Neal Lewis

This device was in the bark yard. The thing on the right is like a wood splitting wedge. It adjusts up and down the rod. There's a weight on top of it to strike the wedge, but it's not capable of splitting anything substantial. It's set into a concrete pad. Download Attachment: IMG_1577.JPG 209.68 KB

There's no reason why you can't put both generic and technically correct terms in the report. The wood trim at the gable end (rake board) is rotted...

This is what hart & Cooley calls it in their installation instructions. In multi-story buildings, a firestop must be provided at every point where the vent passes through a floor or ceiling. These firestops may be provided as indicated in the paragraph above.

Here's a picture of a B-vent in an attic. It looks like the lower section was modified and screwed into the elbow. I've looked throught the Simpson installation instructions and don't see any mention of field modification. Is this allowed? Click to Enlarge 51.4 KB And here's a pic of the B-vent at the attic floor. No firestopping and it's in direct contact with the framing. Click to Enlarge 42.91 KB And yeah, there's a problem with drafting, too.

Yeah, I was reading that stuff thinking If this dude knows this off the top of his head, that's scarier than black mold!

Maybe that's it. They sprayed that sh*t on everything...

New construction has this red sprayed-on mold inhibitor stuff on some of the framing in the basement. The constrution manager said it's an organic mold inhibitor. Purple faced sheetrock will also be installed. Not sure how effective the stuff will be with the hit and miss coverage. And the framed wall leaves only about an inch of clearance to the foundation. Click to Enlarge 73.45 KB

On a big-ass concrete slab...

New furnace rules likely to be dropped in deal with industry Source: Bergen Record Tuesday, January 15, 2013 New energy efficiency rules for natural gas furnaces that could have cost homeowners thousands of dollars will be abandoned if a deal between the gas industry and the federal government receives court approval. The new rules required that furnaces installed after May 1 be at least 90 percent efficient, compared with the current 78 percent efficiency criteria. But unlike older furnaces, which can be easily vented through a chimney, the new furnaces would have to be vented directly to an outside wall. That could have raised installation costs by hundreds or even thousands of dollars, home heating contractors have said. The American Public Gas Association had filed suit against the U.S. Energy Department over the rules, saying the government did not provide adequate time for the public to comment. The gas industry group also said the rules would actually reduce efficiency, since homeowners might try to avoid the extra cost of the new furnaces by switching to electric heat, which is far less efficient. The settlement between the gas industry and Energy Department vacating much of the rule was filed Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and announced Monday. The court has 30 days to approve the settlement. "We think this is a victory for overall efficiency," Dave Schryver, the gas association?s executive vice president, said Monday. "Even though over their lifecycle the more efficient furnaces might pay for themselves, people don?t think in term of lifecycles ? they look at what they have to pay now," he said. Milton Baum, general manager of Keil Heating and Cooling in Riverdale, said the agreement "works out great for everyone." He did not see the loss in extra efficiency to be a big issue, saying that the ductwork in most homes is so poorly designed that added efficiency from the new furnaces would have been lost anyway. But some North Jersey home heating experts were skeptical of the gas association?s contention that the rule would cause homeowners to switch to electric heat. "That?s like saying that because the price of gas is up to $4 a gallon I?m going to switch to riding a horse," said Richard Fertel, president and owner of Bornstein Sons, a home heating contractor that serves Bergen and Passaic. The cost of electric heat is so much higher than heating with a gas furnace that homeowners would never switch over, he said. "The public wants more efficiency," Fertel said. The gas association?s opposition, he said, "is the same sort of nonsense we heard from Detroit when they increased the mileage requirement for cars. ? The mere fact that the gas association is fighting it means it?s a good idea." Energy Department analysis concluded that between 2013 and 2045 higher-efficiency furnaces, air conditioning systems and heat pumps would save one-fifth of the amount of total energy used annually by the U.S. residential sector. The drop in energy use would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If the court approves the deal, the Energy Department would generate a new preliminary rule within a year and provide for a 90-day public comment period. A final rule would be issued within a second year.

John, no internal pressure switch? Did you fill the tub up pretty high to see if it automatically activated?

Are you saying it could be treated as a preventive measure? Doubtful around here.

Bill, who provides that type of service, along with a guarantee? And what does the permanent fix consist of? Up here in North Jersey the chemicals just get pumped into the ground, or bait stations installed.

This is a quote from the article: Ms. Smith, the drill marks in your crawl space weren?t made from a modern termite hammer drill. These were made with a hammer and a chisel and then chemical was pumped in. I?d say this job was done over 30 years ago just by the way they were drilled, maybe longer.? I drilled slabs and foundations for a termite company in the summer of 1977. We were not using a friggin hammer and chisel then!!

I use the standards stated by the NPMA-33 form: Treatment Recommendation Guidelines Regarding Subterranean Termites: FHA and VA require treatment when any active infestation of subterranean termites is found. If signs of subterranean termites --- but no activity --- are found in a structure that shows no evidence of having been treated for subterranean termites in the past, then a treatment should be recommended. A treatment may also be recommended for a previously treated structure showing evidence of subterranean termites -- but no activity -- if there is no documentation of a liquid treatment by a licensed pest control company within the previous five years unless the structure is presently under warranty or covered by a service agreement with a licensed pest control company.

Interesting collection of a variety extra sprinkler heads in a turn of the century house that used to be a nursing home. Made right here in Jersey. Click to Enlarge 41.28 KB Click to Enlarge 34.98 KB

That's a good way to handle the situation, if it plays out that way. What if the agent turns to you and says "Please don't reveal that information to the buyer. it'll scare them away?"

Thanks guys.

I'm thinking this Ducane/Excel Comfort Systems furnace is around 10 years old. The Excel Manufacturing Co phone number is disconnected. There was a phone message that the Ducane staff was out to lunch when I called. My photo of the Beckett burner is too blurry to read, and I couldn't get any definite info from the primary control or other components. Do you think 10 years old is reasonable? Download Attachment: Furnace.JPG 169.52 KB Download Attachment: .jpg"] photo[1].JPG 110.63 KB

I second hydro air.

Starting in May the federally mandated minimum efficiency for warm air furnaces will be 90%. This is for houses in the NorthEast. Of course this will increase the cost of replacements for older houses, which is mostly what we have here. And then there's the gas water heater that will be orphaned into the old masonry chimney. I've searched without success for an official document or press release from the Department of Energy so I can provide a link in my reports. Does anyone have some official documentation on this? Thanks

Thanks Bob. Hopefully the tailcap switch lasts longer than my previous lights.

What is the depth of the galvanized pipe below ground? I usually find that the original galvanized water supply pipe is much deeper than necessary.

Garet, what part of the country was still using galvanized water supply pipes through the 1980's?

I would tell them to fix the double tapped cables into the main lugs. I don't care who does it as long as they get a permit for the work.

These are pictures of a one pipe steam system from the 1940's. The condensate line has some unusual piping and is connected to the steam mains in a weird way. Also, there is a air/steam vent on the floor under a radiator. Never seen that before. Anybody familiar with this type of piping? Click to Enlarge 39.98 KB Click to Enlarge 37.76 KB Click to Enlarge 51.02 KB