GOOOOOD MORNING, A.I.I.....
It's a GREEEEAAAAT day here in Orem, Utah! We had a medical miracle here this past week with my Mother's surgery. The team of doctors went in and opened her up with the predisposition that this was going to be very ugly. Their interpretation of the tumor from all of the test and rectal exam were that it was most likely cancer. The growth was hard, which is more characteristic of cancer, and not pliable. They opened her abdomen and found the growth to be adhered to the pelvic bone, and not to an organ. It had twisted around a bowel and this twisting is what turned it hard. They were able to remove the large fibrous cyst and took out a fallopian tube and an ovary for good measure. The news couldn't have been better and the surgery couldn't have run smoother. This was such a relief.......
It is interesting to look back at a situation and realize the amount of stress that can be placed upon us. I was exhausted after learning the results of the inspection. I had left Shelly at the hospital during the surgery while I was a few blocks away at an inspection that I could not reschedule. Two hours into the surgery it came the phone call from Shelly. "The Doctors are done and they said that it could not have gone smoother. There were no complications and no cancer!" "No cancer" I thought; whew! What a relief..... I slowed down shortly after that. The normal 2.5 hour inspection and walkthrough time slowed to a crawl and took me 4.5 hours. I have no explanation for it other than the adrenalin wore off and I slowed down. The fact that termite damage was spread throughout the home and my BYU professor first time clueless buyer probably had something to do with it. I was just grateful that I knew I could relax about Mom's situation.
Shelly was an angel at the hospital with Mom. Her bedside manner was attentive and caring. This was a relief for me as I showed up at the hospital and saw that Shelly had it all under control. By the time I made it to the hospital the surgery was complete and Mom was awake. Well I guess that awake is really stretching it. She was actually in and out of consciousness and did not remember the last time that she had spoken to us. Her big fears were whether or not the surgery had been done yet. She also wanted to know if they had to do a colostomy. Each time Shelly would reassure her and then she would drift off again. With each reassuring Shelly showed more love than the time before. This was draining for Shelly and she has been in bed since that first long day with Mom at the hospital.
Many words of comfort came to us this past week. While we still have our struggles, at least we are not battling cancer. A now retired inspector whom I'm sure prefers to remain nameless shared some touching thoughts that I would like to share with all of you....... We have a vision that we share with close friends, and we seem to have many who have serious health or family issues. We envision a huge bowl, maybe the size of an old fashioned laundry tub. The bowl sits on the floor, and in our minds, we gather around it at prayer time---which can be any time! When we are feeling well and our problems seem under control, we put some strength (in our minds) in the bowl, in the form of gratitude prayers. Sometimes the bowl overflows!. When our friends need some strength, we encourage them to take as much as they need out of the bowl. When their problems clear, they can fill the bowl back up with gratitude/strength-prayers. When our problems mount up, we let our friends know, and they put some strength in the bowl for us. IT works! I have been praying for your concerns as I write this, and the bowl is full now. Help yourselves to some strength!!
Nathan Buckley kindly forwarded this newstory along in an effort to lighten my burden this week...... Thanks Nathan. The story can be found at http://www.redding.com/news/state/past/20020814topstate226.shtml
August 14, 2002 — 8:30 a.m. TORRANCE (AP) A thunderous explosion Tuesday at a home tented for termite fumigation knocked surrounding dwellings from their foundations and sent a shower of glass, stucco and other debris into nearby neighborhoods where at least 10 people were injured.
The force of the 5:45 a.m. blast obliterated the one-story tented home and damaged at least 56 others in Torrance and nearby Redondo Beach, fire officials said.
Natalie Reed, 19, woke up in her home after the blast next door sent plaster and insulation showering down from the collapsed ceiling of her bedroom.
She looked up through the hole and saw columns of smoke and flame from the house that had exploded.
"It was frightening," she said. "I thought I had woken up in a nightmare."
Officials with The Gas Co. initially said it appeared a natural gas line into the home had not been shut off during fumigation.
However, further inspection revealed that an unauthorized valve had been installed previously and had been shut off, said Peter Hidalgo, a spokesman for The Gas Co.
"This tells us gas was not flowing into the home," he said. "It raises a number of questions for investigators. Now it's less likely that natural gas was involved."
Torrance Fire Department spokesman Tad Friedman said an investigation was continuing to determine the cause of the blast.
Ten people had minor injuries including cuts, bruises and sprains from the blast. Three people were taken to a hospital.
