News

Darkening copper water supply lines

NACHI - Mon, 04/29/2013 - 16:57
Just inspected a house in which the copper water supply lines have turned black in the small utility room. The pipes at the fixtures are fine. There is a battery backup for the sump pump in this utility room. Wondering if this is the cause of the darkening due to sulfur gas being produced by the battery. Didn't notice strong sulfur odor however. Can't determine any other reason. Also, does this darkening of the copper accelerate deterioration/corrosion of the pipes and do I need to bring it up as a defect.
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Red flags for central split systems

NACHI - Mon, 04/29/2013 - 16:41
Furnace dated 1977 A-coil dated 2010 A/C unit dated 2001. I noted two dryers installed on the liquid refrigerant line one at the A-coil and one at the outside unit which alerted me to the fact someone had no clue what they were doing.

I felt the supply air at the register with me old crusty hand and it did not feel cold as I would have expected with the outside ambient being only 85 degrees.

Normally I would have stopped operation at that point and just called the unit out as not cooling properly. Old stubborn me I go for my gauges just to make sure, I do not want some clueless contractor coming up with some off the wall statement
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Naples / Marco Island area

NACHI - Mon, 04/29/2013 - 16:37
Need Wind Mitigations and 4's ran.....

PM me.

Electrical issue

NACHI - Mon, 04/29/2013 - 16:17
Performed an inspection last week. Had an issue where a stranded wire was split and shoved under either side of the breaker's lug in the main electric service panel. Reported this as incorrect and a qualified electrician should repair.

Seller's realtor reports: electrician insists there is no problem with this, though he could put smaller connectors on, but then you'd have to add a wire nut to the wire (i.e. MORE connections). Electrician says it is solid and not loose and there is no problem.

What I need is some clarification or code to give to the realtor to back up my findings.
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AdWords Credit

NACHI - Mon, 04/29/2013 - 13:23
I know you can get these pretty much anywhere, but I thought I'd post one for y'all. Get $100 in AdWords credit when you spend $25:

Here's a code for InterNACHI members:

A9NQA-AWKT4-QHXU

Cheers,

Offering Infrared Inspection Services

IRINFO - Sat, 04/27/2013 - 09:56
The ever-increasing awareness of thermography causes many to consider offering infrared inspection services through new or existing business ventures.

Barry Stone says "Inspector should have photos of defects"

NACHI - Sat, 04/27/2013 - 00:30
Inspector should support findings with photos of defect

Best way to keep yourself from trouble is with lots of pictures.
Yeah Yeah everyone should just trust you and your judgment but unfortunately everyone wants proof if available.

Barry answers a question in this article with......
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2...ife/704269974/

Recall Check will not be permitted in Florida

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 20:18
Nathan is getting the boot out of Florida. Did I mention that HIs might not be allowed to do four points. If you can not predict the life expectancy of any system or component of a home, who do you think is going to accept your four points? That is not the only things wrong with the up and coming Rules for Florida Home Inspectors. Looks like the contractors and Realtors have a tight grip on the HIs.

Here is a piece for your reading pleasure. BTW these is a draft, not law yet!
Quote: (3) Home Inspectors shall not practice beyond the scope of their license as a home inspector. The following

actions are beyond the scope of a Home Inspector License:

(a) Identifying concealed conditions or latent defects;

(a)(b) Determining:

1. The strength, adequacy, effectiveness, or efficiency of any system or component;

2. The causes of any condition or deficiency;

3. The methods, materials, or costs of corrections;

4. Future conditions including, but not limited to, failure of systems and components;

5. The suitability of the property for any specialized use;

6. Compliance with regulatory requirements (codes, regulations, laws, ordinances, etc.), manufacturer

specifications, installation procedures or instructions;

7. The market value of the property or its marketability;

8. The advisability of the purchase of the property;

9. The presence of potentially hazardous plants or animals including, but not limited to wood destroying

organisms or diseases harmful to humans;

10. The presence of any environmental hazards including, but not limited to fungi, molds, toxins, carcinogens,

noise, and contaminants in soil, water, and air;

11. The effectiveness of any system installed or methods utilized to control or remove suspected hazardous

substances;

12. The operating costs of systems or components;

13. The acoustical properties of any system or component;

14. Conditions that might affect the ability to obtain insurance and/or the price of insurance;

15. The calibration of measuring devices including timers, clocks, thermostats, and gauges;

16. The integrity of thermal glass seals;

17. The presence of manufacturers’ defects in any product, material, component, equipment, or system, or

information related to recall notices;


18. Installation conformance to manufacturers’ instructions for any product, component, element, device, or

system;

(b)(c) Offering to:

1. Perform any act or service contrary to law;

2. Perform engineering/architectural services;

3. Perform work in any trade or any professional service for which a license is required, other than home

inspection, unless licensed to do so;

(c)(d) Inspecting:

1. Underground items including, but not limited to underground storage tanks or other indications of their

presence, whether abandoned or active;

