Nolan Kienitz

Mike and others, Here are some PDFs of the recall. Download Attachment: CPSC_SqD_AFCI_recall_highlight.pdf 125.67 KB Download Attachment: SquareD_AFCI_RecallDATA.pdf 175.04 KB

I've recently found some of the re-called Square D AFCIs still installed. They go back to ~2004.

Get lots of JPGs and moving clips. Speeders are way cool and there is a serious cult of folks restoring and running those. I've seen some clips from some of the runs. One was in ND and Montana on the old Soo Line rails. I'm jealous of that trip you'll be making.

I love trains as well. Enjoyed riding the original Empire Builder and Western Star of the Great Northern Railway many times from Montana to Minnesota. Riding in the dome car on the GNRW Western Star from Fargo (ND) to Culbertson (MT) across North Dakota during a clear sky, full moon, middle of winter with snow is simply gorgeous and entrancing. Sharing the trip with a lady friend from college made it even more special.

Wonder if they got FAA air space clearance before flight???

I agree. It remains my opinion you did the "right" thing. The differences in our own markets are huge. For instance, I have never had an inspection agreement signed prior to inspection. While my company has every inspector with a supra key, I remain steadfast that I will not enter any house/home without an agt or owner present. The protocols are really different dependent upon your market. Regional differences for sure. I don't recall seeing a Listing Agent at a property in the past several years. I've talked to a few as some have the listing set up where the inspector "has" to talk directly to the agent or their team to get permission for the time/date of the inspection. I occasionally will interact with the Buyer's Agent as they "sometimes" show up toward the end of my 'data collection' time. Have noticed seeing fewer of the Buyer's Agent recently as well. Sometimes client is there for entire event and most times can only carve out a little bit of time to quick overview at the end. Two recent properties at $1M-plus and over 6000 s.f. ... buyer's never showed up. Their schedule was too busy. Just send the report and be sure to CC their agent. Wide variable here. Go figure .. [?]

A Rube Goldberg piece of art that just kept on giving ... It started here (note slip of "green tag" from City of Dallas at top of W/H): Click to Enlarge 44.74 KB Plumber "signed/dated" graphic of his artwork: Click to Enlarge 37.8 KB And on it went (good labeling anyway): Click to Enlarge 46.55 KB Quick drain ... no sense in slowing things with a trap: Click to Enlarge 35.58 KB Quick run along wall to garage exterior: Click to Enlarge 33.37 KB Almost to the exterior wall now: Click to Enlarge 58.28 KB Whew ... now it's outside on the dog run: Click to Enlarge 52.16 KB Finally ... there's the drain, below the dog's fireplug: Click to Enlarge 48.78 KB Plumbing seemed to be key in this property ... Master Bath toilet backed up nicely into adjacent shower pan ... [:-crazy]

How about a "small cow" ?? [:-slaphap No attached JPGs from me on this one!

I guess the rules are the rules when it comes to the time limits for you to get the certification(s). As others have noted ... do NOT get in ANY RUSH!! Be methodical and careful. Don't be crazy ... just thorough. I can assure you that your view of thorough today will be one thing and after more experience it will be something totally different. Experience is an excellent educator.

For some areas Spring is still a bit out ... Click to Enlarge 35.96 KB

Size appears to be split from <55 to >55 gallons. <55 gallon products have higher efficiency requirements that require more insulation and that is changing the size of those units to about 2" higher and 2" wider. Space is the key item here. I didn't read the details on the >55 gallon units, but they apparently have more requirements that get into condensing units, etc..

I posted some information about the change earlier this year. 2015 New Rules for Water Heaters

-8 degrees would have a serious impact on my hands holding a camera for any/all images. Very nice Les ...

Very impressive Mike. Congratulations to all. I'm so very proud of those who have and do serve to protect us. I was not able to serve due to medical (Type 1 diabetic) and was very depressed when I could not join any of the military branches. I'm humbled daily by so many of you have have and continue to serve today.

Flex ducts is at about a 98-99% rate down here. Seldom see metal duct in new construction and if I do it is very 'spensive custom home. Cost to replace flex duct here would be a serious draw on the bank account.

That adds to the frustration with all the BBs and the advertising links. They randomly pop up when one least expects it. I have a blocker running on my browser so I never/seldom see the advertising. On another 'independent' HI forum the advertising banners have started to appear "inside" some of the initial posters to any given thread that has been started. I've talked with some other HIs about this and some have signed off or removed themselves from that BB. Reason being is that with a random search a thread could be found and the results could be interpreted as that inspector supporting the advertising that is now "inside" his post. I've refrained from posting over there mainly because of such.

I think I did about 10 of them back in the very early days (10-13 years ago). Problem in Texas is that the folks calling have no concept of distance and especially the fact that Texas is a rather large state. Many times I would get calls to do some 'drive by' something-or-other for all of $45 (no mileage) and the location was San Antonio and I'm located in Plano. Had a couple of callers tell me that it didn't look that far on the map ... it is only an inch or two. The clowns calling need to go to the 'clown college' classes. Goes without saying it didn't work for me. BTW - are you licensed by TREC to do home inspections? I can't find your "Larry Harding" name on the TREC database.

