Ken Meyer

If your HVAC system has a condensate pump, how about running the dehumidifier drain line(s) into that?

I've seen them lined up like that here in the Pacific NW. These are painted turtles at Steigerwald Lake, which is a few miles east of Vancouver WA.

There was a good article on inspection photography written by Jay Hensleigh in the ASHI Reporter a while back. http://www.ashireporter.org/HomeInspection/Articles/Inspection-Photos-Worth-One-Thousand-Words/9619

We see a fair number of mini split systems here, especially in new construction. Some homes use mini splits exclusively. The most common brands are Daikin, Mitsubishi, and Panasonic. We just had a Daikin single zone system installed at our house this past summer, we love it. As far as I can tell, the build quality is quite good.

Photocell, probably controls an exterior light.

KEH Camera and Adorama are a couple more good choices. Service is great, prices too.

There's a rock you can see from Sedona that the locals call Snoopy. It's more real than the Vortex. Click to Enlarge 53.08 KB

Some do have zero clearance to combustibles, but as you have found, the label is sometimes missing. Click to Enlarge 44.72 KB

Adobe Document Sign has a phone app, and Docu Sign might have as well. So you can bring up the agreement on your phone or tablet and have them sign at the inspection.

Adobe Document Sign (formerly Echo Sign). Been using it for a few years, and am very happy with it. You upload your inspection agreement as a Word document, then insert the form fields that get filled out as well as initial and signature fields. Make sure to create a little extra space in the Word doc first to accommodate the form field boxes that you drag into place, and make the boxes big enough for multiple names, email addresses, etc. Usually my office assistant sends the agreements, she has full access to it, so we both get an email notification when the agreement is sent out and when it gets signed. She monitors it closely and bird dogs clients who don't sign promptly. You can send reminders from the web interface.

The type of Square D breakers that can accept two conductors have a plate with two raised areas. When the set screw is tightened, the plate exerts equal pressure on both conductors. Click to Enlarge 70.28 KB

I had a similar message from a mark_pil@yahoo.com. No bad repercussions other than annoyance at wasting my time, but just to be sure, I'm running a full virus scan. His original post said in part "also need a little favor from you because haven't payment the balance up fees for the house which is sum of $1500 to balance up and i will be expecting your reply back asap." When I asked him to clarify ans send me the address, he sent this: "Okay fine,the favor is that am going to give you my card to charge the sum of $2000 you will deduct the sum of $500 as inspection service deposit and send the remaining $1500 to the former house owner for me via western union money transfer because the former house owner want to accept cash for the remaining balance and you can locate a western union money transfer outlet nearest your place.....i want you to know that they will send the key to you and you can go there for the inspection service then can you give me your FULL NAME, OFFICE ADDRESS, CELL PHONE NUMBER for the house owner to send the house keys to your office immediately they receive their balance. They can make the key to the house available for you to write the estimate inspection service and once you the inspection service done you can e-mail the report because i want to know the work to be done in the house before my family move inside the house,am asking for this favor due to my disability and am at the hospital to undergo surgery in 1 week time that why am asking for the favor." Wow! Just the same morning, the old Hall and Oates song "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" had been playing on the radio, so that's what I told him.

Broken link fixed.

Jim and I carpooled to a seminar in Redmond a couple of days ago taught by Douglas Hansen (terrific seminar, by the way). I can assure you that Jim is alive and well.

I took this picture of a line of them behind an apartment building converted to condos, thinking it might come in handy some day. As Jim said, they're not uncommon around here. While we're on the subject of garbage, how many of you have seen one of these in an old basement? Click to Enlarge 80.73 KB Click to Enlarge 47.41 KB Click to Enlarge 98.58 KB

Thought some of you might like these pix. The garage had a new door, and this opener was not hooked up to it. The lack of modern safety features notwithstanding, it's kind of cool. Sorry about that one fuzzy photo. Click to Enlarge 69.78 KB Click to Enlarge 58.45 KB Click to Enlarge 69.8 KB Click to Enlarge 84.34 KB Click to Enlarge 71.69 KB Click to Enlarge 65.1 KB

Thanks Brandon and Patt, I was able to find the 2000 and 2005 instructions, but nothing older. The 2000 does not show the uncaulked gap. What made me wonder is that above the windows in the photos you can see the gap, but it has been re caulked by the homeowner. Other windows on the house look like they have original caulk, or at least someone did a neater job. There are 2 west facing second story windows that had problems likely from weather exposure; rain and baking late afternoon sun, and from lack of maintenance. The fix that was done on both windows was a heavy application of caulk, including covering the weep holes for good measure. There was some rot on vertical trim, I scanned the interior wall adjacent to one of the windows with a moisture meter but didn't find anything. The other room had a bed blocking the window. So my question is: what would your recommendation be for caulking above these windows when repairs are done; leave the gap above the windows uncaulked as current installation instructions say, or follow the guidelines from when the siding was originally installed? Click to Enlarge 36.03 KB Click to Enlarge 43.53 KB Click to Enlarge 42.54 KB

1996

Reviving an old thread here. Brandon, were you ever able to find any older Hardie Plank installation instructions? The oldest ones I have are from 2007. I'd like to know how if a 1/4" uncaulked gap between siding and horizontal flashing was required back then. Thanks

Yeah, I called the main roof out for replacement and said in the report that whoever does bids on replacement should evaluate the low slope one. I wondered if there might be a membrane under it, but wouldn't it have a whole bunch of nails through it even if there was one?

Is there any way the installation on the low slope roof would not be a problem? I thought the minimum for shakes was 4:12. It's too bad they spent all the money on new windows and skylights throughout the house but didn't just go ahead and replace the roof. Look at the old vs. new shakes next to the brand new skylights. Click to Enlarge 70.98 KB Click to Enlarge 60.57 KB Click to Enlarge 83.74 KB Click to Enlarge 77.94 KB

There will be a concentric vent like this one on the roof, but pointing straight up. Click to Enlarge 54.45 KB

At a one year warranty inspection a while back, the homeowner told me that shortly after they moved in, the toilet on the first floor backed up and made a huge mess, ruining the flooring among other things. Turns out the drywall guys had dumped leftover mud down the toilet and it solidified in the waste line. The builder had to dig up the front yard to fix the waste line plus replace flooring and clean up the mess. It's a possibility.

Thanks Jim, I wanted to be sure.

No known issues with FP fused disconnects like this one I found today? Click to Enlarge 22.05 KB