-28-x.jpg 63.48 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian G Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Originally posted by BlackJack Heard today the builder wiped it down with WD-40 and called it good. #@$%^!! Guess $379k doesn't buy what it used to. Client is threating to back out of the deal. Not for just this item, but others. Well damn Chuck, do you have any idea what control knobs and PVC glue go for? You're trying to take all of the poor contractor's profits. You must be another one of those crazy / over-zealous / anal / obsessive / arrogant home inspectors. [][:-dev3][] Brian G. All of the Above, Depending on Who You Ask [:-mischie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackJack Posted July 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 I have a habit of noting the A/C seer rating in my decription in my report if known. When the client cornered the builder asking why he had a 10 seer unit instead of the advertised 13 seer, the builder said they installed 13 seer ducts! SHAMZAM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonTx Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 I have a hard time believing that the water heater is new. It looks like it has been sitting around a while. Probably one of the first sealed burner units that came down the pipe. What year was it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homnspector Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Everybody knows 13 seer ducts are not compatible with a 10 seer unit[:-bigmout[:-bigmout[:-bigmout Speaking of water heater age, can anybody tell me how to determine the age of a Bradford White water heater? They are common here and I cant find it coded into the serial #. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackJack Posted July 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 I could not tell, maybe 7/12/04 but here is the nameplate. Bradford White. Im told they left it outside standing in some water, but dont know for sure. Download Attachment: 2005-07-12 10-28-06-xx.jpg 55.87 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian G Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Originally posted by BlackJack Im told they left it outside standing in some water, but dont know for sure. Well they were priming it silly, it's a water heater. [:-slaphap I love the 13 seer ducts. I think that tops my guy with requirement to tie the condensate into the plumbing vents above 3 1/2 tons. Brian G. It's an Epidemic...Contractor Idiotosis [:-dunce] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Originally posted by homnspector Everybody knows 13 seer ducts are not compatible with a 10 seer unit[:-bigmout[:-bigmout[:-bigmout Speaking of water heater age, can anybody tell me how to determine the age of a Bradford White water heater? They are common here and I cant find it coded into the serial #. Download Attachment: BradfordWhiteDateCodes.doc 20.44 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Very useful info, Jim. Thanks. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homnspector Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Excellent, thanks Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence McCann Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 I'm with Donald, either that water heater had been sitting around somewhere (or had previously been in use) or it is now in a highly moist/corrosive setting. Any negative drafts/flue gas backing up into the room? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackJack Posted July 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 I can't say as to the history. I do know they had to install a new igniter just to get it to light. No, it had no neg. drafts, straight up and out. Here is how I had to caculate combustion air. Here is the formula I used to calculate the combustion air for the water heater where it is located in a mech. room with door closed, and 12 foot of Hardi-soffit being the only visiable source of conbustion air. =PI()*((((13/64)/2)^2)*188)*12) 12 = Number of feet of Hardi-Soffit 188 = Number of 13/64 inch holes drilled in 1 Sq. Ft. of Hardi-Soffit 13/64 = Diameter of hole (Radius is 1/2) Answer = 73.10646 Sq. Inches. of combustion air available. 40,000 BTU Water Heater requires 10 Sq. Inches (1 Sq. In per 4,000 BTU) Don't know if this is correct, but it was a high enough number, that I felt safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baird Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Without knowing the size room, it is hard to follow you, but my reading of IRC2000 M1703 says inch per 4000 btu is for use with "vertical ducts". If it's pulling from soffit vents to floor level I'd say it maight be a stretch. Maybe that heater is a survivor of a flooded warehouse sale. For $190 a SF I'd expect better in a new house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackJack Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Here is a picture of the Mech. Room. I would say its about 10x8 or so, but the heater sits down about 18" from the walk leading up to it. Very little workspace in front. So you have no room to observe the flame. Texas is becomming a place where the new home builder can never be held accountable for anything not identified on the walk thru. Download Attachment: 2005-07-12 11-57-02-a.jpg 278.74 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baird Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 I'd put a grille down low in the door to this "penthouse". This looks like confined space if ever there was one. In confined space the code wants air sources both high and low. This location, howver, doesn't look like it's going to kill anybody by oxygen starvation. Wonder why the "B" vent stands so tall? Looks like it needs guy wires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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