Friedman expected the number of damaged homes to increase as more inspections were conducted.
"We're truly blessed that there's been no loss of life," said Torrance Mayor Dan Walker. "Looking at the sight, that's very, very difficult to believe."
Many of the roofs in the neighborhood were covered with insulation, floor boards and glass. Some homes were knocked off their foundation. An eight-foot-long beam was sent into the side of a house, where it stuck like an arrow.
Diana Ozolins, 26, who lives near the destroyed house, said the blast blew out windows throughout her home and knocked her solid oak front doors off their hinges.
"I thought it was an earthquake because we live in Southern California, but there was no rolling," Ozolins said.
Authorities said the leveled house was vacant and tented for fumigation. The chemical used for the fumigation was sulfuryl fluoride, which is commonly known as vikane and is not flammable, Friedman said.
The home was being fumigated by El Redondo Termite Control of Gardena. Leo Grizzaffi, an attorney for El Redondo, said company officials were trying to determine what had happened.
"We don't have sufficient details at this time to make a statement," Grizzaffi said. "Standard procedures basically are that the gas is turned off at the main and then the building is fumigated."
Grizzaffi said work at the home was being done by a subcontractor, Network Fumigation and Exterminating Co. Inc., of Anaheim.
A call placed to the owner of Network was answered by a receptionist who said, "He has no comment at this time," and hung up.
Melinda Al-Alami, a deputy agricultural commissioner for Los Angeles County, said the safety record of the company was being reviewed as part of the investigation.
None!! Being a part of a team of inspectors has always allowed me to call on the others to "Pinch Hit" for me. Be it Food poisoning, the birth of my children, whatever, the other UPREI guys have filled in. Further, the office staff keeps booking so I don't loose any future work. Russ Colliau - Sacramento, CA
I have yet to cancel an inspection for any reason. However, I have thought about this situation and how I would handle it.My conclusion was to put together a list of AII inspectors in my area which would be willing to perform the inspection in my place in the case an emergency. This would avoid any challenges which may put the client into a bind. Jason Balzer - Aloha , Oregon
So far, there has been only one medical issue that caused a delay. I noted that everyone concerned was sensitive to the issue and not the inspection. They adjusted quite well when informed of the situation and knew that I would show up to work the inspection within their timeframe. I, also, keep my truck and gear in good running condition to be as sure as I can that I don't have to give the excuse that my truck did not start. I also carry extra batteries, flashlights and other "backup" items that, if failed or accidently damaged, would cause a delay. So far that process has worked. See everyone in Portland. Jim Corbin, AII 2002 President - Bow, WA
My client was in another state, and though he did call me and scheduled the inspection with me, when my crew & I showed up at the site, his Realtor refused to sign my Service Agreement. We walked! If the Realtor would not have been there, I would have done the inspection and billed him. But whenever I get a refusal to sign, I consider this a red flag and the inspection is over - "Mr. Realtor, please never call me again!" I can think of a few others in which I got very bad vibrations during the inspection because of either the Realtor's or the client's attitude. Since I have a very accommodating personality, I sometimes let people run over me, but am almost universally sorry later. I am now involved in a possible litigation caused by a Realtor's ignorance about his function in the inspection process. Another one of those "out of state things" that got out of hand. The Realtor's attitude was that he had hired me and I was doing the inspection for him. He accused me of missing 35 defects in 3 inspections. The last one was a paint gouge in the side of a staircase. I was sorry later that I did not immediately pick up my travel case and walk away. Richard Grisham - Las Vegas, NV
I have only cancelled inspections twice that I can remember. Once when My Father-In-Law died and once when I was just too sick. I have had to do some scrambling to fix scheduling screw ups a few times also. Has anyone else ever booked two inspections at one time? Jon Gudason - Placerville, CA
Mike, No I do not comment on playgrounds and/or equipment. Ray Arey - Thermopolis
No. I don't comment on the train tracks in the back yard either Michael. ;-) Jon Gudnason - Placerville, CA
That is an odd perspective Jon. I not only report the nearby tracks, I try to time my exterior portion of the walkthrough with my client as the train goes by. This leaves my onsite comment to nil, yet I always mention them in writing in the report.
