for those of us who use multimeters (we all should) ...
posted on July 23, 2008 09:49:16 am
I've been reading a multi-page article in my IAEI News about multimeter accidents, injuries, and deaths from multimeter misuse (or using the wrong multimeter in the wrong location). This is the gist of the warnings: If the multimeter you are holding fails for any reason (could be operator caused, could be age, deterioration, moisture, etc.) there is a good probability that the multimeter failure acts as a short across whatever you were measuring - with one lead connected to one side, the other lead connected to the other side, the meter fail and shorts out ... you might as well be holding a piece of copper wire between the two things you were measuring. That short can lead to an arc or arc flash, burning your hands, clothes, etc., not trying to be scary of anything, but there have been many, many, many cases of such happening. The meter you use needs to have the correct CAT I, CAT II, CAT III, or CAT IV rating for the area (not just what you are measuring, but what is around that area and what is supplying that area). Here is some good information, descriptive drawings, and examples of the different CAT areas in which different CAT rating meters should be used. http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/essg/pdf/ABCs_of_Multimeter_Safety.pdf and Anatomy of a high quality meter (http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/techinfo.asp?htmlfile=Anatomyofameter.htm&ID=16) Most of what we would normally check would be CAT II or CAT III, however, many of us stray into CAT IV (basically when you use your meter outdoors to measure the things we might measure)

GE 30 amp slim type breaker
posted on July 23, 2008 09:07:45 am
I inspected a GE panel yesterday that had a single 30 amp slim type breaker supplying a standard 3 prong 4 receptacle outlet. I was unable to locate anything in the NEC and have never seen this before except to a dedicated single outlet for an appliance or tool. Any help is appreciated!

Magicjack
posted on July 23, 2008 08:33:41 am
Are any of you familiar with or using magicjack for phone service? magicjack.com

Inspection Complaints
posted on July 23, 2008 08:06:59 am
Hi Gentleman hope your inspection schedules are full! I am curious for all of you vets out there if/when you have had a complaint about something that was missed in an inspection or not inspected properly how you handle it and how it affected your business if any as a direct result. If it was in a small real estate office did it affect your referrals from that office? Did it hurt your business for a month, week, year etc.? How did you handle the situation did you reimburse them, or tell them you wouldn't pay? All input is appreciated.

Lawyers Watch Case Of Business Owner Charged With Manslaughter - Hartford Courant
posted on July 23, 2008 01:17:48 am
InspectionNews has found this information related to pools and spas that might be of interest to you. Lawyers Watch Case Of Business Owner Charged With Manslaughter (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-0&fd=R&url=http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hc-pool0722.artjul22,0,3739307.story&cid=0&ei=xcyGSLO1D5vI8ATw8uypBA&usg=AFQjCNFA0y9ZuYYVVKKAiL6tGMqvcrRmYQ) Hartford Courant, United States - 20 hours ago "Those who knowingly violate *pool safety* codes designed to protect children should be held accountable for their actions," the couple said in the statement. More... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-0&fd=R&url=http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hc-pool0722.artjul22,0,3739307.story&cid=0&ei=xcyGSLO1D5vI8ATw8uypBA&usg=AFQjCNFA0y9ZuYYVVKKAiL6tGMqvcrRmYQ)

Boom time for property inspection company - The Union Leader
posted on July 23, 2008 01:17:48 am
InspectionNews has just found the following information that might be of interest to you: Boom time for property inspection company (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/2-0&fd=R&url=http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx%3Fheadline%3DBoom%2Btime%2Bfor%2Bproperty%2Binspection%2Bcompany%26articleId%3D47f7bccc-aeb1-424f-9928-8e26dc7afb71&cid=0&ei=w8yGSLKXHYLM8ATesNGpBA&usg=AFQjCNEM08teT752gPE92mDJcMxcfT-VNw) The Union Leader, NH - 1 hour ago When a loan goes into delinquent status, usually after 45 days without a payment, financial institutions contact the company to arrange a *home inspection*. *...* More... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/2-0&fd=R&url=http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx%3Fheadline%3DBoom%2Btime%2Bfor%2Bproperty%2Binspection%2Bcompany%26articleId%3D47f7bccc-aeb1-424f-9928-8e26dc7afb71&cid=0&ei=w8yGSLKXHYLM8ATesNGpBA&usg=AFQjCNEM08teT752gPE92mDJcMxcfT-VNw)

