BridgeMan

bryce,

The last photo in Post 13 shows the galvanized water heater vent run touching the vertical copper water line directly behind it. Not good, as 2 dissimilar metals will galvanically react with each other, and eventually cause perforations (holes) to develop in the more chemically active member.

By adjusting the flexible vent pipe elbows (first loosening the sheet metal screws locking the sections together) and rotating the assembly downward and forward at the top of the heater, you'd both create a gap between the 2 different metals and make the run over to the chimney have a more positive (upward) flow.

Your plumber has no business trying to be a plumber. Where I come from his work quality is known as "cowboy plumbing." I would report him to your AHJ that grants professional licenses for the building trades. Along with asking for a partial refund of that exorbitant sum he charged you. You did say he was a plumber, and not a robber baron, right?

bryce

good catch, i just checked and there is only 1/8" at the closed point between the vent and the copper hot water pipe. I think rotating the heater should do the trick.
Do really think the yellow line is a problem? I doubt he will want to change that. I notice other people charging 2200$ for the same instaltion not to mention the water heater company that was previously chargin $30 per month.So 1700$ seems okay.
Like i said the previous installation was 1-2" lower. Don't you think shark bites and pex tube should solve the problem? We already replacing some plumbing this way.

inspectorD

You need to read the link. Those csst gas lines are prone to failure if there is a lighning strick nearby. there is no bonding sleeve on that line and it creates small holes, then leaks. There have been a few in my area that have been replaced with one called http://www.tracpipe.com/CSST_Gas_Pipe_Products/CounterStrike_CSST/

This is what should have been installed, but it's your call if your not concerned. I'm just letting you know there are issues with the old yellow csst line.
Good luck.

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Wuzzat?

How do you break a joist like that?

bryce

Above it is the foot of the stair case that was moved at sometime. I guess fatso did it. Having said that i don't think it is going anywhere anytime soon, but it is on the list of fix jobs.

btw, it seems that the yellow pipe is code and sold by HD around here.
http://www.askthebuilder.com/flexible-gas-lines-are-you-serious/

BridgeMan

Who's "fatso"? . . . . . . . . Your wife?

bryce

ha ha, no the previous owner...
So how serious do think these issues are?
How long would it take for the copper pipe and vent to corrode like this?
i think i need to call a someone more professional to check everything tomorrow.
It's a 40 gal bradford white, i probably only needed a 20 gallon. I think i only really need that hot water for 1 shower per day. I wonder if there is an external switch that i could install and just turn it on 1/2 hour before a shower? Anyway to make it a 20 gal system?
Hey look it has the defender system, means i'm okay right?
http://www.bradfordwhite.com/DEFENDER.ASP

Okay i put a level on it, if i measure from the highest point of the vent entering the chimney there is a bit of a slope so i guess it is okay. I left jim a message explaining about the vent, well he is not calling me back and i think giving me the dodge. I guess it is not surprising since he already had to install it twice. You know people all laugh at me when i say i heard it on the internet around here..
$1700 was a burn for the water heater, but i think it is a good model. $2000 for the goodman furnace was definitely a good deal. Problem i have is when people realize i am from the city they all try to ripe me off. This has become a pattern.

bryce

So this definitely a problem?
The photo is misleading, only at the bottom is it really close 1/4" . You can see the slight incline.
Would shark bites and pex solve it? I was reading that flex hose was a no no again for this.

Wuzzat?

A sandwich of two one-bys with through bolts should probably repair this joist, and joist height is more important than joist thickness.

If you stand on another joist far away from the broken one and measure the deflection due to your body weight you can measure how strong your repair is relative to an undamaged joist.

inspectorD

The link you sent has an additionional comment by the author in 2005 talking about the issues I explained.
Some areas have banned the yellow csst, others are just slow at catching up.

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