2. Recreational facilities;

(d)(e) Dismantling any system or component, except as explicitly required by these Standards of Practice;

(f) Utilizing special instruments, tools, or measuring devices of any kind to measure moisture, humidity, water

or air volume, water or air flow, water potability, air quality, temperature, voltage, amperage, electrical grounding,

polarity, and continuity, VOC’s, microwaves, electromagnetic fields, and other similar kinds of conditions or

activities;

(e) (g) Operating equipment, appliances, or devices on more than one cycle, zone, or phase or operate any

device, appliance, system, or equipment which in the opinion of the inspector may fail during the act of inspection;

(h) Providing any information from any source regarding property ownership, property boundaries, liens,

outstanding loans, code violations, reports of hazardous materials, manufacturers’ recalls, Consumer Protection

Agency bulletins, and other similar kinds of public information.

(f) Performing work in any trade or professional service for which a license is required other than home

inspection, unless licensed to do so.

Protimeter Surverymaster

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 18:46
If anyone is looking for a used (but not used up :p) moisture meter, let me know I have 4 (did some wheeling and dealing and just got newer ones) Anyways, my kijiji post is here:

http://goo.gl/vIkog

Experienced Home Inspectors Wanted In Northern Virgnia/MD/DC Area

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 15:54
EstatePro Inspection Services, Inc. of
Northern Virginia is NOW HIRING!




ARE YOU TIRED OF WEARING ALL THE HATS IN YOUR INSPECTION BUSINESS?
ARE YOU TIRED OF CONSTANTLY JUGGLING SCHEDULING, BILLING, MARKETING, REPORT DELIVERY, AND THE REST OF THE DAY-TO-DAY JOBS REQUIRED TO RUN A BUSINESS?
ARE YOU TIRED OF NEVER GETTING TIME OFF TO SPEND WITH YOUR LOVED ONES OR EVEN TAKE A VACATION?
DO YOU LOVE BEING AN INSPECTOR BUT TIRED OF ALL THE OTHER TASKS THAT COME WITH RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?


If you answered yes to any of the above, then this message is for you!
EstatePro Inspection Services, Inc. is looking for home inspectors to join our team. We are a rapidly growing, cutting edge home inspection company that needs good people who are willing to grow with us.
If this is something that seriously interests you, please contact us as soon as possible as these positions are filling up fast.

Michelle Henry
Owner, EstatePro Inspection Services, Inc.
mhenry@estatepro-inspections.com
703-447-1637

Stucco & EIFS lnspection Training for Home Inspectors

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 15:31
We updated InterNACHI's online "Stucco & EIFS lnspection Training for Home Inspectors" video course.

We added a video preview of the online course.
And students can now download a Stucco Inspector logo.

Attachment 64596
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Hey Ir guys

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 14:43
If you had your choice between the TIR32 and the T420, which one would you choose for commercial roof , moisture intrusion and electrical ?

USInspect relocation inspections

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 13:14
Does anyone do or has done relocation inspections for USInspect.
Is there any bad Experiences.

Singer a.c.

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 11:55
I need to find out the age on a singer a.c.
The model number is BCE22004 1 9
Serial number P216
Can anyone help?

InterNACHI releases free online "Inspecting Commercial Electrical Systems" course

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 11:11
InterNACHI releases free online "Inspecting Commercial Electrical Systems" video course for 6 CE.
  • Free.
  • All video.
  • Learn at your own pace.
http://www.nachi.org/commercial-elec...nspections.htm

InterNACHI releases free online "Inspecting Commercial Electrical Systems" course

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 11:09
InterNACHI releases free online "Inspecting Commercial Electrical Systems" video course for 6 CE.
  • Free.
  • All video.
  • Learn at your own pace.
http://www.nachi.org/commercial-elec...nspections.htm

Insurance and ungrounded electrical systems

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 06:40
I know that insurance carriers frown upon fuse panels. What about when they replace the fuse panels with new breaker panels, but leave the old, ungrounded branch wiring system in place, and they consider it acceptable?
Does anyone know of any providers that frown on leaving the ungrounded system in place? I see it this way, way too often and am just curious. One would think that this should have to be updated as well, when the panel & service are, for safety purposes, especially with today's lifestyles and modern electronics, appliances, etc.
Thanks in advance.

High rise condo HVAC question

NACHI - Fri, 04/26/2013 - 05:57
I am doing a high rise condo on the 23rd floor of a fairly new building. I am pretty sure it is a water source heat pump....
Question: Are these systems in high rises set up to be in one mode only depending on the season?...In other words during the winter are you only able to turn on the heat setting of the HVAC for these water source systems....and during the summer months only able to use the cooling setting?
I am assuming that the only thing inside the unit is an air handler and some coils
Greg

NEFAR active keys

NACHI - Thu, 04/25/2013 - 19:33
Does anyone have a problem gaining access with the NEFAR keys?
Does anyone know a quick way to get a CBS code?
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