In-filling skip sheathing
posted on July 23, 2008 12:08:20 am
I've never seen this before and I'm a bit skeptical. Have you guys ever seen this? In particular I don't really like the gaps left behind. Strangely enough, I looked really hard and couldn't find and fasteners in the gaps. I realize while looking through my pictures that I didn't snap one of this exact problem. The ones below are of a broken rafter and a piece or romex tacked tightly across the attic access hatch.... hopefully, you'll see what I'm talking about. fyi... the current roof is a single layer comp.

Nail gun happy
posted on July 22, 2008 10:35:10 pm
Other than the fact these guys put 21 nails in a single piece of window trim, what are the repercautions, if any, for sinking the nails in this deep. Some were a 1/4 inch deep or more. The wood was 1 1/12. I pointed it out to the builder and he said no big deal, the wood is 11/2.

re; number of H.I. that bit the dust
posted on July 22, 2008 09:30:11 pm
Wondering how many New Home Inspectors have bit the dust this year, the pie in the sky about 3 home inspections per day at $300 , that we received in our training , just some how has not materialized, I hope the Instructors have modified it to 2 inspection per day equals $600 eazy money.

Beetles in new hard wood flooring
posted on July 22, 2008 08:18:21 pm
Got a call from a home owner that put in new hard wood flooring a year ago. this week out comes wood boring beetles all over the place. the flooring company told the owner to go jump in a lake. this flooring has a lot of holes in it just a mess. the cost to fumigate the home $ 6K replacement of the damage flooring another 4K I have been seeing more and more hard wood flooring and new furnishing with beetles this past year. Cosco sent me out on one inspection to look at a desk that the was from a company in So.Calif that was ship in from China. just full of beetles. Cosco. was fast to act and to provide the people with a new desk. Im going to be checking all hard wood flooring just a bit closer. This home owner will be after this flooring company. Best Ron

Realtors New Solution to Pesk Inspectors
posted on July 22, 2008 07:59:28 pm
YouTube - The O'Shea Report - The Complete Realtor's Kit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owrPJVN4BRg)

Time for a new truck.
posted on July 22, 2008 07:15:27 pm
Its been a good turck my 1999 Ford ranger. got 174K out of it with no problems. just last sunday went out to start the truck and the motor had a bad knok. Looks like its time for a new truck. Been out looking. My CPA says uncle sam will give me a 50% right off the first year on any new truck. They want prople to buy new things. This is my short list. New Ford ranger $ 19K Nice truck. *** New Dodge tundra $ 21K Nice truck. ** New Toyta tacoma $ 25K Very nice truck. ***** I think that the Toyta Has the best truck after test drives. 5 speed auto trans. v6 extend cab with rear doors, all power. One cool part about the Toyota was they have a 120v out let in the bed. you can plug in a drill or saw or what ever. Any info will help.:D Best Ron

Sony Cybershot DSC-T300
posted on July 22, 2008 05:00:29 pm
My 4 plus year old Sony cybershot was dying a slow death. I bought the camera listed above. Does anyone own one and how do you like it. Yeah, yeah, I just want to feel good for the expense. Camera, case, 2 year breakage replacement, tax, over 400 plus. Camera alone for 359.00 Someone tell me they have good luck with theirs.

WOOD FLOOR INSPECTION-GARDEN CITY, KS 67846
posted on July 22, 2008 02:57:24 pm
We have an immediate need for an inspector to inspect a wood floor in GARDEN CITY, KS 67846. The complaint is for cracking and buckling. You are required to have a moisture meter. Temperature and humidity readings required along with pictures. Checklist & instructions will be provided. Payment will be made within 10 days of completion of the inspection You are responsible for setting the appointment. The inspection report (http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/autolink.php?id=5&script=showthread&forumid=24) must be submitted on our website within 48 hours of the inspection. Inspect Solutions, Inc. has been contracted to provide national inspection services for major retailers and manufacturers.

