Nolan Kienitz

Back to Gary's OP ...

I'm also at 9 years of doing residential inspections and I've been presented with several extremely less than ethical dealings with some agents and other HIs who are selling their souls for a quick buck and more a$$ kissing to the zoids.

I may renew for another 2-years on my license, but not sure I really want to pursue much after that ... even if I renew on the next cycle.

I can well agree with what you have noted and it certainly has been giving me pause for concern over the past year as well.

Down here in the land of Post-Tension Slabs decaying tree roots can be a pox on the foundation's "well-health".

Couple the rotted root voids that are created along with the clay soils that constantly expand/contract and there is a recipe for moving/failing slabs and the need for after-market piers.

On the other hand your soil conditions are different and it is a pier & beam.

I've been under many pier & beam homes (circa 1925 to 1935) in the Dallas historic district with bois d'arc tree trunks as piers and also see many tree roots that have not appeared to cause any problems.

The attic I was in last Saturday was 164-degrees.

NO ... I did not stay in there to socialize [:-bigeyes

Maybe it would help with ice dams ?? []

I think Erby has some quite descriptive images of what goes wrong when not vented properly.

Brandon,

From the 2006 IRC Code/Commentary. The commentary says that pointing to an existing static vent cap or such is not acceptable.

===================

M1501.1 Outdoor discharge. The air removed by every

mechanical exhaust system shall be discharged to the outdoors.

Air shall not be exhausted into an attic, soffit, ridge vent or

crawl space.

Exception: Whole-house ventilation-type attic fans that

discharge into the attic space of dwelling units having private

attics shall be permitted.

The primary intent of this section is to avoid exhausting

contaminants into areas that may be occupied by people

or into concealed spaces such as attics and crawl

spaces where moisture can damage the building components.

To prevent the introduction of contaminants

into the ventilation air of a building, exhaust openings

must not direct exhaust so that it could be readily

drawn in by a ventilating system. In this situation, the

code official must determine an appropriate separation

or location for the placement of intake and exhaust

openings.

Attics and crawl spaces are not considered to be

outdoors. Exhaust ducts cannot terminate in these

spaces. Exhaust ducts must connect directly to terminals

that pass through the building envelope to the outside

atmosphere. Pointing, aiming or similarly directing

an exhaust pipe or duct at an opening in the

envelope of the building (that is, attic louver, grille,

ridge vent, eave vent or soffit vent) in no way ensures

that all or any of the exhaust will reach the outdoors. In

fact, it is possible that the majority, if not all, of the exhaust

vapors and gases will discharge to the attic

space rather than to the outdoors.

I have a similar one in my mother-in-laws garage out in East Texas from her now passed husband. He had given it to me many years ago and I've never hauled it into town.

I'll be checking into the data plate and likely bring it home in next week or two.

Jimmy,

Thanks for the history of your Dad. I'm proud for you and jealous that he is still with you (and all of us).

I was my Dad's trainee while growing up on the farm in Montana. He taught me more than any school could ever think about offering.

There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss him or wish I could ask his opinion.

Great Falls Select

Pearl

Lone Star

... and many more.

Texas Beer Snob here ...

Shiner Bock [:-party]

Ditto above.

Those steel walkers have a bunch more nerve than me.

Jimmy,

Les just had a birthday ... I'm surprised he did not use: "icebox" []

All my data files indicate: 2001

It has to be "North of the Border" and "South of the Border" things.

And here we go !! [:-monkeyd

Consider what TREC did for new Texas-licensed HIs this past year ...

They "lowered" the required percentage to pass the exam for your license.

It was due to lobbying from the "schools" and some Texas legislature with un-intended consequences that was about to shut down almost all the schools as their graduates were not passing the exam the 'first time'.

So ... TREC's fix for the problem was to "lower" the bar to get the license.

Day late here as well ...

Happy Birthday Les ... You are already chipping away and getting ready for next year's celebration [:-party]

It's pulling air from the source of least resistance, whatever that is, most likely the nearest roof vent.

I've never found any of the power fans to do much of anything in cooling attics; they move air, but they don't cool attics.

I used to have a copy of a DOE report indicating that the load added by the fans is greater than the reduction in AC load. I always equated that to indicate the minimal effects of them. IMHO, static roof vents have always been the way to go.

Can you find your copy of that report and provide a link?

Goes without saying I'll search as well.

Fogged windows need to be replaced. There is not any real effective repair for such.

Mind you the entire window/frame etc., does not have to be placed ... just the fogged window. Window dudes remove that section and take the wrap from around the failed section and put around the new section and put back into the overall window frame.

JK's reply is the logical one.

Consider similar smoke traces at receptacle cover plates where AC/DC bricks are plugged in for long term for security system panels.

I had a newer home (built 2006) the other day that had a lot of such traces on outlet cover plates. Once I got into the attic and check the HVAC system and pulled the filter cover most of the cause was noted there as the filter was filthy. Lack of filters changes and accumulated dust/dirt in the carpet, etc., etc..

Possible leaky connection of the TPRV into the main tank. Steam (aka: heat) seeping and heat causing discoloration on the painted surface?

Mind you that is only a WAG. [?]

I had read somewhere that the 'club' was schmoozing to get all their members easily approved via CE classes or something to be sure they were covered for the state licensing requirements.

I didn't and don't follow it closely at all as the 'club' (some members anyway) gives me heartburn.

Interesting ... only a G.L. insurance requirement and no requirement for E&O.

I think some HI org was stacking the deck from what I've been hearing.

Steve,

There you go with something "pink" ...

Marc will likely have something to say about that! [:-slaphap

Just to add to this mix -

As y'all know TX HIs are licensed and governed by an extremely onerous SOP. That is not my point here, but just a frame of reference.

What has been happening this past year is that there are somewhere between 12-20 (give or take) HIs who have let their licenses expire without renewing or have put their license into an in-active status.

Then they have let their E&O expire.

AND ... they are still inspecting. They are attempting to stay under the radar and using the TX TREC template and keeping their mouth shut, but word is getting out.

What is interesting is that technically TREC does not have any "control" over such an inspector who now does not have an "active" license. From what I was told this morning TREC would have to go to the city/county where the HI did the inspection and file through that court system in an attempt to reprimand.

And TREC just does not necessarily pick up and file anything against anyone unless they receive an "official complaint" from the consumer/client. And just how is the client supposed to fully grasp if the HI has a current license or not? Few if any client has ever asked for a copy of my license.

Adding to this ... I was at an ICC code class last week at Simpson-Strongtie and chatted with two PEs (structural/mechanical type of PE) who had also held a TREC HI license to satisfy TREC's rule that they control inspections for all properties bought/sold in Texas. Both of these PEs let their TREC license expire this past year and they are also still inspecting, but doing so as a PE. Their comment was they had the right to do so (inspect) and TREC could not or likely would not do anything to them.

I would tend to agree as from what I understand TREC does not want to start a 'row' against the PE licensing group in the State of Texas. They had a round with them a year or so ago and did not fare all that well.

No answers RE: the OP, but certainly additional food for thought.

Terry,

No further information as the 'air hiss' (in this case) finally did stop, but certainly was a very long time.

Nothing exotic at the bank-owned, vacant home. Save for a W/H that was fully rusted at water input/output lines, on case and top and bottom as well as wide open electrical pigtails at the top next to a dripping TPR Valve.

W/H was 11 years old (original for this house).

I told client to replace it.