Can you guess what made me think there might be a leak in the roof?
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I found this 200-amp panel in a bedroom closet. The 200 amp main breaker is not being used. The 100 Amp breakers on the lower left are feeding the panel. I have never seen this before. Is this OK? (There are many more issues with the panel but this I have never seen)
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OK this is no excuse however I live in the city and do not run across a ton of wells and when I do I have never seen a plastic covered tub? So my client is wierded out by this tub of water in the basement and now his water quality failed the total coliform and mostly likely he will relate it to this tub. Are they possibly related? And what is this tub, just a holding basin?
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Hi all,
I have not been here in a while. It has been 10 amazing NACHI years!!!
I want to thank the organization for all of the support to our members. when I started there were a fraction of the members and so much has transpired. A huge thank you to Nick and all of the staff for creating the biggest and best home inspection organization in the world!
NH now has over 300 licensed inspectors and as a licensing board member I can say that 90% of those licensees are INACHI members.
The education offered through our organization is amazing and constantly growing and our NH members are able to meet their continuing education thanks to INACHI!
Thank you Nick and staff!!
Carla Horne
10 year member!

This is apparently an annual occurrence, as swarms of Formosan termites fill the skies near NOLA this week:

http://www.nola.com/environment/inde...an_termit.html

Of course, you can learn all you need to know about these destructive little imports by (**shameless plug alert!**) purchasing our full-color WDO Inspection Field Guide from Inspector Outlet, now at 40% off! ;)
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Did an inspection on a 1956 ranch in a nearby suburb. It had a 25 x 25' rear addition, added subsequently. The house was structural brick with a frame addition covered with T-111. The original was over a dirt crawl with a full basement under the addition.

The grade around the rear addition was all poured concrete, but was only about 1/2" below the T-111 and there was evidence of old Great Stuff in the gap.

In the basement:

• 2 x 10 floor joists with a doubled 2 x 12 central beam. The beam was supported by the foundation walls and 2 4 x 4 wooden posts with no footings, just resting on the slab (but no cracks in the slab floor, surprisingly).
• On the east (right) side, the original joists were severly notched, but sistered. The sisters were only 4' long and held to the original joists by 1/4" carriage bolts.
• There were only 5 sill plate bolts, non of which with washers or nuts, and none on the north side. The sill plate was not treated lumber. The sill plate was lifted and twisted (at most, 30 degrees). There were places where there was as much as a 1 1/2" gap between the sill plate and the foundation wall. Sunlight was clearly visable in some spots.
• The top of the foundation had a brick ledger, but the ledge was on the inside, not the outside.
• The top of the foundation wall was 1/4" higher than the exterior concrete patio. This patio was sloped towards the house. I turned on a hose and 5 minutes later there was a waterfall over the foundation into the basement.

The buyer was an electrician. Took me 15 minutes to convince him that a) this was messed up and b) he might want to walk away.

Shortest report I ever wrote. Just a cover sheet and a 1 1/2 page introduction explaining the major bullet points.

Busy time, these last two weeks, but most of the houses were rear POS's, with silly, stupid and dangerous issues.

Additionally:

• Backdrafting water heater.
• Condensate and humidifier drain emptying, directly, to crawlspace.
• Portion of ductwork in crawlspace (about 2') artfully constructed of duct tape.
• Bathrooms exhausts venting to attic.
• Stab-loc panel dead front almost completely embedded in the drywall mud.
• Service drop rubbing on garage roof. Drop only 9' above driveway.
• BUT: All new kitchen cabinets and granite countertops, Toto toilets with bidets, really nice tile in the shower enclosures and all that other flipper crap.

Enjoy!

I will now gently settle into an alcoholic stupor. :mrgreen:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xlOiHGTDRY

Congrats Dennis Wright.

La Sécurité Électrique

Have you all noticed a change in policy at our favorite underwriter?

In recent weeks I have had several calls to do a re-inspection on a roof I inspected last year. It seems that the life expectancy of the roofs in question was stated at 4-6 years. Now we know that they will opt for the 4 year expectancy, but they now have a new twist -

Since a year has gone by you would think that the roof now has a life expectancy of 3-5 years (Three in the eyes of the clerical giants), and thereby meets the requirement for a minimum of 3 years life. - Easy math, right?

Not so fast my friends!!! Since the roof inspection was performed in April 2012 and the policy renews in June - that is less than the necessary 3 years and hence a roof replacement or updated inspection or is needed. So theoretically if you do an inspection today, based on a non-renewal letter and state the life expectancy of 3 years for a policy renewing in July - they will be denied coverage!

