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commerical inspections

Inter Nachi - Wed, 04/24/2013 - 00:58
What is required to be licensed for commercial inspections in OK?

Corrugated plastic water heater flue? Lochinvar DVN040-1 unit

Inter Nachi - Wed, 04/24/2013 - 00:27
This Lochinvar DVN040-1 water heater, evidently the original unit from when the house was built in the mid 1990s, discharged exhaust through a heavy-duty corrugated plastic flue.

The material did not feel like it had a metal liner.

This material does not look suitable for a flue to me, and I would expect metal or PVC piping to be be more suitable for such a venting arrangement, but this has the look of an original installation.

Anybody familiar with this unit and its venting requirements?
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GE Type Circuit Breakers Question

Inter Nachi - Wed, 04/24/2013 - 00:22
Main distribution panel label indicates that one should use GE type breakers. Does this mean you should only use GE circuit breakers?
I have seen this before during inspections, but wanted to ask because there were a couple of non GE circuit breakers installed in a panel I recently inspected. I have attached a picture of label.
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Plastic for furnace....vent ducting

Inter Nachi - Tue, 04/23/2013 - 23:42
The plastic looked like some type of heavy duty PVC....would add a pic but I'm in the field... on my cell phone

Is this a new acceptable material?

David

Happy birthday Marc Beauchemin.

Inter Nachi - Tue, 04/23/2013 - 21:41
Happy birthday.

Draw inspections for mortagage companies

Inter Nachi - Tue, 04/23/2013 - 20:35
I need to know forms, and charges in general for mortgage draws.

Thanks
Keith

GFCI tester

Inter Nachi - Tue, 04/23/2013 - 19:09
Using a standard GFCI outlet tester a GFCI will not trip. It will trip with the test button. Why?

Jim Campbell

Franchise for Sale

Inter Nachi - Tue, 04/23/2013 - 18:24
Great opportunity for beginning inspectors in the Edmonton, Alberta area. Established franchise, in business for 13 years, very solid reputation; marketing program, reporting system, great technical support, and initial mentoring available. Reduced Price. Contact Neil Evans at 780, 440-2600.

Need Inspector in Jacksonville

Inter Nachi - Mon, 04/22/2013 - 10:32
Ongoing inspections, Winds and 4's.
PM me or email...
greg@palmstateinspections.com

Stop by the InterNACHI booths in Atlantic City and have Lisa guess your weight.

Inter Nachi - Mon, 04/22/2013 - 04:01
Post a PIC of the booth... if you have one.

Bryant AC Condensor Age

Inter Nachi - Mon, 04/22/2013 - 03:00
The data plate was barely legible...looks like Model #80-567S and Serial #10231654.

Am I correct...manufactured 1961????
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GFCI Protected Receptacles On Hi-Rise Balconies

Inter Nachi - Sun, 04/21/2013 - 23:57
In Vero Beach, Stuart, Jensen Beach and Fort Pierce, FL I typically find NO GFCI protection at the exterior balcony receptacles.

My interp is that GFCI prot is required at all wet area receptacles since 1973...

Alcoholics Annonymous (AA) is misquoting the Serenity Prayer.

Inter Nachi - Sun, 04/21/2013 - 23:06
The Serenity Prayer is often misquoted. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) misstates it like this:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.



AA's incorrect version makes no sense.

Why would you need serenity to accept only the things you cannot change? Instead, wouldn't you need serenity to accept everything that cannot be changed?

Also, changing things just for the sake of change isn't necessarily good. Hitler changed things. Instead, wouldn't you rather change the things you should change? Furthermore, if you already can change something that needs to be changed, do you really need to pray for the courage to? Just do it! A slave owner in the 1800s didn't need much courage to free his slaves, but he'd need lots of courage to help end slavery. That would require some courage to pray for. Changing just the things you can requires little courage.

And, finally, do you really want God to grant you the wisdom to instantly know the difference between the two without having to think about it? I don't think God is going to grant that wish. That's too easy and would allow you to blame Him for not having the wisdom. Instead, God might grant you the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.

The Serenity Prayer was written by Reinhold Neubuhr. Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr was an American theologian, ethicist, intellectual, commentator on politics and public affairs, and professor at Union Theological Seminary for more than 30 years.

This is the original and correct Serenity Prayer:

God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.




AHIT Opinion On Inspecting Air Cooled AC's

Inter Nachi - Sun, 04/21/2013 - 19:52
This is copied from their current e-mail newsletter:

"Determine if you will turn the unit on. It is always a good idea to know what the temperature was the night before the inspection. Also note what the current temperature is at the inspection. The current temperature ideally will have been 60-65 degrees or warmer for the last 12-24 hours. When examining the outdoor unit, note if the disconnect is turned off, indicating the system is shut down. The unit power should be on for roughly 24 hours before the inspection to prevent damage to the compressor."

Many times at bank REO props the breakers are off. Or the power was just turned on by elec co the day b4.

PLS: Do NOT turn this into a debate on whether to turn breakers on or off!:mrgreen:

AHIT Opinion On GFCI REporting

Inter Nachi - Sun, 04/21/2013 - 17:41
This is directly copied from the current AHIT newsletter:

Home inspectors need to remember that they are not there to cite code violations, but rather, are there to make recommendations to the client if additional safety can be added or upgraded. For example if inspecting a bathroom in a house that was built in 1987, or for that fact 2007, and the receptacle is checked and is properly grounded but does not have GFCI protection, it should NOT be written up as a safety hazard, even though the code for GFCI protection in a bathroom went into effect in 1975. Instead, this should be expressed verbally and should be written in the report as, “for additional safety, recommend GFCI protected receptacles in the bathroom.” It is okay to recommend GFCI protected receptacles in locations that typically require them but do not currently have them.


I anticipate this post may cause a few differences of opinion...:mrgreen:

Stucco thickness

Inter Nachi - Sun, 04/21/2013 - 16:50
Anyone have any idea if there is a code requirement or specification of how thick the "stucco" finish is supposed to be on a block wall. Keep in mind that none of the builders around here actually do stucco anymore. They put a coat of cement on the wall and then texture it. In fact most plans do not even say stucco any longer, they call it a cementitious finish.

That said, a customer pointed out that on his home under construction, after the "stucco" was applied, you can still see the mortar joints in the block. Is there a standard that would compel the builder to make the finished coat on the block wall thicker?

These photos are after the home was painted and you can still see the mortar joints.
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Ground testers

Inter Nachi - Sun, 04/21/2013 - 12:19
Anyone have tools, instrumentation or do ground testing.
A tool or instrumentation to use.
1: Panel & system ground.
2: Mechanical. On any component.
3: Bonding.
Thanks in advance.
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