New furnace wiring method

[ivsenroute]

This is from Saturday's inspection of a row home (one of four connected to each other). I inspected all four and can tell the the landlord does not get work done under permit.

This is a brand new furnace installation.

http://www.remasinspections.com/images/IMG_2418.JPG


Which leads to this. Again, brand new furnace.
http://www.remasinspections.com/images/IMG_2417.JPG

[mdshunk]

Looks like they spliced the 14-2 on to some thermostat wire.

[Minuteman]

You suppose that he will get his future work inspected? :D

[ivsenroute]

It is not hooked to Tstat wiring. It is connected to the individual wires from the transformer. Tstat works but the wiring for that is bad too.

[Minuteman]

Did a tradesman do this mess or the Landlord?

[mdshunk]

You suppose that he will get his future work inspected? :D
HVAC installers in PA have slipped under the radar for so long and so often, it will take years to get them on board.

Here's a brand new Trane condensing unit changeout where the existing UF from the disconnect to the unit was too short. No problem. They hacked a little bit out of the sheet metal and put it through the knockout (underneath) without a connector. The is probably a 5,000 condensing unit:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n277/mdshunk/uglyacwhip.jpg

This next one I see pretty often. They tapped on one side of the 240V feeder to ground for 120V for a condensate pump. You can probably see a scorch mark in the control panel too. They must have done it hot.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n277/mdshunk/illegaltap1.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n277/mdshunk/illegaltap2.jpg

[Minuteman]

I guess Murtha was right, there ARE some rednecks in PA. :D

[electricmanscott]

This is a brand new furnace installation.



Looks like a boiler.

[mdshunk]

Looks like a boiler.
A furnace is not a boiler until it makes steam.

[peter d]

A furnace is not a boiler until it makes steam.

Must be a regional thing. Here, if it contains water, it's called a boiler.

[ivsenroute]

He's right, it is a boiler. As long as it holds water whether boiling for steam or circulating, it is a boiler. In this case, it makes steam.

[mdshunk]

Must be a regional thing. Here, if it contains water, it's called a boiler.
Probably so. To 99.99% of the world, a furnace heats air and a boiler heats water. Just seems weird calling a boiler a boiler if it doesn't boil water.

[iwire]

I agree with Pete and Google seems to agree as well.

A furnace makes hot air.

A boiler makes hot water / steam.


That said, there is a lot of room for each area to call them what ever they want. :smile:

[peter d]

Probably so. To 99.99% of the world, a furnace heats air and a boiler heats water. Just seems weird calling a boiler a boiler if it doesn't boil water.

I guess New England is in that .01% then, because I've never heard those terms interchanged that way. Maybe you are talking about the general public but I'm talking about tradesmen. In that case were comparing apples to oranges, aren't we?

[iwire]

I am lost :-? :D

[peter d]

I am lost :-? :D

You are in Massachusetts. Therefore you have a boiler in your house.

Is that better now? :D

[ivsenroute]

A furnace is typically forced air.

A boiler is steam or hot water.

The I-Codes also define them that way.

[iwire]

You are in Massachusetts.

That helps :D

[electricmanscott]

A furnace is typically forced air.

A boiler is steam or hot water.

The I-Codes also define them that way.

I just pointed it out to be a wise guy.

I bet over on the plumbing forum some plumber busted another guys chops for calling a receptacle a "plug"..:grin:

[hillbilly1]

Definitely HVAC guys work, they do it all of the time down here, I get to fix it when it fails, or when the homeowner see's it and knows it's not right. The POCO also installs water heaters here too, not very pretty.

[Pierre C Belarge]

This is from Saturday's inspection of a row home (one of four connected to each other). I inspected all four and can tell the the landlord does not get work done under permit.

This is a brand new furnace installation.



Were you there to inspect the boiler, or were you there inspecting another item?
Was there an electrical permit on this inspection?

[ivsenroute]

Were you there to inspect the boiler, or were you there inspecting another item?
Was there an electrical permit on this inspection?

I was there to inspect everything as a private inspector, not as a code enforcement official. In addition it is not in the area where I work as a code inspector.

The report that I give to my client is a private report and I cannot share any of the information with other parties so I can't call up the code official who I know pretty well and tell him either. It is not my place. It is in a larger city that definitely would have required a permit for this type of work.

[mdshunk]

I was there to inspect everything as a private inspector, not as a code enforcement official. In addition it is not in the area where I work as a code inspector.
You're a man of many hats. Electrician, code inspector, home inspector. That's a busy life. Probably interesting, though.

[ivsenroute]

You're a man of many hats. Electrician, code inspector, home inspector. That's a busy life. Probably interesting, though.

Yeah, too many. I am an inspector first and foremost, both private and code. Since I don't work full time for the municipalities that I work in, I cannot earn a living at it. The private inspection part of this has been the driving force for the past 8 years and my main source of income.

I started doing electrical work again last year because of the downturn in the real estate market. The electrical work is an income filler for what I am losing in the current market conditions.

My truck is a mess as a result.

[mdshunk]

Yeah, too many. I am an inspector first and foremost, both private and code. Since I don't work full time for the municipalities that I work in, I cannot earn a living at it. The private inspection part of this has been the driving force for the past 8 years and my main source of income.

I started doing electrical work again last year because of the downturn in the real estate market. The electrical work is an income filler for what I am losing in the current market conditions.

My truck is a mess as a result.
Bravo to you. I applaud your initiative. You're the kind of man I like. You're on plan C to make your living, and I'd hazard a guess that you have plans D, E, and F in the works, just in case.

[morganjoseph]

Wow! How did you know it was a boiler from the pix? I see a blower and what looks like electric elements... to me looks like forced air... is there a water coil in the cabinet?

[iwire]

Wow! How did you know it was a boiler from the pix? I see a blower and what looks like electric elements... to me looks like forced air... is there a water coil in the cabinet?

Look at the very first picture, there is a T&P valve. (Relief valve)