I like black iron pipe coming through the furnace sidewall. Flex pipe coming through the side wall of a furnace that is "hanging" in an attic and "moving" can quite easily cut through the flex and end up with a gas leak. I am not fond of the grommets and actually have seen very few and the ones I have seen are dry rotted and worthless. So ... for 13+ years down here in TX when I see flex going through the sidewall I write it up. Pretty much the same as Jim L. Keep in mind that a rather large percentage of furnace units are in the attics in Texas and are strapped and hanging and thus 'swinging' when in operation.

I agree with what many others have posted ... this thread is a "wealth" of information from everyone. Stuart - one thing I've learned over the years (and with input from the TIJ experience) is to keep your comments "short and to the point". No need for the $25.00 words that no one can understand. You are not writing a Pulitzer prize winning story ... your are inspecting and providing a description. Take good images and use brief descriptions. Kurt M. made that very clear to me many years ago. I've been doing residential inspections for 13+ years and still learn each/every time. ... and hooking up with Michael will educate you even more when it comes to your website/social media presence. He is excellent.

Heck ... remove them all and combine all branch wiring into a legacy FP panel !!!

The lightning current overheats the stainless on the CSST and melts a hole in it. It's not unlike a wire too small to carry the current flowing through it. It overheats. Steel pipe is thick enough to carry it without fail. I've known something similar to happen on a house that I had previously inspected for an HI client. He had not yet closed on it when lightning struck it. He asked me to return to assess the damage. I traced the various paths of the lightning currents attempting to reach the earth. One of them began with the water heater flue, progressed to the water heater itself and the steel gas lines then to the earth but also from the water heater through one of the two flexible copper water connectors, copper distribution lines then the earth. In the process, it blew a pinhole in the corrugations of one of the connectors. The Fire Marshal was the first responder and noticed it. It wasn't CSST that blew, but it's the same type of failure. The corrugations may be a factor. Lightning currents include extreme frequencies and the electro-magnetics of such frequencies in a corrugated linear conductor could end up being very complicated, like way over my head complicated. Marc EDIT: Grammar What is interesting is the focus on the CSST product and seldom is anything mentioned about the corrugated appliance connector that is pretty much the same thing. Marc's experience shows that connector is just as much of a target as CSST is.

Les, From what I was told this morning she (young man's mother) has been doing presentations about the state trying to inform the public. Some folks have not been impressed with the presentation as there seems to be a lack of "professional" support to explain more details about CSST / bonding / grounding, etc., etc.. I can't say as I've only learned about this site today. As you noted ... it is about education and learning all we can.

There are only a few W/H manufacturer's left in the USA. So many products are 're-branded' for the applicable vendors. The W/H age files that are in the TIJ Library break some of those down. Below is a cut/paste from InspectApedia and their information relating to USA-made W/H's. Not the best layout for easy viewing, but still ... data is data. ===================================== United States Water Heater Manufacturers & Distributors Mr. LeMarr points out that presently in the U.S. the remaining actual manufacturers of domestic hot water heater heaters are American, A.O. Smith, Bradford White, and Rheem companies, though their products may be branded among the many names listed just above. LeMarr also informs us that water heaters made in Japan and China are entering the U.S. market. Whenever we have updates to this water heater age and identification chart we'll post the latest version of it here. Water heater label-brands currently distributed in the U.S. include Ambassador water heaters, American water heaters, ACE water heaters, A.O. Smith water heaters, Apollo, Aqua Temp, Aqua Therm, Best water heaters, Bosch water heaters,Bradford White, Cafos, Champion, Crosley, Energy Saver, Envirotemp water heaters, GE water heaters, Glascote water heaters, Golden Knight water heaters, GSW, Hotpoint water heaters, JC Penny, Jetglas, JW or John Wood, Kenmore water heaters (Sears Brand), Lochinvar, Lowes, Mainstream, Maytag water heaters, Montgomery Wards, Knight, PermGlas, Reliance water heaters, Revere, Rheem water heaters, Rheem/Rudd/Richmond water heaters, Rinnai, Security, Shamrock water heaters, Standard water heaters, State/Reliance/Sears brand water heaters, Thermo-King, Vanguard water heaters, US Craftsmaster, US Water Heaters, and Whirlpool water heaters. URL to above source: W/H Manufacturers/Brands

There was a meeting this past Friday with the TREC Inspectors Advisory Committee and one of the agenda items had to do with CSST. There are a number of documents that were prepared for the meeting about suggested changes to the TREC Inspection SOP and verbiage in the mandated TREC report template preamble. From what I learned today it is being taken under advisement/review by TREC Legal. Usually when that happens changes end up being made. Also in the documentation was a web link for a site that was started by the family of the gentleman who was killed in the home in Lubbock, TX that had CSST that was damaged with a lightning strike. The young man's parents are endeavoring to make deficiencies with CSST known. I've not reviewed the entire website and only want to present the URL here as a point of information as it is related to the original story I posted. Brennen Teal Foundation

NAECA (National Appliance Energy Conservation Act) rolls into effect this spring and affects water heaters. Many of the W/H manufacturers have information about this and the impact to manufacturers, builders, installers and ultimately the homeowner. Here is a PDF from State ... Download Attachment: NAECA_Builder_Brochure.pdf 785.95?KB Just ran across this URL for what is called: Appliance Standards Awareness Project