Repair for cut joist
posted on February 08, 2010 09:13:13 pm
Would you consider this an acceptable repiar for a floor joist which has been cut.

What is the cause for bow in this wall?
posted on February 08, 2010 07:24:34 pm
We are looking for a house and we noticed there is a bow in wall. The bow is in the middle. The inspector said he did not think it could be a structure problem. He also did not found any water damage problem. The interior wall does not have bow. What could be the cause? Please take a look at the pictures. Thanks a lot!!

jumper bar
posted on February 08, 2010 06:45:46 pm
Do you guys recommend removal of jumper bar between the neutral and ground bus bars?

exposed nail heads
posted on February 08, 2010 04:17:11 pm
I see these all the time, but a relocation inspector noted them on one section of the roof and recommended repairs. He missed the rest of the areas around the house. The exposed nail heads are along the top of the cornice returns all around the house. The buyer that I'm doing the inspection for wants them noted. I have spoken to roofers and contractors and most don't worry about them and some even said that the nails seal themselves so leaks shouldn't be a problem because of the close proximity to the siding. What do you guys think, and do you write these up? I am going to write them up, but was just wanted other input.

How not to do an air return
posted on February 08, 2010 03:10:49 pm
This house used to have a floor furnace. New gas furnace was installed in the garage and the floor opening used for the air return. Looks nice until you investigate a little closer. Floor opening was covered and one side of the wall opening was also covered. If you did not look closely and did not remove the cover this one would be easily missed. I thinks that the remaining opening is not large enough for adequate airflow. Toss in a dirty filter and its even better.

Would a heat pump do this ? Have not seen before
posted on February 08, 2010 01:31:23 pm
I inspected a 10 year old house with a heat pump. Outside temp was 38 degrees. Inside was 60 degrees. I went to the thermostat and set the temperature to 61 and the condensor did not come on, so I set it to 62 and the condensor came on. I went outside and noticed the condensor was loud and then noticed the fan was not moving. I turned the unit off. On my way inside I was wondering if the condensor fan could be themostatically controlled to not spin in cold are (outside air temp was 38). I dont think that is the case but I have been wrong before. Has anyone seen a condensor that the the fan would not come on in certain temperatures ? Gene

Got Termites?
posted on February 08, 2010 11:13:47 am
Termites build 2.5m highrise at Gordonvale- Local Cairns News | cairns.com.au (http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/02/03/91275_local-news.html)

Is this masonite siding?
posted on February 08, 2010 11:09:36 am
This siding seemed very easy to damage. It was really soft and it appears that the original surface has worn leaving just the paint to protect it..

Superbowl ad $6 haircut
posted on February 08, 2010 10:38:40 am
I tried to find the video clip on this but this is the best I could do: ---Quote--- The commercial features Dan, who owns a small barbershop. To his alarm, a large haircut chain moves in across the street, featuring six-dollar haircuts. Dan can't compete at that price. Instead, Dan goes to Office Depot, where he buys a sign: *WE FIX $6 HAIRCUTS* Soon, the large discount chain has gone out of business. All (presumably) because Dan was smart and didn't try to compete on price (and went to Office Depot to buy his sign). ---End Quote--- I thought about our business and the $99 drive by inspector out there. Maybe that will be my new catch phrase "I fix $6 inspections";)

Sewer ejector pump
posted on February 08, 2010 10:03:56 am
Does anyone know if the lid on a sewer ejector pump has to be secured? I am saying something about it based simply on common sense but I was curious of the requirements. This particular cover could be easily lifted off, and the tank was about six feet deep or deeper, I could not see the bottom. Thanks

Pin hole leaks in copper piping?
posted on February 08, 2010 03:08:56 am
Ok I have inspected plenty of homes in three years as a home inspector and keep busy with home inspections. I have run into two home in my area in the last month which are having pin hole leaks in the copper water piping over and over again. One home is on a well and the other is on city water. Does anyone know the cause or have an idea of the cause of these pin hole leaks. I would like to give my clients a direction to go in the purchase of these homes. The constant leaks make me think the hole copper pipe systems may need to be replaced with pex or some other plastic pipe. I have done research on line and there does not seem to be many answers. Some research I read is do to low PH other is just bad workmanship in the install. Can anyone help me with this issue. Thank you all in advance!

Alcohol & Judgement - A Bad Combiniation
posted on February 08, 2010 01:58:11 am
File this one under "It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time". (I'm sorry the guy got injured but good grief! A 62-year-old man should have better judgment than this.) Man hurt after homemade rocket explodes during party stunt (http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/02/04/michigan.rocket.man) ---Quote--- February 4, 2010 A 62-year-old Michigan man was severely burned when a homemade rocket strapped on his back exploded while he slid down a snowy hill on a sled, authorities said this week. The rocket stunt was the grand finale on Saturday during the man's annual sledding party at his Oakland County, Michigan, home, the sheriff's department said. "He is known for doing 'crazy things' at his parties," an Oakland County sheriff's department statement said. "On this date, after consuming an unknown quantity of alcohol, he constructed a device out of a motorcycle muffler and pipe." Inside the makeshift rocket, the victim placed gunpowder, heads from matches and gasoline. He donned a helmet and took a sled to the top of a snowy embankment. "He asked another person to light a wick and then began to sled down a hill. At some point during the ride downhill, the device exploded. The results of the explosion were second-degree burns to the victim's face," the sheriff's department statement said. No one else was injured during the incident. The man, whose identity is not yet known, was hospitalized with significant damage to one of his eyes and could face criminal charges, authorities said. ---End Quote---

Propane Systems
posted on February 08, 2010 12:06:50 am
This is something I rarely run across and know a fair amount about but am always interested in learning more. I have a big house coming up this week that is all propane and was trying to brush up.... So, what do you know and what would you care to share from an inspection perspective? Here's what I can think of: Propane appliances should be marked as being converted from LNG Propane is heavier than air while natural gas is lighter (I'm 90% sure on this.... I'm sure someone will jump in if I'm wrong). I always think of this in terms of fireplaces and other equipment where a leak would settle rather than drift upward (should propane house systems have a "sniffer" like in an RV?) There're more BTUs per cubic foot of propane vs natural gas (likely why it's heavier than air as opposed to LNG). It smells about as foul as LNG although slightly different odor How about storage tank regulations? From what I've experienced the delivery companies are pretty good about enforcing things before they'll fill the tank. Pretty much like the natural gas company around here. Meaning they won't turn the gas on unless all is well and the appliances are all generally safe. Things seem to be largely the same as LNG but, again, I don't see too many propane systems. Just curious what you all know....

Stair beside above-ground pool
posted on February 07, 2010 05:34:28 pm
Okay here's one for you California in Florida guys: Here in Chicago I rarely see above ground pools, but I would *think* there would be a requirement for a rail along the left side of the stairs adjacent to the pool, even though you don't need (AFAIK) a railing at the junction the deck surface in the pool rim.. Anyone? (For purposes of this discussion, let's just ignore ignore the other problems with these stairs.)

Leak leads to corrosion?Corrosion leads to leak?
posted on February 07, 2010 05:03:23 pm
Which is it? Could galvanic corrosion have caused the leaks? Would bonding the hot pipes to ground help stop corrosion? These are 6 year old gas water heaters, 80 gallon units on the 5th floor of a condo unit. Both are dripping from the same junction. Shouldn't they have used couplings to separate the steel from the copper?