Now I don't know about you guys, but I have never had much luck finding the expiration date on the shingles, but do you suppose we should be putting more exact figures on our reports? Say....3 years, 2 months and 23 days...

I am currently registered to take the inspector's exam, and as most of you already know, the next step is to get insurance. My question is this: Exactly what insurance is required? Is it E&O for 100,000, or is it both E&O and 100,000 in general liability? I am a bit confused about this, and want to buy only what is necessary at this point.

InterNACHI Design & Print Services: http://printservices.nachi.org/

Website Design & Support: inspectorpages.com

Marketing contact: jessica@internachi.org
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Is their a definite way to determine the age of a package unit without the main data plate? Can a date code be obtained from the fan motor?

'It's failing from soil pressure'....well, if so then you need to recommed EXTERIOR waterproofing, NOT just put in tie backs or carbon fiber straps inside, sheesh! Do any patching on the wall inside or recommend installing an interior system would be incompetent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0st0_soWpfs
All due respect but C''''''''''MON!

You are only talking about the horizontal crack that is visible inside but apparently you don't know (least don't shed any insight on) that there will be OTHER exterior cracks, likely and at least some vertical cracks, possibly 1 or more step cracks and it is because of THOSE and THROUGH those that water is entering and causing what ya see on some of the blocks inside.

Installing carbon straps etc does NOT relieve/lessen ANY exterior soil pressure/weight!

And what ya also don't say/mention is the possibilty of underground tree ROOTS or concrete against-wall or a porch/footing etc that also can CAUSE cracks,leaks,staining inside. So again, installing carbon straps etc inside does not remove any of these possibilities.

And one more time, the wall has EXTERIOR cracks and there is ONE means of waterproofing those exterior cracks/cracked parging which is the only thing that will STOP further water from entering the blocks,passing through joints etc. Ya think water passing through joints don't/can't WEAKEN a wall further? C'''''''''mon!!! #-o

And what about the possibility of some exterior blocks that can/could be disintegrating....deteriorating, like this..............BOWED WALL,
http://picasaweb.google.com/10104903...65069188493442
See any parging???
DETERIORATED BLOCKS,
http://picasaweb.google.com/10104903...65133328086770
Click duh photos to ENLARGE 'em.....what happened to some of the BLOCKS, where did they go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's MAGIC! lolol
So, what good is recommending carbon straps etc on the inside when the PROBLEMS are outside like this! How much are homeowners paying SE's for these recommendations?!

What about when 1 or more underground TREE ROOTS was part or all of the CAUSE of cracks in wall and leaky basement, like this.......
http://picasaweb.google.com/10104903...83457360199010
So, NOT even CONSIDER/think about that shtt like this is possible?!?!
Huh??????????
Just leave the exterior cracks,joints OPEN???????
Leave the clay soil and-or underground tree roots or porch footing etc etc against the wall and install carbon straps instead!!!! lolOlOLlOoll

Install wall anchors like this and what, raise the grade?!?!?
http://picasaweb.google.com/10104903...aterproofing36


Do you believe in magic/The BUBBA Spoonful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysRa5HDB2ZY

Young Girl........get outta Bubba's mind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJFVPxBpezk

They called her.....Dawn (nice tops on waitresses eh, got milk?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke4j3tz2YX8

Journey to the center of the mind....+ go go go go go go girlies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN2VNFpiGWo

In Houston. Been trying to pull up HG for 1 hr / No luck.


2nd time in a month. Anybody know whats going on with them?

I have a main service panel in a recently enclosed pool equipment room (panel was on an exterior wall previously). Pool was put in 10+ years ago, house built in 1978. Pool was permitted and I assume the panel is original. Sorry I don't have a better pic, but the panel is on the right wall out of view in this shot.

What is the minimum clearances here? Code references always useful :)

Is it necessary to put signage on the door indicating the location of the service panel inside, for the local utility company?

Thanks for looking.
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Is there a requirement to have wall light switches in bedrooms?
I inspected a 50 year old house today and all the lights had to be turned on at the fixtures which were in the middle of the room. Not very practical...
Attachment 65575
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Nice to accidently bump into Russell at LongHorn Steakhouse tonight, would have stayed a bit but had 2 more late WM's to get to.
Would be great if we could all take the time to take time and meet up, maybe get on the same page with some issues at hand. Even form regional groups, it's all good.......

Chicken thieves get turned into hats.
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I had a home the other day with a renter living in the house her statement to me was why does this GFCI outlet in the kitchen next to the sink that has my phone plugged in trip every time the phone rings??? I had no answer I went brain dead could not think of a good answer and still can not. Must be something in the AC to DC converter that the outlet does not like:shock:

I really have no idea what they were trying to accomplish here. A vent?:mrgreen:
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