Question Of The Week 15 March - It's Time To Play "Wheel Of Fortunate Inspectors"

Inspection Education Topics Inspection Question of the Week
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IT’S TIME TO PLAY WHEEL OF FORTUNATE INSPECTORS!!

We’re all fortunate Inspectors to belong to the world’s largest and best Home Inspector Association! But now you can become even more fortunate by testing your inspection knowledge metal and winning another prize! The rules are simple and a bit fun! To obtain credit for each question you must provide the following.

  • Finish the puzzle to identify the item. These are the items technical name.

  • Tell us what the item’s purpose is.

  • Tell us how to inspect it.

  • If applicable tell us how to test it.

To help you out these are some clues.

  • These are items you will encounter during a home inspection.

  • In each word of the individual puzzles all instances of the provided consonants and vowels have been provided. In other words if the letter “V” was provided in one word it was provided in all the words for that individual puzzle. The empty blanks are different letters and/or vowels.

  • Figure out one word of the puzzle and it can easily lead you to the rest.

  • More detail in your answers is always best!

It’s time for all you newer Inspectors to jump in and teach us Old Dogs new tricks!!

To further help you out you can buy consonants and vowels. Just email me what you would like and I will invoice you $10.00 per consonant or vowel! Once received these will be sent out ASAP. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

So let’s get to playing “Wheel Of Fortunate Inspectors” and good luck to all! :partying_face: :partying_face:

Please read the Introduction and requirements, changes may have been made.

A member of the Awards Committee will post questions, at a random day/time.

Eligible members may make one post per question thread to answer the questions, and the eligible member’s winning entry must have all parts of the questions answered completely in that one post. Editing your one answer post allowed will result in disqualification.

Any disregard to the above and divulging the correct answers or giving hints/references will cause a disqualification.

First correct answers (as judged by the Awards Committee or Poster of the Questions) wins.
Request your choice by emailing fastreply@nachi.org and submit your Mailing address for shipping.

Choose your prize from the following list!:

** $50.00 gift certificate from Inspector Outlet
** Case of books "Now That You’ve had A Home Inspection"
** Seventeen Custom Branded Videos value $50.00 ~ your choice!
https://certifiedmasterinspector.org/video-contest

Puzzle 1

P1

Puzzle 2

P2

Puzzle 3

P3

Puzzle 4

P4

Puzzle 5

P5

3 Likes
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Super, Manny! Great idea!

Thank you for doing this! :smile:

Go guess 'em inspectors!

3

all of the above…

4
  1. Auxiliary Heat Source
    30kw_resistance_heating_coil
    30kw_resistance_heating_coil3648×2736 4.56 MB

  • What is it- The Auxilliary Heat Source Provides heat when the primary heat source can not be used or is not sufficient. For example when the primary heat source is a standard heat pump and outside temperature is very low then an auxiliary heat source can be used to keep the home warm. The Auxilliary Heat Source is typically electric strip heaters but in some cases may be a gas furnace, or something else. In most cases the auxiliary heat source is less efficient (or more costly to operate) than the primary heat source. It is more efficient to move heat than to create it, but when temperature outside is low, it becomes harder to collect heat from outside to bring inside.

  • How to inspect it – using the thermostat, set the temperature up several degrees higher than the current inside temperature. When the delta is high, most thermostats will automatically switch to auxiliary heat to make up the difference quickly. Some thermostats have a switch to force the system into AUX (sometimes called emergency ) mode.

  1. AFCI or Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter
    arc-fault-circuit-interruptors-inspect
  • What is it – AFCIs are outlets and circuit breakers that breaks the circuit when it detects an electric arc in the circuit it protects to prevent electrical fires. In modern construction they are now required for bedrooms and other “dwelling rooms”. They are different than GFCI’s. AFCIs are often blamed for “nuisance tripping” and many contractors don’t like them.
  • How to inspect it- With your breaker in the on position and at least one device turned on in the circuit, press down on the AFCI “TEST” button. The AFCI breaker should trip and move the switch to the OFF position (or the middle “TRIP” position if there is one). If the breaker trips when you press the “TEST” button, the AFCI is working. Alternately an inspector could use a portable AFCI tester which produces a waveform similar to those produced by actual arc faults. An AFCI tester can test any individual receptacle within the branch, whereas the test button on the AFCI circuit breaker can not.
  1. AAV or Air Admittance Valve (aka Studor valve aka “cheater valve”)
    images (1)

  • What is it – AAVs are one-way vents installed after the trap on a drain line of a sink or other fixture. You most often see them under kitchen and bathroom sinks, especially if the sink is on an island with no wall behind it for standard vent pipes.

