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