When I was a safety director for a large company my bosses granddaughter was killed on a backyard swing because the legs were not anchored, the swing tipped over and the top bar crushed her head. Sometimes we don't think of the obvious when we set up childrens play equipment. Jim Lucas - Camino, CA
No, my inspection agreement excludes playground equipment. However the information you included makes me think I should at least comment verbally if some of these conditions are present. Robert E Lee - Rochester, MN
I wonder why your non-reporting statement would not include..... "The full evaluation of the exterior playground equipment is beyond the scope of this evaluation but playset safety should be every homeowner's concern. We recommend that you investigate the topic further by visiting the EPA site at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/pg1.pdf and reading "Is your home playground a safe place to play?" With computerize boilerplate comments it would seem to me that this would be a good comment to add to your boilerplate library.
Last week we presented the Realtor with a deal scenario.......
I have not been presented with this exact situation, but I have had comments that "a deal or discount" for return referrals would be in order. Since they were not direct, I simply discussed codes of ethics on both sides that prevented such dealings. Legal issued would become a concern. Nothing further was mentioned. One agent never called, the others still referred my services. Jim Corbin - Bow, WA
The ones that really get me is the proposal to help fund their advertising campaigns. It goes something like this. Hey Jon, I am going to be producing a monthly newsletter to send to all my contacts. I am working with some of my favorite venders to give them the exclusive opportunity to be included in the piece. You will be the only home inspector. I would really like to keep referring work to you and I need someone that will be part of the team. It will only cost $$$. Jon Gudnason - Placerville, CA
Jon wrote... Nice story about the "Bad Luck" clients. I cannot take credit where none is due. I did not inspect the home or write the e-mail. Jon Gudnason
I can't see the entire window, but it appears to be a fixed picture window. Therefore, yes, this would be allowed as long as the window is not openable. Nathan Buckley - Klamath Falls, OR
Looks like a "Direct Vent" chimney for a gas log appliance type fireplace. Around here there is a requirement that the area around the outlet must be clear of combustibles within a 3 foot arc from the center of the vent. Richard Grisham - Las Vegas, NV
I have not run across this one. "If" the vent comes from a basement, I would guess it is acceptable since the window above does not open. I will be interested in other input. Jim Corbin - Bow, WA
That would depend on what the flue was venting. If it is a gas appliance, most likely not; If it is a pellet stove, maybe yes. One needs to read the manufacturers instructions for venting the appliance that the flue serves. The wall penetration does not look very weather tight. The downspout should also have an elbow at the end. Jon Gudnason - Placerville, CA
There is nothing wrong with this direct vent as there are no operable windows withing 3ft. Jim Lucas - Camino, CA
NFPA 211 standards for chimneys, fireplaces, vents and solid fuel-burning appliances 2000 addition states:
7-7.1.2 Direct Vent Appliances (sealed combustion system appliance) The vent terminal of a direct vent appliance with a input of 10,000 BTU/hr or less be located at least 6" from any opening into a building. Over 10,000 but less than 50,000 9" away from any opening into a building, over 50,000 BTU not less than 12" from any opening. The bottom of the vent terminal and the air intake shall be located at least 12" above grade.
7-4.5 Mechanical draft systems (pellet stoves) (1) The exit terminal of a mechanical draft system other than a direct vent shall be located in accordance with the following: a. Not less than 3' above any forced air inlet located within 10' b. not less than 4' below,4' horizontally from, or 1' above any door, window, or gravity air inlet into any building. c. not less than 2' from an adjacent building and not less than 7' above grade where located adjacent to public walkways. (2) The exit terminal shall be so arranged that flue gases are not directed so that they jeopardize people, overheat combustible structures, or enter buildings. (3) Forced draft systems and all portions of induced draft systems under positive pressure during operation shall be designed and installed to be gastight or to prevent leakage to combustion products into a building. (4) Through-the-wall vents for gas appliances shall not terminate over public walkways of over an area where condensate or vapor could create a nuisance or hazard or could be detrimental to the operation of regulators, relief valves, or other equipment.
Direct vent,yes. Mechnical draft system (pellet stove),no 7-4.5.1.b Unless local safety standards allow it, or are stricter than the standards above. Richard Iverson - Newport Or
I was feeling a little left out. I just wasn't coming up with any really cool pictures to show on the Hotline.I really got a kick out the Toilet seat laundry chute,the bear was really cool,and the pop bottle dryer vent was great,this is what I found yesterday when I popped off a crawl space cover.Hint- make sure your stone cutter knows how to spell.Have a good weekend everyone,and I'll see you in Portland** Rick Stewart Corvallis Or
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