Charlie R

Honest, found this one yesterday above a home made basement shower. What were they thinking?????? Click to Enlarge 37.18 KB

Great example pics, thanks for sharing.

A couple of electricians have told me between 1000 and 1500 unless you want an upgrade, say from 100 to 200 amp, then it's more.

"so I did not verify presence of weeps." Without having been there, I would say that I'm concerned that some person has now sealed all the air venting that will be needed to allow moisture to dry out behind the stone. Any water gets in, it has to dry out or will cause rot. Assuming a good mason installed the stone, he left the ends gapped on purpose. Plugging them is not a good idea.

I think numbering a report has no down side, it certainly can aid when referencing a specific item later, the presentation of a numbered report is very professional in my opinion and it does tend to stop us from "rambling" on and state what we see clearly (at least it does me).

I use the street address to name the file - 5602 Brookside Court.PDF - and I drop it in a folder with any extra photos, etc with the same street name - 5602 Brookside Court - and set my computer to show the files by the date created so they run in date order. My inspection software allows me to put in a number so I use the date with an "A" or "B" to designate if it was the first or second inspection of that day - 041310A - is the first inspection for 4/13/2010 and that number will show up on the inspection when I print it but I really don't have to use it.

I realize this thread has a bit of age on it, but I have to say that there is one tool versatile as all get-out, but largely forgotten now, and that is the 6' wooden folding carpenter's rule. It is great to put in photos, used as a pointer, measure between joists and rafters that are just out of reach with a tape, and even can be used as a 'hook' to reach in that sump pit and pull the float up. Clients always say "Wow, my dad had one of those". I always stick it in my back pocket, rather use that than a tape but I grew up using it. Just my two cents worth - - Click to Enlarge 47.74 KB

Somewhere in this thread is the mention of possible condensation - could it be possible that the line is heating up (maybe damaged, some of the strands broken?) and where the wires are exposed in the meter, if it's cold there than condensation could be forming on the wires, dripping back through the covered wire, dripping out the end in the panel like the picture shows. I would think if this is happening, it would only be an intermittent problem (cold times that hit the dew point) but maybe there could be a temperature difference in the two lines coming in (assuming the drip is only on one line) that could be detected. May indicate damaged incoming wiring? I realize that it's a bit off the wall, but possible? Thoughts - -

Thanks Jack, pretty much exactly what I told them. Charlie

I write in the report "I strongly recommend you hire a licensed electrical contractor to inspect the knob and tube wiring as seen in the (location) to verify that the wiring is still safe to be in use and reduce the potential for fire and personal injury. Many home insurance companies will not provide coverage to homes with this obsolete wiring system. Budget to replace the wiring as soon as possible."

Pulled this out of the A/C disconnect yesterday. Scary thing was that the client's father wanted to argue that there was nothing wrong with this because his A/C kept blowing fuses so he had done the same thing at his house. A/C data plate stated maximum breaker size at 25, inside main panel breaker was a 40. (Lotta rust in the disconnect box also) Click to Enlarge 60.19 KB

Wow, no more entries on this thread. Oh well, I lost another 3.3 this week, phone is really ringing now. The more I work, the more I lose weight. Great both ways.

Two good weeks in a row, lost 2.3 lbs. Gotta admit, I got a hair cut so that's probably the .3. Phones have been ringing fairly regularly too. Charlie

Good article, I hate it when they leave cats and dogs in the home loose. Had a townhome where the owner had tied his pit bull to the column in the center of the basement, but the dog had enough leash to keep me from going all the way around the basement. Never even got near the water heater. My client wanted me to come back - for free of course. Charlie

Good week, dropped one pound, phone is ringing a little more too. (No, it's NOT the bill collectors! [] )

Hi John; You are right, half of my calls right now are for "water was dripping in above my bay window." I spoke with a roofer who works both Maryland and southern Pa and he says it is not required by the IRC or any local codes that they know of. He mentioned that they had done a home where they used Grace ice shield on the entire roof deck at the customers request but the snow was so high on the roof that the water got in behind the siding on two dormers. He also said they found ice damming so bad that the water was getting under the shingles and backing up past the 3 foot of ice shield that was installed on many homes. What ya going do, it was a record snow year here. I'm thinking of branching out into snow removal! [] (Not!) Charlie

Bad week, gained 3 pounds according to the scale. I usually do a brisk walk at sunrise, at least 1/2 hour but with all the snow here in Maryland I've been forced to dust off the tread mill (Boring! I-pod is a help, but the walls just look the same!) Business has been really slow with all the snow, can't do anything out in the yard, so a lot of computer and sitting around - and the temptation to eat is tough. Going to get a grapefruit now, see ya! [:-crazy] Charlie

Good pic, thanks for sharing. Charlie

I'm curious - how old are the homes? Charlie

Thanks for sharing, good to have. Charlie

Then how did you know you lost it? I was just looking for it to mail to Robert. []

Is this thread still going? I just saw it, I've been fighting weight all my life. At one point I was 305 but that was about 10 years ago. Started last January (2009) at 275, ended December at 258. 253 this morning. Weights do help, also walking/jogging. Not a member of WeightWatchers but my wife is a lifetime member so I know the routine and am trying to stick to it.

I say let the lawyer write the agreement . If you want to give the lawyer a couple of sample ones as examples, fine, but if it comes to enforcing the agreement, the lawyer will have to do it so let the lawyer choose the tools. You wouldn't want the lawyer choosing your tools for you to do an inspection would ya? Charlie

Read about the Fenix here and bought one last year. I gotta say, I love that light. I get at least two inspections, I bought 3 of the rechargeable batteries so I always have 2 charged. I just put a charged one in after two inspections every time so I don't know really how long it would go, but it is a great tool. The belt case is a piece of junk though. Charlie

If it's a built in microwave, I carry a plastic bottle that's about half full of water with me and throw it in, start the microwave and run it for a minute to see if the water gets hot or not. I have found a couple that way that made a lot of noise but didn't actually heat anything. Check where the power comes from, and make sure the microwave is attached firmly to the cabinetry/walls. I did have one in a new construction that almost came crashing down. If the microwave is just sitting on the counter, forget it. I started out with a leak detector, but lost it several years ago and have never missed it. Charlie