kteitel

Is there code about dryer vent location? The builder placed the dryer vent with 1 ft of the A/C unit. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspection

I use OpenOffice to create the defect list. I put the full size image (1600x1200) in the regular file and then just drag the image to the size I want in the report. Once the report is complete I just go to File, select save as PDF, and then select reduce image to 100dpi and it will reduce all of the images to 100dpi on the fly. A report with 50 pictures is around 500k. Not too large to email and the images are fairly good quality. If the client needs the full image, I will send it upon request. Have not had any complaints so far. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

No pucker factor all movement! Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

To follow on with what Scott said, another sure way to guess that there are going to be boot-leg grounds are homes that have mostly two prong receptcals and then you see a few with three prongs. If you only have the three light tester, I recommend pulling the plug cover to verify. One other thing to keep in mind about the Suretest, is that they a known to break and keep reading false ground, even when there isn't one. I need to send mine in. They are fully warranteed, but it is still a hassle. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

I started out using ITA reports only. Now I go through the inspection taking pictures of all of the defects and on-site I still use the checklist (still have about 70 left) to report the makeup of the house, and when I get home I create a defect list with pictures and then email that to them. This way the customer gets something at the inspection and then they get the defect list that evening. No complaints so far. Most of the defect lists are 10-20 pages long. I use OpenOffice to create the document and then just save as PDF. I hate paying for software and OpenOffice is free. When I run out of the ITA reports. I will write my own report software and go from there. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

As stated above, respirators only filter out particals. If you are that concerned about CO either wear a SCBA (aka Scott Air Pack, imagine what firefighters wear) or wear/use a CO detector. CO is deadly, but the odds of it being in a highy enough concentration to harm you in a short period of time is very low. If you were working inside tanks (water or oil, or other very confined air tight spaces) you should be concerend, but not doing inspecitons. Falling off a ladder, bumping your head on a nail in the attic or, stepping through the ceiling while in the attic are a lot more likely. When thinking about things like this, play the odds, it will keep you from worring about the small stuff. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

I use Zone Alarm and love it. I had a lot of problems with Macafee. http://www.zonelabs.com/store/applicati ... lid=nav_ss Zone Alarm makes the best free firewall and the other security products are also very good. Microsofts "Firewall" is very weak. It will block intrusions, but if you already have a trojan, it will just allow it to go about it's business. Where as Zone Alarm with alert you that something is trying to send a message out from your computer and asks if you want to allow it. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

There needs to be either a fire door at the top or bottom of the staircase, or a fire rated wall between the garage attic and the rest of the house. You are correct in guessing that it was incorrect. As to pull down attic stairs, unless the stairs are fire rated (most are not) it is considered a breach in the garage envelope and either needs to be sealed, or the stairs replaced with a fire rated type. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

http://www.washingtontimes.com/business ... -4875r.htm Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections (and I thought it was me)

Another question on the same topic, I inspected a house that had stone veneer on the foundation, and the veneer extende below the soil. I called this out that in that it would wick moisture out of the soil and not let the water from the rain out. Was this a good call? There was concrete behind the stone veneer. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

All I can say is, "Holy ****!!!!" at the number of hits that came back with the Google search.

Unfortunately no, there is no bulb. It might be a loose connection though. If you got the extended warranty you might be able to get it fixed. On thought, use this as the office computer and just hook a monitor up to it and get yourself another laptop. But before you do anythying else, BACKUP EVERYTHING on the hard drive!!!!! You are probably on borrowed time with the laptop. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

Captain, Actually a gate valve should never be used to regulate flow. It's designed to be either open or closed. Using it to regulate flow could damage the gate. The best valve for regulating flow is a globe valve. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

One way to think about it, the air enters the room through the duct and displaces the air already inhe room. If the door isn't undercut or there isn't a return duct, then the air has no where to go. The air won't get distributed evenly and the furnace gets choked. One thing I do notice is if the system is having imporperly balanced, you will see a black line going across the doorway on the carpet. The air is forced under the door and the carpet acts like a filter. The black line is tough to get out. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

B. I don't feel it's right to ask for payment until the inspections is finished. I take cash or check. And have done Western Union once when a client was out of town. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

I'm here everyday lurking.[^] Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

hausdok, My report about the drain would state something to the effect, "The top vented s-trap is no longing in use today. Updating the drain to a p-trap would be recommended." Although, telling the client, "It ain't right, have a plumber fix it." Would also get the point across without swamping the client with HI speak. Kevin Teitel house-Pro Inspections

Thanks guys, I didn't mention it in my report since it was outside the scope of the inspection. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

Kevin, You are correct in calling out the defect. It doesn't matter if the walls and ceiling are 1 hour rated, if there are hole, the fire will just go through those. The builder is just trying to get out of fixing the problem. You can always offer to call the AHJ. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

The other day I was inspectting a house and saw that the cable company and phone company had both used the hose bib for grounding. The only problem is that the system is CPVC. Not a very good ground. Would you write it up? Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

I just started taking pictures and it adds about 1/2 to 1 hour extra per report. I use the Matrix report form (non-computer) so I can deliver the report on site and since I am new, I don't need the hassle/stress of a computer crash. But since I now use pictures I have added more time at home to download the image to the computer and then change the resolution and the sending the pictures. So my hourly rate was cut by over 15% (a 3 hour inspection now requires 3 1/2+ hours). Even though I am doing a better job for my clients, I am making less per hour. As soon as I am more confident in myself I will either get one of the reporting software on the market or make my own. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

To my way of thinking the set up is correct. If this is a 240V set up, you would have to have 2 hot2, a neutral and a ground to the house (4 wires) for the panel at the house to be a sub. If this is a 120V set up than I believe the panel at the house would be a sub. Just my 2 cents. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

I can't tell by the picture, but I would have gone through if I could squat down and step through. I would not have gone through on my hands and knees. Remember, how much is your life worth? (my wife would answer, about what life insurance would pay) [] You made the right call. Kevin Teitel House-Pro Inspections

I recommend them to my clients since over my wedding weekend my inlaws house flooded the first floor and the basement when the hot water hose burst. Kevin

I am trying to let inspectors know about openoffice.org. It's a free version of MS Office like software and you can create PDF's without buying other software. It can open, edit and save office formatted documents but you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars. It's open source and free. My kind of software. www.openoffice.org