  • How to inspect it - The AAV must be installed:

    1. 4 inches above the weir of the highest trap being served;
    2. No more than 20 inches below the flood level rim of any fixture served;
    3. At least 6 inches above insulation materials;
    4. In an accessible area;
    5. In a ventilated space (at least one square inch of total opening), and;
    6. Within the trap to vent distances, Comm 82.31(9).
      *AAV’s are not legal in some jurisdictions.

  • How to test it – smell for sewer gas. If you smell gas, the seal has failed and its time for a new AAV. Next fill the sink with water with the stopper closed, and then lift the stopper to release the full pressure of a full basin on the drain. It should not leak. If you really want to test it, don’t do this at home. Ha ha. (forward to end of video for blooper reel)

  1. Intersystem Bonding Termination Device or IBT Device
    Ground_Bridge
  • What is it - The 2008 NEC defines the IBT as “a device that provides a means for connecting communications system(s), grounding conductor(s) and bonding conductor(s) at the service equipment or at the disconnecting means for buildings or structures supplied by a feeder or branch circuit.”
  1. TPR or Temperature and pressure relief valve
    tpr-valve-discharge-pipe-inspect1
    tpr-valve-discharge-pipe-inspect1320×570 115 KB
  • What is it - a valve located on or near the top of the water heater that releases water to lower the pressure inside the tank if pressure gets to high inside the tank. TPRs are used in a variety of industrial applications, but for home inspectors were are usually dealing with water heaters when we look at a TPR.
  • How to inspect it – look for water leaks. Look for improper installation such as no discharge pipe, or improper discharge pipe or , etc. see link.
  • How to test it – do not test it. Lol. Ok if you want to test it, lift the lever on the valve and make sure water comes out. Good for you. Now, just hope that water does not continue to drip out or you may be asked to replace it because it wasn’t leaking before you tested it and now the floor is wet. Testing the TPR is not in our SOP.
2 Likes
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Awesome Bert! :+1:

1 Like
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Very nice, Bert! :smile:

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Congrats Bert! You were quick!
I’m going to write them down even though Bert already got them because my wife had fun helping to figure them out. This was a fun one!

  1. Auxiliary heat source
  2. Arc fault circuit interrupter
  3. Air admittance valve
  4. Intersystem bonding termination device
  5. Temperature relief valve
2 Likes
8

Bert was loaded and ready on this one…lol

2 Likes
9

Number 4 took me forever. I was staring at the screen thinking up new curse words for Manny. Definitely a very hard game this week.

1 Like
10

You, my friend, made it look simple! :smile:

1 Like
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Yes, #4 was a stumper for sure! :joy:

12

Did Manny say there was a winner

13

Haha! I had a few answered in my head! Figured I’d go at them later with a coffee and my desktop. Didn’t get there lol…Bert was on the ball!

2 Likes
14

Yeah, Bert, it seems like many think you won… :rofl: :joy:

1 Like
15

When isn’t Bert on the ball? He’s a smart cookie, that one. :smile:

2 Likes
16

He sure is! :grinning: Quick Draw Mcgraw!

1 Like
17

That’s right, Marc. He is in charge of this QOTW. So, he could say Junior and others are all winners but Junior didn’t’t put out any answers. :smile: Oh, well… :wink:

18

I remember those original cartoons. You, youngster, must have watched the reruns. :joy:

1 Like
19

Haha! They played that cartoon up into the early 2000s or somewhere around there. I’m only 4 years shy of the big 50!

20

I agree with Bert’s answers…Does that count?! :joy:

3 Likes