Thread: What is this?

I saw this yesterday at a townhouse inspection. Can anyone tell me what it is? I can read the letters TBS on it. I'm just starting out so I'm seeing things for the first time that I'm sure many of you have seen many times before. Thanks for the help.

Where did you find this? It looks like an outside pic. It could even be a irrigation fitting.

It is a termite baiting station.

rick

Whitmire Micro-Gen - Corporate Information

Rick

"5 out of 4 people have trouble with fractions"

Are you sure

I thought it was 6 out of 4

Originally Posted by Ted Menelly

Rick

"5 out of 4 people have trouble with fractions"

Are you sure

I thought it was 6 out of 4

Ted,

It's the new synergism math: 1 + 1 = more than 2.

Thus, synergetically speaking, 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5.

Ask those 4 people how they make 5 and none will know, thus, it is a self-evident fact that 5 out of 4 don't know how you get 5 out of 4 ... therein lies the fractional trouble, i.e., "5 out of 4 people have trouble with fractions".

This truth is held as self-evident.

Can we go back to the 5 out of 4 part, I'm still a bit confused?

Originally Posted by Michael Greenwalt

Can we go back to the 5 out of 4 part, I'm still a bit confused?

Synergy does that on you.

Now you are one with yourself and that one is greater than the sum of its parts. Hmmm ... does that not therefore make you 'more-than-one-with-yourself'?

Thanks Rick,They did say they were setting traps for termites. Didn't know what they looked liked(the traps). Now I know.

Originally Posted by David O'Keefe

Thanks Rick,They did say they were setting traps for termites. Didn't know what they looked liked(the traps). Now I know.

David,

I know youre new to the industry so I was wondering if you are doing real inspections yet or if youre still working on practice inspections.

Brian,
Still doing mock inspections. If all goes well should have my license in early september.

cool, good luck. We still dont have any licensing requirements in ohio yet.

Did a mock today on a friends house. It went welll, still trying to develop my flow though. Getting better at it.

How are your mock inspections going?

Brian,
My mocks are going well. One problem though, when 2-3 guys are trying to look at an electric panel or a bathroom it gets kinda crowded. So what I try to do is the opposite of everyone else. I do the inside first and then the outside. I'm pretty much on my own then. I'm also going on some ridealongs and one thing I have noticed that you can't learn in a classroom is how to communicate with the client. That is an important aspect of the job and one I'm going to struggle with in the beginning of my career .

I'm also going on some ridealongs and one thing I have noticed that you can't learn in a classroom is how to communicate with the client. That is an important aspect of the job and one I'm going to struggle with in the beginning of my career .

David, sounds like you have a plan and are being realistic.
A big part of learning is admitting your weaknesses.
I am definitely not a public speaker and tend to trip and stumble when in a group but in the one on one situation with just the client and I, things are much more relaxed and easier but I can remember being in your shoes many years ago.
The more confident you are in your knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the house, the better your communication skills will be with the customer.

One word of advice, don't B/S your way through something, be honest and tell the client that you will have to get back with them on xyz after you do some research or refer them to the appropriate specialist.
NOBODY is an expert in everything, remember we are generalist and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Ah ok, so youre still doing mocks with several inspectors at a time then? I remember being in class doing the mocks and we were running into each other too. I have just been doing mocks on friends houses now.

The ride alongs are great too. Unfortunately I have only been on one so far and the client was not there. I wanted to see how the inspector interacted with the client. Im the same way with the communication skills as you. I still need alot of work in that area

I also joined a local HI association. Just trying to learn all I can.

David,
It appears to be a termite colony elimination system installed by the pest control provider by the association maintaining the common areas of the complex. Dow Chemical produces one that is called Sentricon and the units are a bright green.
Gene Autore
Norwalk, CT

Originally Posted by Gene Autore

David,
It appears to be a termite colony elimination system installed by the pest control provider by the association maintaining the common areas of the complex. Dow Chemical produces one that is called Sentricon and the units are a bright green.
Gene Autore
Norwalk, CT

Gene,

First, welcome to THE inspector's forum.

