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Michael Leavitt & Co Inspections, Inc. |
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MONDAY MORNING MESSENGER |
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Message prepared especially for Members of the American Institute of Inspectors® as well as Home Inspectors abroad |
GOOOOOD MORNING, A.I.I.....
It's a great day here in Orem, Utah! 
I'm another year older as of last Saturday. I am well over the hump in a typical lifespan and the years are passing by quicker than years past. My daughter Jessica was sure that she could find some gray hairs on my scalp, but to my glee she was unable to find any.
T
he photo shows me with my latest inspection technology. I put on the sci-fi glasses and wave the wand. The silver sensor in the right hand picks up every reportable condition in the home. Where Shelly found this gadget, I'll never know. She did accidentally leave the Japanese sticker on the box that said $278,000.00 US. It cuts the inspection time down to 18 minutes, so the technology to revenuw payoff period should be fairly quick if I can do 27 inspections per day at 5 days per week. For more info on the system tou can contact Shelly at GoldynGirl@TheHomeInspector.com
The inspection schedule is still full as we enter the final month of inspecting before school starts. This means that the rush is on to cram in some more family adventures before the summer of 2002 ends.
ANTI-VIRUS PROTECTION FEEDBACKNorton Anti Virus is what I have been using forever. It is and has been the "Gold Standard" for years. I have been getting several virus alerts PER DAY since I have been on this list. I would like to continue to subscribe, however, if this does not stop soon, I will have to sign off. It is just to much of a coincidence that my virus detection alerts started going off just after I joined the list. Dennis Stettner - Orangevale,CA
Hi Michael, No, you were not too harsh in your warnings. I was out of town for a week to get my daughter set up with housing in Santa Cruz, CA, for her graduate work. While gone, I received 6 viruses that were caught by Norton. I, too, had McAfee and it did not do what it was supposed to do. I got so infected, I had to replace my whole computer. The technician could not save it. I changed to Norton and now enjoy the same comfort zone as you. I know each of the features works because Norton tells me they are working and scanning. The auto update feature is great as the machine automatically updates when new viruses come on the scene and the Norton tells me...this is in addition to the weekly updates I perform. I echo Michael's challenge to get virus protected...Norton gets my recommendation, too. The best virus protection for yourself protects us all and our individual businesses. Good Inspecting! Jim Corbin, AII 2002 President - Bow, WA
I have used Norton since it was available. I allow my computer to automatically update EVERY DAY. I've talked to users who do not understand virus protection. They buy the program, install it and never update, then wonder why they got a virus. I pay a yearly fee to Norton to allow me to go on-line and update virus protection. This is important because new viruses come out every week. My system is XP and Norton XP is great. I get a number of alerts using e-mail but lately I have had quite a few. My system checks both incoming and outgoing mail. You were not to harsh. John Rebenstorff - Orangevale CA
I use Norton and have for almost two years. I renewed for $9.95 in May and download updates at least once per week and sometimes two or three times each week.
I clean my hard drive about once a quarter since I never have found anything on it, probably because I update whenever prompted by Norton. All my email is automatically scanned as it comes in and again, I have never detected any viruses. I guess I'm real lucky.
Two years ago, when I changed from McCafree to Norton I had had a great deal of trouble with my computer due to a virus that someone sent me. As it turned out, it was an A.I.I. member. It cost be hundreds of dollars to correct and more importantly, my computer was of no use for two weeks while we tried to correct the condition.
