Per the course, This is a picture of a fireplace with ventless gas logs installed. The rear of the firebox has a large crack. It appears that someone has attempted to patch the crack with mortar which has failed. It is recommended this be evaluated and repaired by a qualified fireplace contractor.
When installing flashing on a chimney, two different types are required to keep water from entering the home. First installed is step flashing installed as the roofing is installed, next is counter flashing installed after the roofing is complete. Counter flashing is installed into mortar joints in the brick chimney. This will prevent water from entering the top seam of the step flashing also eliminating the need for the big gobs of sealant that is applied to step flashing when it is installed incorrectly.
This fireplace is a gas operated, prefabricated unit. All clearances and operation is nominal. The exterior vent is in good shape with no visible defects or deterioration.
While Christmas time is your wife’s favorite time of the year. She must be warned about the 36" clearance for all combustible items. She might scoff at you (as usual) and place 45 unique and individual Santa Clause figurines of various sizes and material on the hearth extension of 20" and proceed to light a roaring fire. This distance, while looking “soo great for Instagram” may cause ignition of said Santa figurines leading to the use of your A rated fire extinguisher.
picture of a stand alone stove…
a couple things I noticed immediately about the stove was the distance of combustibles around the stove. there was wood stacked within 10 inches of the fire door opening. there was also some chunks of treated lumber from a diy job in the box of wood. these are a couple of things to fix before starting the next fire
I did research on what to and not to burn. good firewood sjould be dry and generally light. if it has been used for a commercial application, such as a pallet, it should not be burned. there is no way you can trace where that pallet has been and what it has been used for. that goes for scrap building materials as well. be safe when you are choosing what wood you want to burn inside the home!
How to inspect fireplaces essay:
Attached is a example of a insert. Existing wood burning fireplace has had a insert set in. The unit protrudes out onto raised harth. Secondary tile harth has been added on floor to meet 16" minimum coverage from the front face of the insert. Removable 1/4 steel plate covers the remainder of the original fireplace opening.
These are pictures of a wood burning stove I inspected. The hearth is undersized for this stove, the burn marks on the wood flooring are evidence to this affect. The loose bricks under the stove are also a fire hazard because the build up of lint between the bricks could easily start a fire. The brick lining on the interior of the stove is missing a brick. The metal vent pipes appear to be leak free but the connection at the thimble shows signs of water penetration meaning the air seal is defective. The hearth and stove need to be repaired by a qualified contractor and the chimney needs to be inspected by a qualified chimney sweep.
Research Essay: Efflorescence for inspectors
Informative article. I was aware of what it was. I now have a clear understanding of how it forms, what types of building materials are particularly susceptible to it, how to explain it to a client and what can be done to prevent it or deal with existing condition.
The forces created by capillary action are incredibly powerful. Shows the value of some new construction practices like capillary breaks.
Research Essay Basic Waterproofing for basements.
Waterproofing your basement begins with water management of the property. Grading land away from homes and creating swales to mitigate water from large slopes is the beginning of the solution. Gutters and rain diverters extending 4 to 6 feet from the home can manage localized water intrusion sources. The capillary action of the concrete will move water in the soil to the interior basement living space. Creating a perfect home for toxic mold.
I am writing this essay for the “How to Inspect Fireplaces, Stoves and Chimneys” course.
For this assignment I inspected the fireplace in my home. As you can see from the picture it is a fully enclosed natural gas fireplace. The roof vent has properly installed flashing and a spark arrestor screen. The hearth is too narrow for a typical fireplace, however, since it doesn’t open without using tools I would not classify this as a defect.
I am writing this essay for the “How to Inspect Fireplaces, Stoves and Chimneys” course.
For this assignment I read the article “Home Inspection Tools & Equipment List” written by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard. I found the article very helpful since I will soon have to buy the basic tools I need to perform a home inspection. It is also nice that it includes price ranges for each of the tools, and whether it is a common tool or one that only a few inspectors use.
The fireplace in this home is a vented insert. Everything seems to be operating as is should at the time of inspection. The damper opens and shuts smooth, the masonry work surrounding it is in good condition, and the control switch mounted in the wall adjacent is working as well.
This fireplace is a traditional open hearth wood burning fireplace. The inspection did not lead to finding anything broken or dangerous, however, it was incredibly dirty and could use a cleaning to make for an easier inspection.
The article I read was on fireplace fuels. It specifically noted that in fireplaces and wood stoves only one type of fuel should be used, though many people tend to use it to incinerate multiple items. This can lead to many problems including the venting of harmful vapors to both the inside and outside of the house.
The library topic I chose for this section was mastering a roof inspection part 1. It discussed certain pitches that are safer to walk on than others, assessing different materials that roofs are used for coverings, as well as potential hazards that could be present when getting up on a roof.
While inspecting a chimney I noticed that the rain cap was missing , which allows rain and debris to enter the flue.
While looking at an imagine of a improper vent connection, its very important to identify the dangers of improper or incorrect installation of any ducting into the chimney from hot water heater or furnace. I would also recommend a licensed HVAC or heating and plumbing contractor.
This solid fuel masonry fireplace meets all minimum clearance criteria. The firebox opening is 37” x 26” at its peak with an internal area of less than 6’. The hearth extends beyond the firebox opening by 12” on the sides and extends out from the front of the firebox opening by 21 1/2”. There is no mantle installed.
Factory-Built Fireplaces:
Although factory built fireplaces burn more efficiently than their masonry counterparts, they still require proper placement, clearance, and maintenance. Smaller by design, they are more space efficient both on the interior and exterior. They require less clearance from combustibles as the firebox is insulated.