Nolan Kienitz

Ham Radio ... CW (Morse Code) is my prime focus. Call sign is: KI5IO (Extra Class - licensed since the early 1970s)

Excellent education. Tnx Kurt.

I might have missed something along the way (not hard - BTW) in that all the TR receptacles I've seen have always had the shutters on the blades not in the ground pin. [?]

If the valve were rotated to be on the right side of the faucet then pushing it back would be hot. What I would perceive as "expected". This one is still doing the same thing, but has been rotate to the 'left' side of the faucet.

I just had to add this video link in light of Kurt's recent comment about "No Paper" over on the thread about Douglas Hansen's new book that is about to be released. Thread is HERE [:-slaphap No Paper

Just wait until it starts a slow, dripping leak ... Obviously won't be testing the TPR Valve like the manufacturer states we (as homeowners) are supposed to do (once per year) ... I know, I know ... nobody does that anyway. [:-crazy]

Yet another decade has flown by. Happy Birthday.

Jim L. - I've been thinking about just taking a shower with all those high/low/overhead sprays with the classical music playing ... like the TV commercial. I think that would handle the "functional flow" test. [:-slaphap

RE: Texas TREC SOP We've been working to remove the "requirement" for the static water pressure readings in our SOP and had it out. Of course if an HI wants to test he/she is more than welcome to do as they wish. The static pressure requirement was "forced" back into the SOP just a couple of weeks ago as an individual rather high in the food chain of the governor's office intervened and spent many hours on the phone with the chair of the SOP committee. After that phone call the requirement was put back into our proposed-new-SOP. So ... politics at it's best in Texas from the state's highest office down to the level of what we inspector's are being required to inspect and not inspect. Don't tell me that a 'state-controlled' inspector's group is a good thing. I feel more and more that I'm doing an inspection to be sure I'm doing a CYA so that I don't get set up for fines from the penalty matrix or worse. Can be frustrating.

40 to 80 is the IRC required range. Below is low ... over is high. Texas TREC SOP requires that HIs check for water pressure. If they don't and get caught it ends up being a fine from the TREC Inspector's Penalty Matrix that can be 'spensive.

Whisper Reporter Highly customizable to do whatever you want/need.

Very nice. Relaxing and gives one's mind a lot of space to ponder.

Ditto what Mike L. said. I got a message from Brian as well and he said to just sit tight and don't download anything. He was hopeful for a repair by 'sunrise', but he is still working it.

The Texas TREC SOP requires that we test/run appliances. The SOP does indicate testing in "basic" mode. Basic mode meaning that I do NOT test convection or any other special capabilities. Basic is "BASIC". D/W run on 'short cycle' with soap tray cover engaged to ensure it has 'opened' after the cycle. Ovens ... turn on broiler (do the coils light up Y/N) then turn it to 350-degrees with an oven thermometer inside to see if the resulting temp (after an hour or so) is +/- 25-degrees of the requested 350. Yes the 350 and the =/- is in the SOP. Now if my oven was outside of 25 degrees +/- I would not be a happy camper ... now mind you I do a lot of cooking at home and my oven had best be damn close to what temp I call for. All in all ... a lot of verbiage above, but truly not a big deal. I'm just not sure about having to deal with the TREC moving our "doorbell" item from the Appliances chapter to the Electrical/Branch Circuit Chapter in our SOP and 7-3 report template ... That could give me some heartburn ... [] As for them being part of an SOP ... I really don't care as it is a requirement in the state where I inspect and am licensed and required to already inspect such. As for ASHI or any other state ... I would not have any problems with them adding such. Like Jimmy noted ... not something to get one's knickers is a wad about.

