Clueless Inspector Faults Furnace Install
 

Had a city inspector come to check out my new gas furnace install. A
real young kid. The moment he walked in the door my clueless-o-meter
pegged out. He was chatting away, throwing out the occasional jargon and
quickly glancing my way to see if I picked up on it. I got the
impression he was floundering and hoping I didn't realize he didn't know
what the hell he was talking about.

After he went downstairs and looked at the furnace, he asked where the
vent pipes were. I pointed to the area immediately above his head. He
asked where they went. They go outside, said I. No, where do they run?
he asks. Obviously it didn't occur him that he could follow them with
his eyes and see for himself, so I suggested he do so.

He then tells me the install's fine, then changes his mind just as the
words come out of his mouth. He abruptly walks through the basement,
asking questions about my ceiling, my water well - you know, all the
stuff necessary to check out in a furnace inspection.

He comes back to the furnace, then asks about the water heater. Where
does it vent? I pointed to the vent pipe leading into the chimney. So he
goes outside to look at the chimney and notices - wow, there's a liner
in it. How come, he asks. Have I got a fireplace? NO, it's for the water
heater. Well, then, he says, where's the air intake for the water
heater? At that point, the best I could come up with was a stunned,
'Huh'?

I suggested that, since he was inspecting the furnace install, he should
take a look at the furnace vent pipes from the outside. He walks over
and looks. Are these for the furnace, he asks. Yes, I just told you
that. Well, where's the air intake for the water heater?

Stalemate. He fails the furnace install. Call the furnace company, he
says, and tell them they didn't install an air intake.

This would be funny except that furnace install has to pass. So I called
the furnace company and told them the story; they sighed and said
they'll get in touch with the city inspector and get the confusion
resolved. All I can figure is that this guy was either a terrible
example of nepotism in action, or one of the inspectors was busy and
thought he could get away with sending his kid out to cover for him.

HellT

Hell Toupee wrote:
Had a city inspector come to check out my new gas furnace install. A
real young kid. The moment he walked in the door my clueless-o-meter
pegged out. He was chatting away, throwing out the occasional jargon and
quickly glancing my way to see if I picked up on it. I got the
impression he was floundering and hoping I didn't realize he didn't know
what the hell he was talking about.

After he went downstairs and looked at the furnace, he asked where the
vent pipes were. I pointed to the area immediately above his head. He
asked where they went. They go outside, said I. No, where do they run?
he asks. Obviously it didn't occur him that he could follow them with
his eyes and see for himself, so I suggested he do so.

He then tells me the install's fine, then changes his mind just as the
words come out of his mouth. He abruptly walks through the basement,
asking questions about my ceiling, my water well - you know, all the
stuff necessary to check out in a furnace inspection.

He comes back to the furnace, then asks about the water heater. Where
does it vent? I pointed to the vent pipe leading into the chimney. So he
goes outside to look at the chimney and notices - wow, there's a liner
in it. How come, he asks. Have I got a fireplace? NO, it's for the water
heater. Well, then, he says, where's the air intake for the water
heater? At that point, the best I could come up with was a stunned,
'Huh'?

I suggested that, since he was inspecting the furnace install, he should
take a look at the furnace vent pipes from the outside. He walks over
and looks. Are these for the furnace, he asks. Yes, I just told you
that. Well, where's the air intake for the water heater?

Stalemate. He fails the furnace install. Call the furnace company, he
says, and tell them they didn't install an air intake.

This would be funny except that furnace install has to pass. So I called
the furnace company and told them the story; they sighed and said
they'll get in touch with the city inspector and get the confusion
resolved. All I can figure is that this guy was either a terrible
example of nepotism in action, or one of the inspectors was busy and
thought he could get away with sending his kid out to cover for him.

HellT


Is there a fresh air inlet for the furnace? Maybe that was the problem
and it might be legit. The water heater air vent might not be large
enough to serve both the WH and the furnace. Of course, I can't see it
from here...

Bob

"Hell Toupee" wrote in message
...
Had a city inspector come to check out my new gas furnace install. A
real young kid. The moment he walked in the door my clueless-o-meter
pegged out. He was chatting away, throwing out the occasional jargon and
quickly glancing my way to see if I picked up on it. I got the
impression he was floundering and hoping I didn't realize he didn't know
what the hell he was talking about.

After he went downstairs and looked at the furnace, he asked where the
vent pipes were. I pointed to the area immediately above his head. He
asked where they went. They go outside, said I. No, where do they run?
he asks. Obviously it didn't occur him that he could follow them with
his eyes and see for himself, so I suggested he do so.

He then tells me the install's fine, then changes his mind just as the
words come out of his mouth. He abruptly walks through the basement,
asking questions about my ceiling, my water well - you know, all the
stuff necessary to check out in a furnace inspection.

He comes back to the furnace, then asks about the water heater. Where
does it vent? I pointed to the vent pipe leading into the chimney. So he
goes outside to look at the chimney and notices - wow, there's a liner
in it. How come, he asks. Have I got a fireplace? NO, it's for the water
heater. Well, then, he says, where's the air intake for the water
heater? At that point, the best I could come up with was a stunned,
'Huh'?

I suggested that, since he was inspecting the furnace install, he should
take a look at the furnace vent pipes from the outside. He walks over
and looks. Are these for the furnace, he asks. Yes, I just told you
that. Well, where's the air intake for the water heater?

Stalemate. He fails the furnace install. Call the furnace company, he
says, and tell them they didn't install an air intake.

This would be funny except that furnace install has to pass. So I called
the furnace company and told them the story; they sighed and said
they'll get in touch with the city inspector and get the confusion
resolved. All I can figure is that this guy was either a terrible
example of nepotism in action, or one of the inspectors was busy and
thought he could get away with sending his kid out to cover for him.

HellT

When I put in my gas furnace in a closet. I was told that I had to have an
vent top and bottom as well as sealing the door. The top vent/supply was 8
X24 into the attic. The bottom one was 8 inch round to within 6 inches of
the floor. Passed first time. I asked some one what I needed to do. I needed
to size the gas line as well.

Being argumentative is an mistake with inspectors even if they are green.
Helpful and friendly works every time. Your area might require you to fix
all deficiencies when you are changing mechanical systems. Did you check
before the install?


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In article , Hell Toupee writes:
This would be funny except that furnace install has to pass. So I called
the furnace company and told them the story; they sighed and said
they'll get in touch with the city inspector and get the confusion
resolved. All I can figure is that this guy was either a terrible
example of nepotism in action, or one of the inspectors was busy and
thought he could get away with sending his kid out to cover for him.

This wouldn't be inthe city of Chicago, would it. Big scandal lately about
unqualified building inspectors getting jobs via political connections..

"Nepotism is OK, as long as you keep it in the family" -- R J Daley


Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
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