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To B-Vent or not to B-Vent----that is the question!

By
Home Inspector with Charles Buell Inspections Inc.

     A couple of weeks ago I had a soccer game at a local high school where I saw an "interesting" B-Vent pipe running up the side of the gymnasium.  I didn’t have my camera with me, and I could have kicked myself in the head----as it is totally out of character to not have it with me.  You just never know when blog fodder is going to show up. 

     I knew my next game was at the same field so I made a mental note to bring my camera with me the next time.

     Now I know school budgets are tight, but isn’t this a bit extreme? 

I could be a vent if------

     The first time I saw this pipe there was actually condensation going through the space where the pipe is missing and re-entering the pipe above the space that terminates above the roof----which is missing a proper hat.   The whole length of pipe is badly rusted and there was steam coming out of most of the joints along the length of pipe. 

----but I just have to vent!

     Since there was no section of pipe lying on the ground, I can only assume (dangerous word I know) that someone must know about it. 

     Fortunately this installation, as bad as it looks, is probably not as “dangerous” as it is “just plain wrong.” 

     Hopefully someone will approve the budget so that they can afford to fix it----maybe they can lay off another teacher.  Then again maybe they already laid off the custodial staff----and they are off venting somewhere else.

 

Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector

 

 

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Seattle Home Inspector

 

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Melissa Zavala
Broadpoint Properties - Escondido, CA
Broker, Escondido Real Estate, San Diego County

I'm glad that my knowledge in this area is limited. Otherwise, stuff like this would really drive me crazy.

Oct 01, 2010 06:29 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Perhaps a squirrel got stuck in there and they had to remove the pipe because of all gunk.

Oct 01, 2010 09:18 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Melissa, me too :)

Jim, possible----its ears would still be ringing when the pipe hit the ground :)

Oct 01, 2010 10:00 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

I kinda' looks like the pipe wasn't long enough to clear the roof so just take out a section and momentum of the condensation, steam will carry through the missing place and finally be released above the roof...

:)

Oct 01, 2010 10:04 AM
Jay Lloyd
Cape Coral Florida - Cape Coral, FL
Allpro Home Inspection

Hi Charles, This is our tax dollars at work, or in this case laid off! jay

Oct 01, 2010 11:54 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Judi, well it "kinda" was working that way :)

Jay, there just never seems to be enough tax dollars to go around :)

Oct 01, 2010 12:02 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Hey Bee,

Nutsy would probably get this article, but just what is your problem here.

Wheat

Oct 01, 2010 12:14 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Hey Wheatforbrains----come on over---got some fresh baked warfarinutcakes for you.

Oct 01, 2010 12:16 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I don't see much problem with the missing pipe - you got convection, invection, conduction, induction.  It's all working in harmony.

Oct 01, 2010 01:11 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jay, who knows there may be even some sort of "harmonic vibration" occurring as a result of this set-up.

Oct 01, 2010 01:18 PM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes

That's pretty wild! You always find all the good stuff to blog about.

Oct 01, 2010 04:27 PM
Phil Leng
Retired - Kirkland, WA
Phil Leng - Retired

Hi Charles,

You have an interesting perspective.

How many of us would see that and think nothing of it.

Phil

Oct 01, 2010 06:20 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Lizette, it is pretty easy for us inspectors

Phil, sometimes I feel like I need to walk around with blinders on :)

Oct 01, 2010 06:42 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Valerie, maybe so----but maintenance personnel should not be missing it.

Oct 02, 2010 02:37 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Charlie,

Please do not be rude to another of my assistants.

Oct 02, 2010 12:15 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Why?

Oct 02, 2010 03:03 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Blogging has made us all much more sensitive to the surrounding areas, hasn't it.

Oct 03, 2010 06:57 AM
Reuben Saltzman
Structure Tech Home Inspections - Minneapolis, MN
Delivering the Unbiased Truth.

Aw come on, that exhaust gas is smart... I'm sure it knows where to go.

Oct 03, 2010 02:20 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Barbara, I think it has----we are always looking for blog fodder

Reuben---ahh yes---the new "Smartgas"

Oct 03, 2010 02:23 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

It is amazing when you see something like that and know it is wrong - and when you come back to take the photo it still hasn't been corrected!

Oct 04, 2010 04:12 AM