We all need to pay heed to Michael's advice. If you don't protect yourself on a regular bases with a quality software, then you shouldn't be on the hotline and shouldn't be emailing anyone, ever! Ron Cloyd - Klamath Falls OR
Thank you! No you were right on some of us need a kick in the butt now and then. This isn't any time to be lazy. Bob Eckert - Elburn, IL
Mr. Norton protects my system very well. And, no you were not too harsh. There is too much at stake with each of our computers and loosing one complete computer system and $1000 is one time too much. Jim Lucas - CA
Michael: I just sent an answer, hit SEND and the program froze up. You didn't slip a virus in on me did you???? Jim Lucas - CA
No I hope all listened. I had McFee and was not pleased, upgraded it daily, could not open latest MMM . It opened on my old computer with Norton . Put new Norton in this and opened MMM. Good bye McAfee! Roy Cooke sr. Brighton Ont. Canada
Hi Michael, A not so funny thing happened to me today, my McAffe "On Line" anti- virus alerted me that I had I virus! It was the first notice I had ever received. I update at least weekly and sometimes daily, mostly in response to an "update available" pop-up. Today I actually received two update notices. I've had McAffe for four years and I think next year I'll switch to Norton. I trust the anti virus portion, however my computer seems to experience more and more conflicts after downloading an update. One last thought; I know of an agent up in these hills, that refuses to use an inspector, because he unknowingly passed a virus to her computer, and it cost her a couple days and quite a few dollars. Again lack of a $19.95 investment can cost hundreds if not thousands in lost revenue and repeat business. Chuck Gabel - Auburn, CA
Well I had just updated my software McAfee to Norton anti-virus software after I was hit with a virus this last month. After talking with my service provider we found out what happen and the software I was using did not stop this virus from hitting my computer. I had to get some repair software to remove the worm and then installed the new version of Norton on all the computers in the house. Well I'm up and running on all the computers again. Alan Muenzel - Sandy, UT
You were the wake-up call that I needed! Switching to Norton to-day. Con Davidenko - Hilton Head, SC
Michael, You are right on the money with this. As I write I have SEVEN potential viruses in quarantine thanks to Norton! Every Thursday I am updating my machine with the simple click of the mouse! Anyone who is not using this type of protection is simply irresponsible to their clients and associates. Mark VanBuskirk - S.F. Bay Area, CA
W32.Klez.h@mm VIRUS CONTINUEDNo but you scared me enough to update my whole system and buy a update to my Norton anti-virus protection system! Ted MacArthur - Benicia CA
I have been using Norton's anti virus over the past 3 years with at least weekly updates,so far, been completely successful in catching many "Klez" attacks. I lhave it running in the background all the time. Unfortunately many of my E-Mail friends have not kept up with the updates or have their anti virus always running - and have suffered. Usually when they get stung - my Norton program is constantly catching incoming viruses due to the address book function of the infected computers. Roger Ball - Toledo Ohio
Hi Michael, I think Norton has caught the Klez virus...can't remember as Norton caught the virus and I disposed of it without paying too much attention. Since your message, Michael, I have gone in and updated again and done a complete scan and have no viruses identified. I am glad I have the Norton software. Thank you for your points made. I have had a number of hits with viruses and Norton has caught them all. I sure hope everyone pays attention to this virus alert and gets protected...it is good for all of us. I update and scan every week on Sunday as a general practice, even though the automatic scan is working. Too much risk involved. The viruses that got by McAfee cost me a lot of time and effort to correct as well as extra fees to the technician. Consertavely I spent 4 days to correct the issues. The only thing that saved the business during that time was that I had a laptop to fall back upon that was not infected. I still had the investment of time that could not be used for inspecting. Install Norton and avoid the risk. Good Inspecting! Jim Corbin, AII 2002 President - Bow, WA
Guilty of getting it and sending it. I received some more info on this as well from Earthlink service department. I have found out that Earthlink service got hit by Klez as well. Earthlink's anti-virus did not stop it and their sytem was infected. I was told that there are 7 new virus' that jump out and Norton and Macfee did not get their files updated fast enough to stop it. There where a day behind in stoping this one. The service tech told me that a lot of people got hit with it as well as me and them. Now I don't fee to bad about getting it on my system. EarthLink service dept got it as well. I have a friend on the inside that told me this one. Alan Muenzel - Sandy, UT
GARAGE DOOR TALEThe AII Inspector Hotline had a thread start a couple of days ago that caught my attention.....
I am in the process of putting together the little garage door tester from a roll of paper towels. I have been busy, and although I thought it a good idea, just never got around to it. Now I will tell you why I am building it: I Inspected a real nice two year old house in Enterprise last Wednesday. The owner was operating the button for me (give em something to do). I stuck my foot in front of the infra-red and it was OK. I said "hit it again" and this time I stood just outside the infra-red beam and stuck my arm out at a right angle, bent at the elbow.
(I know Greg, I don't always profit by other's experiences) The door came down to my arm, and I was watching the arm attached to the top of the door which is attached to the screw drive. With approximately 3 to 5 lbs pressure on my arm, the attached arm at the top of the door started bending the door at the top. I immediately removed my arm, and the momentum of the door opener put a little crease in the top of the door. I immediately said to the guy: "You need to get whoever installed this door to come back out here and adjust it properly" The guy was real nice about it (so far). When I stopped back by later to check, he had repaired the door, and it looked pretty good. I wouldn't dare check it again. I put in my report that the door opener was not adjusted properly and that I would not check the auto return because of the risk of damaging the door.