Next, though, allow me to point out some 'poor choice wording' in the above.

It appears to be a termite colony elimination system

It does? "ELIMINATION system". Really? They can do that? I believe that is their *goal*, but to actually call it that? In Florida, that would mean that if you did no kill even one termite from that colony, you would be committing a fraudulent act for saying you could do that.

If Florida, if you say you can "eliminate" the colony, you either need to be able to do just that, or, have deep enough pockets to pay for all subsequent damage to any and all buildings caused by any termite(s) from that colony or other colonies in the same area, after all, you did not state "which colony" you were eliminating.

installed by the pest control provider by the association maintaining the common areas of the complex.

You know that? You know that the owner of the townhouse did not have that done themselves? Wow.

Dow Chemical produces one that is called Sentricon and the units are a bright green.

I always thought they were a dark green. Guess it's the way we all see colors slightly differently.

By the way ... your posts will be easier to read if you do not bold and italic all of them.

Glad you joined us, hope to learn from each other.

Not my words Jerry, see below. A homeowner can't purchase the Dow units. Of course, you being the expert must know that so I'm going to assume that you are just being a smart ass.

Sentricon - Colony Elimination System

David,
I am continuely reminded that I've never posted anything so here goes. Yes I beleive as well the item is a termite trap. First view was of a pop-up sprinkler.

I suspect one reason I've never posted is that nearly every news letter clarifies something for me.

I know how you feel with the one on one with your client. My first inspection I could barely talk. Wasn't spitting cotton but close.

Youv'e already received the best tip. Honesty at all times.

Good luck and be safe. (an old retired cop)

Originally Posted by Gene Autore

A homeowner can't purchase the Dow units.

I KNOW THE HOMEOWNER CANNOT PURCHASE CERTAIN PEST CONTROL SYSTEMS, HOWEVER A HOMEOWNER CAN HIRE A PEST CONTROL COMPANY TO INSTALL THOSE UNITS.

Of course, you being the expert must know that so I'm going to assume that you are just being a smart ass.

NOPE, NOT BEING A "SMART ASS", JUST POINTING OUT TO THOSE WHO WISH TO READ AND NOT TYPE IN ALL BOLD AND ITALICS THAT HOMEOWNERS DO NOT HAVE TO RELY ON THEIR ASSOCIATIONS TO PAY TO HAVE PEST CONTROL SYSTEMS INSTALLED.

By the way, there really is no need to type in all bold, all italics, or even all caps as I did above, unless you think doing so makes you an expert and that all bold and all italics make your post more more meaningful. Which it does not, and which is also why I switched back to normal size type, not all caps, not all bold, and not all italics.

Usually, those who come here typing in all bold, all caps, all italics think they know more than we do, but, after finding out they do not, they leave ... taking their all bold, all italics, all caps, etc. with them.

We learn from each other here. Bold, italics, caps, color, etc., are used for highlighting purposes, just common courtesy.

The way I type is just the way I email, except here from now on. It was not meant for any other reason or to claim to be an expert. It was just an a short, sincere ( I thought ) resp[onse to a new guy from someone that crawls under houses just like he does.

BTW, No electrical panels in bathrooms.

RK

BTW, No electrical panels in bathrooms.

You might want to tell that to this "Electrician" who own this home I inspected today.

Originally Posted by Rick Hurst

BTW, No electrical panels in bathrooms.

You might want to tell that to this "Electrician" who own this home I inspected today.

I know it is not the same but if you think about it. Put a panel outside that you might have to get to in the pouring rain, but don't put one in the bathroom.

Just a thought

They always put the panel next to the meter instead of punching a hole in the wall and putting it in the garage. I know, the new homes do but still. A hundred dollar difference in a 30 year mortgage I could never figure that one out. Its like gutters on every home. If they put them on every house there would be one tenth the foundation concerns over the years. Put those gutters on a 30 year mortgage and the payment would only be a buck or 2

Originally Posted by Ted Menelly

They always put the panel next to the meter instead of punching a hole in the wall and putting it in the garage. I know, the new homes do but still. A hundred dollar difference in a 30 year mortgage I could never figure that one out.

