David C. Argabright

I prefer sunny and 75 degrees with a light breeze and all of the utilities turned on. At that temperature I can check the heat and A.C. As far as the other things it dosen't matter much. I think the good experenced inspectors can locate the signs of winter defects in the summer and wet defects when it's dry. etc. Be well.

If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built leaks...... It's normal.

The recorders I use have four folders. Others may have more. It's an interesting concept but I'm afaraid I'd forget which folder is which and get the information scatted through the whole thing. [?] I record each inspection in one folder as I work. Short descriptions, locations, and notes. 99 potential notes to each folder. I always put the property address as the first note so I don't start off on the wrong foot. My report system allows me to shift between sections without having to fully complete them before I move on to the next section. It marks itself as complete when the all information is filled in. If I were able to remember which folder I was using for each system I would need about a dozen files to keep them seperate. My old brain cells are too worn out to get that complicated.[:-crazy]

Why not put a window well around the thing??

No one ever told me I would have to wear a flea and tick collar as a home inspector. Now that's funny. I don't care who you are. [:-thumbu][^]

I'm with Kirt. It's not that difficult or nasty. Wipe of the dust first. I carry too many gadgets now to also include a bulb aspirator. I'd most likely leave it at one of the houses after a few days anyway. About half of the sump pumps in these parts have the plastic tube. 1/4 have a float. The rest are tested only if there is a connected hose close by.

I say "pushed" the button. I used the term "mashed" with respect to Walter. He's kind of funny that way.

I've mashed the test button and tripped the GFCI too. Some of them are still energized. Did you check for current after mashing the test button?

I head about it a few days ago and read it in the ASHI E-letter today. Looks like the romance is off...........for now.

Another way to determine if the grounds are present is to look for them or armored cable in the panel.

I use a Greenlee with a sensitivity dial. I always carry it but don't totaly rely on it. I've only had one through the years that I somewhat trusted. I don't remember the name and I left it lying somewhere years ago.

I getting ready to replace my old one also and had considered geting a tankless model. After doing some research I'm having second thoughts. The big plus would be space savings. The down side as I see it would be the cost and sometimes a less than an adequate supply of hot water. What are your thoughts Frank?

I think they should sentence the men to house arrest in their penthouses!

"hi there everyone, i inspected a house, but what i noticed was the whole house was cold except the kitchen, the whole house has wood flooring through out it except the kitchen which had tiles. Is this normal.. thank you for your help. The house is 20 years old and has a gas furnace which is working fine." Was the kitchen on the sunny side of the house with lots of glass.? If the floor was warm it could have been solar heat gain.id="blue">

The usual. Defects, correct installation, improper installation, inspection methods.

The cut outs between the tabs should be no closer the 4 inches to one another and must never fall directly over another cut-out in the row immediately below it. I could be mistaken but I was under the impression that asphalt shingles should be lapped 6". Is the min. 4" lap accepted by the manufacturer on three tab shingles and architechural shingles?

Congratulations Brad. Take it from someone who's been there. Enjoy the ride. It will be over way before you're ready to let her go. Don't fret over the little things. And don't forget to clean your gun while interviewing her boy friends. ;>)

I've never heard of issues with FP fuse panels other than the probability that they are old and at the end of their useful life.

I also am banished to the spare bedroom. You're in better conditions than I am. You have cookies and I have to share with the cat. Image Insert: 152.21 KB

Did you consider shutting off the breraker to the energized circuit?

"The breaker has 4 wires connected to it. Each heads out a different conduit run. Two of these go to the exterior outlets. The other two go to the upstair bathrooms where they are connected to GFCI outlets. " I've seen breakers that allow two wires to be connected but NEVER four wires. Isn't that alone a reason to make safety improvements??

Where are the roof vents? Is it possible they had a ridge vent installed on the short peak which started leaking? Did they remove the vent and cover the area with the rubber material to close it off? Or did they leave the opening to install a vent at a later time and just never got around to it?

I heard a few weeks ago that one in every four vacant homes in this area have been vandilized. Most are in the inner city but others are being hit too. Some of the homes I'm called to inspect have had the piping removed the night before so I get to make a suprise call to the Reelters. I have one for sale that was robbed of the copper a month ago. All told they couldn't have recived more than $100.00 for the stolen material. He**...If they had talked to me I would have given them something to do and paid them more that the $100.00 they got from theifery. (Protection money?)

Of course it would do more than leave a scuff mark. It would burst the ball. The wall as has been said before, wouldn't feel a thing. Lots more exterior pressure causing the horizontal crack than the ball would generate. How's the exterior grading and gutter system on the wall?

Were 240 volt sub-panels EVER allowed to be connected with only three wire feeds? I know there are a very few exceptions but when were the four wire systems FIRST required by the NEC.