I know that, in the past we had a real good forum discussion on this very thing. As for me, I will use the paper towel dummy from now on. But you know - we are required to test these things, and are always at risk if damage occurs. I don't know that in our forum discussion, if we ever came up with a common consensus as to how to approach this. Other that the paper towel dummy. I'm going down to my shop to finish mine right now. Ted B. Harris - OR
Ted, What would stop the "dummy" from bending the door. In fact the "dummy" might have broken the door entirely. At least you know when to release. Perhaps you should give your dummy a pressure sensor, a pair of eyes and a couple of legs or wheels with which it could get out of the way. I think i'll stick with my arm. Sylvan Stenge - CA
Me too. I know what pressure would cause harm to a child or animal plus I'm watching the top panel for deflection as the door comes down. It has worked well since 1991 so why change? Jim Lucas, CA
If the door has closed until the bottom is close to the floor and it fails to stop, the top panel will be close to vertical, instead of horizontal. It will simply be pushed flat against the head jamb and no damage will occur. These stories of buckled door panels happen when the top door panel is still flat horizontal and the top of the panel has the opportunity to be pushed down towards the floor. That is provably one reason why the manufacturers recommend using a 2X4 on the floor to test the door. I still vote for using the underwriter's laboratory approved, manufacturer specified method. Place a 2X4 flat on the floor and let the door go down on it. Jon Gudnason - Placerville, CA
Jon, you have repeated this many times and I am sure it is a valid test, but.......I have yet to see a childs head made of douglas fir. I would not want my baby subjected to the forces set up by most installers. They seem to be trained to set the down-force extremely high so there is no chance of false reversals and then rely on the photo-cell to protect the child. I do not believe that was the intent of the system. I hand-test the door when it is almost closed. This is a subjective test, but I feel it serves the client better than the "dummy". Sylvan Stenge - CA
CPSC GREENLEE TESTER RECALL
CPSC, Greenlee Textron Inc. Announce Recall of Electrical Testing Meters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Greenlee Textron, Inc. (Greenlee), of Rockford, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 650 electrical testing meters. The meters are used to measure voltage and current of electric-powered equipment. An incompatible grommet, located in the battery compartment to protect internal wires, can cause the meter to provide inaccurate voltage and current readings. A meter that inaccurately indicates zero voltage or current creates the potential for electric shock or an electrocution hazard from the equipment being tested.
CPSC and Greenlee have not received any reports of injuries or property damage. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.
This recall involves certain CM-700 and CM-750 electrical meters. The 8-inch meters are dark green with bright yellow features. The model number and the words "Greenlee Test Instruments" are printed across the front of the meter. A silver plate on the back of the meter displays the serial number (S/N). Serial numbers included in the recall range from 0203540001 through 0203540650. The electrical meters were made in Taiwan.
Home Depot (model CM-750 only) and electrical supply stores sold the meters nationwide during April 2002. The CM-700 model sold for about $100 and the CM-750 for about $140.
Consumers should stop using the recalled meters immediately and contact Greenlee to receive a replacement meter. For more information, consumers can contact Greenlee toll-free at (800) 435-0786 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.or visit the firm's web site at www.greenlee.textron.com
CM-700 and CM-750 meters outside the above serial number range are not included in this recall.
PHOTO CHALLENGE #114 RESPONSES |
Less than standard foundation for the Air Conditioner system. Recommend review by a licensed contractor. We do not have many Air Conditioner systems where I am, but the foundation system sure looks weak and at risk for failure. Jim Corbin - Bow, WA
Well the 1st thing I would report is Where are the steps on the back slidding door or the desk that is missing. Then i would get down to the A/C unit is not properly mounted and could fall off it's bar. But I don't know if it's mounted to the lower part of the house. It does not look it. Alan Muenzel - Sandy, UT
It appears the HVAC technician had too short of a suction/feedline set to reach the unit in its normal position on the ground or the electrical weather flex would not reach. Out of desperation he built this honky setup which, BTW, is totally unesthetic. Jim Lucas - CA
If that is hanging from 2 by 4 it is comming down no hanging support on end nails. Looks like the top mount is also 2 by 4. I would not even touch this for unit.Mounted this high in Canada would sudgest it is a heat pump to be above the snow. Roy Cooke sr. - Brighton Ont. Canada
Less than standard foundation....... It appears the HVAC technician had too short........ totally unesthetic..... C'mon Inspectors. Let's give the client some information that they can use forgetting about esthetics and less than standard foundation inspector babble. Howzabout being more direct in your reporting of this definite reportable condition...... "IMMINENT HAZARD - The support for the A/C condenser unit is unsafe and when it collapses it will cause major damage to the A/C system, the condenser, and the electrical wiring. Since the unit is suspended above the hillside it could also break free and roll down the hill causing more damage to the fencing, the people on the sidewalk, or the cars on the street. It is recommended that this be corrected immediately for the safety of the occupants and neighbors."
PHOTO CHALLENGE #115  |
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "I walk slowly, but I never walk backward." Abraham Lincoln |
HAVE A GREAT WEEK! Michael Leavitt & Co Inspections, Inc. The Most Qualified Inspector in Northern Utah! |
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