Jon Hodgkins

This is not uncommon during installation, but definitely should not have been left like this. Maybe someone bumped into it. Remove the elbow, pop the metal bead back in it's groove so that the elbow swivels freely, and reinstall. If the bead does not stay in it's groove, than I would get a new elbow.

Is this installation okay? See photos - I have never seen a large space between a vent of an oil fired boiler and the thimble. The home was built in 1992. In 2006, a major renovation which included a new oil fired boiler was performed. The vent enters into the chimney through a much larger diameter thimble and appears to continue to run inside the chimney shaft, and all the way to the top of the 35' chimney. Even without the boiler running, there was a major cold draft coming from between the chimney vent and the thimble. I assume that the draft is coming down through the chimney from the top of the chimney, and had concern that exhaust would be drawn back down the shaft when the boiler is in operation. Thanks for the advice! Click to Enlarge 36.11 KB Click to Enlarge 38.53 KB Click to Enlarge 42.28 KB

Thanks everyone for the replies. A 3 million dollar house without a PRV for the boiler.

I saw this Williamson oil fired boiler with no readily apparent TPRV. They did not install an extension on the back flow preventer - minor issue, but leaves concern that other parts of installation were performed incorrectly. I reached down to feel if it was maybe built in and concealed by the jacket, but did not feel any other pipes. Is the brass fitting on the top of the black iron pipe an air bleeder valve? Is there any reason why a TPRV would not be required for a boiler. Should I be concerned? Click to Enlarge 38.47 KB Click to Enlarge 33.76 KB

I am not sure, but agree that this could be a likely suspect. They are usually labeled when I see them. The relay wire is probably fed through the back of the alarm through the plywood - which is why I only could see the conduit, which is probably for the power supply. Is there anything electrically that could warrant a need for an audible alarm?

This bell was tied into the electrical panel. Does anyone know what it could be for? The homeowner had no idea. They do have an automatic backup generator. The only connection I noticed was a conduit connection between the bell and the breaker panel. Bell's manufacturer is LEE - Model #E31780 Thanks Click to Enlarge 4.22 KB Click to Enlarge 43.04 KB

Thanks for the responses - the screen makes sense. My inspections are for insurance. With the added information from the home owner, that they had issues with the HVAC contractor, I included a requirement to verify what the "cap" is, and to make sure the system is in proper working order. There is most likely a sensible explanation, but maybe the contractor has had issues with payment and would cut the "cap" off after receiving final payment? I use to work for a masonry contractor and would hear stories about masons installing a pane of glass between a couple of the clay flue tiles, and would drop a brick down the chimney to break the glass after they received their final payment. I will let you know what the answer is as soon as I hear back from the home owner.

Thanks for the answer, that makes sense to me. For future inspections - if this was for combustion air, assuming it was not capped, or had a "rain head" (upside down trap) - would there be concerns that moisture from rain would enter through the pipe and could cause the hot air furnace to shut off?

I would appreciate any insight to why the pvc roof penetration, in the middle, appears to be capped. I was only able to perform an exterior inspection from the ground. The homeowner was not aware of any issues but indicated that they had problems with the contractor. The home owner also indicated that they had gas forced air heating units. My thoughts were that it might be for combustion air for the hot air furnace. Could this be anything other than a cap? I would doubt that it is a coupling. My other thought was maybe it is some type of check valve fitting that only allows air in, but I would be concerned that it would not work properly in the winter. This is new 2016 construction in Needham, MA. Thanks Click to Enlarge 27.43 KB