Environmental Service Professionals Acquires Porter Valley Software
posted on July 22, 2008 02:39:51 pm
*InspectVue News 07/17/08* *ESP ACQUIRES PVS* *07/17/08* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Environmental Service Professionals Acquires Porter Valley Software* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am proud today to announce that Environmental Service Professionals, Inc. (ESP) has acquired Porter Valley Software Inc. This partnership will be benificial to all current and future Porter Valley Software InspectVue users. I will have some exciting news to share with all of you in the coming weeks on how our software will be playing a major role in helping take you to the next level in the residential and commercial inspection field. It's going to be quite a ride! I will continue to head up the Porter Valley Software division of ESP and our current software lineup will continue to be enhanced and updated. If you have any questions about the merger you are welcome to call me at (800) 388-4541. Sincerely, Lorne Steiner, Managing Director, Porter Valley Software A Division of ESP (NSD OTC Symbol: EVSP) Corporate Web Site: http://www.evsp.com *Press Release *Environmental Service Professionals, Inc. announces the acquisition of Porter Valley Software, Inc.PALM SPRINGS (PrimeNews Wire) July 17, 2008--- Environmental Service Professionals, Inc. (OTCBB:EVSP) announced today that it has acquired the inspection industry's leading software developer, Porter Valley Software, Inc. (PVS), makers of the InspectVueT line of Professional home and commercial inspection report-writers. Founder and President, Mr. Lorne Steiner will continue on as the Managing Director of the new Porter Valley Software Division of ESP. Environmental Service Professionals President/CEO Ed Torres stated, "We are very excited about the opportunity to acquire the industry's leading inspection and report creation software. This acquisition is in keeping with our commitment to excellence and leadership within the Indoor Air Quality industry. We are very pleased that the acquisition of Porter Valley Software, Inc. also brings to our team Mr. Lorne Steiner, whose experience and reputation will be a tremendous asset as we strive to become the leader in this emerging industry." "PVS inspection report-writers compliment the ESP business model by creating an integrated software solution for the next generation of Real Estate Inspectors that includes residential, commercial, environmental inspections, testing and laboratory analysis", noted Mr. Lorne Steiner About Environmental Service Professionals, Inc. ESP is the first publicly-traded company established to consolidate the highly fragmented home inspection industry and to specialize in environmental inspections. ESP's Healthy Home Assurance Certification mission results in the mitigation of risk across the board for homeowners and for mortgage, title and insurance companies. ESP, through its wholly owned subsidiary Environmental Safeguard Professionals, Inc. ("Safeguard"), has developed a standardized training, certification, Inspection, and results reporting analysis program which forms the foundation of a suite of services that together comprise our Certified Environmental Home Inspector ("CEHI") program. This business unit provides annual subscription-based moisture maintenance and energy use awareness programs for addressing many environmental issues in the Building, Residential, Commercial and Real Estate industries. ESP, through its wholly owned subsidiary National Professional Services, Inc. ("NPS"), offers annual trade memberships and management services for industry related associations. NPS is currently a conglomerate of seven individual associations and maintains annual paying members. The focus of this business unit is to establish cross-training on CEHI programs and to provide information concerning residential environmental issues, to establish training for underwriters, loan officers and appraisers, and to educate these groups about CEHI inspection protocols. Training programs for insurance companies, underwriters, loss control, and risk management personnel educate and emphasize the benefits of using a CEHI on the initial inspection and then establishing annual inspections. The company's motto is "peace of mind for your family, your home and your health". Visit www.espusa.net (http://www.espusa.net/) for complete information on the ESP family of services offered and http://www.evsp.com (http://www.evsp.com/) for investment information. *Contact Information* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ phone: 818-368-4806 or toll free: 800-388-4541