Anti-siphon device on outside faucets?

[dhelm]

Most of these devices are easily replacable. They do go bad on occasion, especially if hose is left on in winter. The cheap ones usually available at the big box stores (bad places to shop for building materials in my opinion) are generally not replacable (have to replace the whole d*** thing.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by dhelm

the big box stores (bad places to shop for building materials in my opinion)

Where should one shop, then?

[dhelm]

I always shop at local yards. Get better service, actual knowledgable people, and (except for loss leaders) get better prices. When buying lumber, box stores generally have poorest quality and lousy selection.

[Russel Ray]

What if one has no local yards?

There was a big story a few weeks ago about our last local yard closing up shop.

I've always stopped in at local yards but they just cannot match the prices at the big box stores, and I have never had any problem with quality. And I don't think I've ever heard anyone before say that a box store had a lousy selection. In fact, that, and their low prices, are their biggest advantages. I've even found the employees to be very knowledgeable and helpful. Maybe it's a Southern California thing specific to the box stores because no other industry here seems to be as helpful as the box stores.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by rray

Nice, Brian. Thanks.

Now that I have stories, I can start calling out the lack of anti-siphon devices on those exterior faucets.

My pleasure RR. Next time you see the termite truck, notice that not only do they have a backflow preventer but they are required to have an air gap when filling the pesticide tank with water (using the home owners hose bib).

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Wouldn't an RPZ valve and flow check on the domestic take care of that problem?

Marcel

[Jay Moge]

Originally Posted by rray

What if one has no local yards?

There was a big story a few weeks ago about our last local yard closing up shop.

I've always stopped in at local yards but they just cannot match the prices at the big box stores, and I have never had any problem with quality. And I don't think I've ever heard anyone before say that a box store had a lousy selection. In fact, that, and their low prices, are their biggest advantages. I've even found the employees to be very knowledgeable and helpful. Maybe it's a Southern California thing specific to the box stores because no other industry here seems to be as helpful as the box stores.

I totaly agree except for the quality part. i fished threw a pallet of 2x4s this weekend at the depot, and had to dig to the bottom to get the strait ones. all the top ones were sloppily aranged by others and warping.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by Jay Moge

i fished threw a pallet of 2x4s this weekend at the depot, and had to dig to the bottom to get the strait ones. all the top ones were sloppily aranged by others and warping.

That's the problem that I had at so many local yards in Texas, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California all these years, mainly because they kept their lumber outside.

What I like about Lowes and Home Depot is that the lumber is inside, protected from the elements. So I find fewer warped boards. Of course, I can always tell when the trainload or truckload traveled through a rain storm on its way here because the whole pallet is warped, not just individual boards.

[Jay Moge]

Originally Posted by rray

That's the problem that I had at so many local yards in Texas, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California all these years, mainly because they kept their lumber outside.

What I like about Lowes and Home Depot is that the lumber is inside, protected from the elements. So I find fewer warped boards. Of course, I can always tell when the trainload or truckload traveled through a rain storm on its way here because the whole pallet is warped, not just individual boards.

that's true, but the biggest enemy to these 2xs (kept inside) is that no one straitens out the pile after people lay them on top of each other haphazardly. they lay them across each other and it kinda' looks like a pile of "pick up sticks" from when i was a young lad (not that long ago). if you call them to deliver a bundle of boards, they take from the top and you end up with all the crap wood no one els wants, just so they can get rid of it and neaten up the pile at the same time. either way it's a splinter in the back side so to speak. still better than an outside yard.

[Russel Ray]

Well I'm glad I don't live in New Hampshire then (among other reasons, too, of course ).

The workers here at Home Depot, Lowes, and Dixieline are constantly straightening out the lumber racks. That's probably the #1 thing that most impresses me about the big box stores--they are trained just like grocery store clerks and bookstore clerks: always make sure the merchandise is straight, clean, undamaged, presentable, etc.

In many areas of retail it's the presentation that counts.

In fact, I think presentation is about half the battle in anything, which is why I created my Interactive Report System. It relies heavily on WOW marketing to encourage my Clients to keep the reports forever and ever and refer to it and/or call me if they have questions, concerns, problems, etc., anytime down the road.

I'm finding it works well. In fact, I had a Client from seven months ago call a couple of days ago with the usually-but-not-with-me-dreaded-beginning: "You inspected my house xxx months ago. . . ."

In this case she was calling to tell me that
(1) she was now a Realtor,
(2) she wanted to refer all her Clients to me,
(3) she had read the complete home inspection report and was quite impressed with it,
(4) she had accumulated a tremendous amount of knowledge about homes by reading the report,
(5) she found the information in the report easy to read and comprehensive yet not condescending, and
(6) I had made learning fun again for her.

She had been trying for a year to study and pass the state real estate exam; after reading my home inspection report, she was encouraged to study and try again. She and her husband found ways to make learning fun and she had passed on her next try.

The bubbly excitement and enthusiasm in her voice would have been priceless for my marketing. Alas, I didn't record her phone call; I remembered the infamous NACHI TapeGate brew-ha-ha from the 2006 Convention which resulted in people being banished, buying crayons, and using too many emoticons in their NACHI posts.

[Jay Moge]

Originally Posted by rray

Well I'm glad I don't live in New Hampshire then (among other reasons, too, of course ).

The workers here at Home Depot, Lowes, and Dixieline are constantly straightening out the lumber racks. That's probably the #1 thing that most impresses me about the big box stores--they are trained just like grocery store clerks and bookstore clerks: always make sure the merchandise is straight, clean, undamaged, presentable, etc.

In many areas of retail it's the presentation that counts.

In fact, I think presentation is about half the battle in anything, which is why I created my Interactive Report System. It relies heavily on WOW marketing to encourage my Clients to keep the reports forever and ever and refer to it and/or call me if they have questions, concerns, problems, etc., anytime down the road.

I'm finding it works well. In fact, I had a Client from seven months ago call a couple of days ago with the usually-but-not-with-me-dreaded-beginning: "You inspected my house xxx months ago. . . ."

In this case she was calling to tell me that
(1) she was now a Realtor,
(2) she wanted to refer all her Clients to me,
(3) she had read the complete home inspection report and was quite impressed with it,
(4) she had accumulated a tremendous amount of knowledge about homes by reading the report,
(5) she found the information in the report easy to read and comprehensive yet not condescending, and
(6) I had made learning fun again for her.

She had been trying for a year to study and pass the state real estate exam; after reading my home inspection report, she was encouraged to study and try again. She and her husband found ways to make learning fun and she had passed on her next try.

The bubbly excitement and enthusiasm in her voice would have been priceless for my marketing. Alas, I didn't record her phone call; I remembered the infamous NACHI TapeGate brew-ha-ha from the 2006 Convention which resulted in people being banished, buying crayons, and using too many emoticons in their NACHI posts.

1) what's wrong with new hampshire? if it wasn't for our crappy weather, yours wouldn't look sooooo good

2)see RR, you do have a way with the ladies.

3) nice job, realy. we should all take a lesson from you on preparing for future refurals. way to go RR.

4) sorry for too many emoticons.

[Russel Ray]

Well at least you didn't break out the crayons.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Page 19 for anti siphon valve

http://www.kirbymorgan.com/manual_PDF/18-28sc.pdf