Ted,

Many AHJ require the disconnect to be on the exterior.

Many AHJ do not. The NEC allows for either location.

The reason for the former is that the main disconnect is now readily accessible for fire fighters and other emergency personnel. Many fire departments will not spray water on the house until the power has been cut off - putting the main on the exterior allows them access to the main disconnect to shut the power off. Otherwise, those fire departments will wait until the power company arrives and shuts the power off ... to the smoldering ruins of what was a house.

The reason for the latter is that many areas of the country have to worry about snow and ice, and allow the disconnect the be placed inside where it is accessible to the occupants. I know, kinda silly to require the occupant to go down into the basement to shut the main off, not knowing if they will be able to get back up and out of the basement.

To me, silly old me, the best solution is to put the service equipment and main disconnect outside, with a secondary main (no longer a "main disconnect" or "service disconnect", just a plain old "main" for that panel, which is also not service equipment) at the interior panel. That allows for both above scenarios.

Yes, it would add a 100-150 bucks to the cost of a new house. My mortgage calculator program says that the payments on $150 for 30 years at 6% is $0.90 each month, and the payments on $150 for 30 years at 7% is $1.00 each month.

Tell me who would ever notice that difference in their monthly payment?

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Ted,

Many AHJ require the disconnect to be on the exterior.

Many AHJ do not. The NEC allows for either location.

The reason for the former is that the main disconnect is now readily accessible for fire fighters and other emergency personnel. Many fire departments will not spray water on the house until the power has been cut off - putting the main on the exterior allows them access to the main disconnect to shut the power off. Otherwise, those fire departments will wait until the power company arrives and shuts the power off ... to the smoldering ruins of what was a house.

The reason for the latter is that many areas of the country have to worry about snow and ice, and allow the disconnect the be placed inside where it is accessible to the occupants. I know, kinda silly to require the occupant to go down into the basement to shut the main off, not knowing if they will be able to get back up and out of the basement.

To me, silly old me, the best solution is to put the service equipment and main disconnect outside, with a secondary main (no longer a "main disconnect" or "service disconnect", just a plain old "main" for that panel, which is also not service equipment) at the interior panel. That allows for both above scenarios.

Yes, it would add a 100-150 bucks to the cost of a new house. My mortgage calculator program says that the payments on $150 for 30 years at 6% is $0.90 each month, and the payments on $150 for 30 years at 7% is $1.00 each month.

Tell me who would ever notice that difference in their monthly payment?

To me, silly old me, the best solution is to put the service equipment and main disconnect outside, with a secondary main (no longer a "main disconnect" or "service disconnect", just a plain old "main" for that panel, which is also not service equipment) at the interior panel. That allows for both above scenarios.


I agree completely but they just are not doing it. The only disconnect or panel in most homes is just an all in one panel with the main disconnect in that one panel and all the breakers. A disconnect at the exterior and breaker panel inside is ideal. Don't beat me up on the terminology. On the second (and I really don't drink much) Margarita.

Originally Posted by Ted Menelly

A disconnect at the exterior and breaker panel inside is ideal.

That is what I usually see.

The problem (not code, just "is ideal" problem) is that there is no secondary "main" in the inside panel. The occupants need to go outside to get to the "main". Of course, we do not have a 'snow or ice problem' either. Still, when there is a hurricane, it would not hurt to be able to shut your house off from inside in case the need arose.

Soooo


What would be technically wrong with a disconnect outside and your typical panel with a disconnect and breakers in the garage.

Originally Posted by Ted Menelly

What would be technically wrong with

????

Nothing. Technically or otherwise. It is "permitted". It would would also be "ideal".

a disconnect outside and your typical panel with a disconnect and breakers in the garage.

That's what I was saying - that arrangement would be "ideal".

Just not "required" in any way, shape or form.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

????

Nothing. Technically or otherwise. It is "permitted". It would would also be "ideal".



That's what I was saying - that arrangement would be "ideal".

Just not "required" in any way, shape or form.

But should be required and is ideal or at least installed on every home. Safety for firefighters and convenience and safety for the home owner, for what, a hundred bucks.