FWIW ... they (appliances) are still in the new/proposed Texas TREC SOP ... albeit they did remove the actual listing in the form template for the "trash compactor" and "whole-house vacuum". Albeit the HI can still choose to report on them if they so choose. They also moved "doorbells" from the Appliance chapter to the Branch Circuit Electrical chapter. ... we're styling down here ... []

It is even getting worse in Texas. TREC announced (just this week) two new appointees to the Inspector's Advisory Committee (always has been made up of inspectors with two 'public' members) for six year terms. One of the appointees is connected with a realtor's association in Central Texas as an executive and the other is a TREC licensed inspector as well as an agent/broker ... yet there is not any documentation on the respective websites of the "two licenses" being held by the same person. This person is also an executive with a local realtor's association in one of the D/FW suburbs. What I see happening is a further dilution of what little strength the IAC had now that there are agents/brokers on the same committee. We are also going through a two-year re-write of the SOP to what is becoming a realtor friendly document ... according to many who have viewed same. I sometimes feel that inspecting in Texas is far more about a CYA situation so that you don't get in a situation where TREC can slap you for something that means nothing in the overall scheme of what you are trying to do for the potential home buyer. To say the least it is an interesting conundrum down here as well.

I've had BofA and WF reps call me over the past year or so wanting FHA Finals (92051 forms) for many new home construction and repair projects. They would not pay over $50.00 for the report. I had to send the caller a lo-dose Bayer aspirin to help arrest their cardiac arrest when I provided my minimum fee for those ... close to $400. Goes without saying I didn't do any for them. From what I've heard of late things are not getting any better in many sectors. Much more CYA paperwork being generated.

Whack a Mole Click HERE

Do you have a link to the proposed changes that can be viewed?

This is a pretty long video piece from Fox 5 - TV Atlanta. The story includes a lady from Dallas whose home caught fire from a failed FPE panel. Click Here

Ditto what Scott P. and others have said. I don't haggle either. I gather information during our conversation and make my determination what the fee will be as I'm providing background to the caller in the hopes of locking the deal. I had a call from a mortgage company today needing an FHA Final (92051 form). I provided her my quote and knew straight-a-way she was looking for someone who would only charge $50. She said she would call back ... I'm still waiting for the ring. [] I don't back out of my driveway for less than $375 + mileage on those.

Thank goodness. When I saw the original article I was a tad bummed ... even thought I only get one or two bottles each year. Good news ... clients/users voiced their response and Makers Mark listened. Makers Mark will NOT be watered down ... .

Were all 3 systems being monotored by the same company? The reason I ask is I've never heard of that happening, so maybe it was a local issue with the way the security systems were being installed. It seams resonable that a smoke detector could be tested without alerting the security company. I've set off a few alarms and had cops show up (just happened last week) but not due to testing a smoke detector. I had none at the time nor do I have any clue. When you walk in to inspect a home do you know if the home security system is active and doing all the possible things it can do? I didn't (at the time) and I don't have (today) any way to find that out before I inspect a property. I err on the side of safety (after my experience) and assume that the site is live and being monitored ... if there is a security system installed. .

I stopped pushing the buttons on any of them about 7 years ago after I had the local fire department dispatch, roll with sirens to the home I was inspecting at the time. Happened 3 different times over the course of one year. One time I held face down on kitchen counter with hands about to be cuffed until I finally got the authorities to understand I was not stealing anything. At the time my truck had signs and everything. All due to the alarms being tied into a home security system that was active. Two of the homes were vacant. Then there was the back/forth about who was going to pay for the "false alarm" call. Quick decision for me to 'never again' push those buttons. I have to disclaim same here in Texas as TREC "requires" via the SOP that we have to push them as well.

About 9 years ago, when I was living/inspecting in the Houston market, I was inspecting a 2-story residence and upon entering the attic there was the one/operable/live water heater and stewn across the attic space were 4 old/dead and gone water heaters. Many problems with home not the least of which was a sagging 2nd floor ceiling with all the dead weight from the old W/Hs. Guess homeowner just didn't want to pay to have them removed. Note that in Texas it is common for furnace/AC systems and W/Hs to be placed in attics of both 1 and 2-story homes. One can only imagine the weight of the old W/Hs whatwith the accumulated mineral deposits from the water over time and there may have actually been 'some' water left in one or two or all. .