here is a p trap under the kitchen sink. its designed to prevent sewer gases from entering the living space of a house and bacteria. they are also designed to prevent back flow and should be protected from freezing. this system should not be double tapped also. and if is located to far from the fixture it may self siphon the water out of the trap.this is the only fixture permitted.
i have chosen the garage fire wall image because this really stood out to me during this course. i had no knowledge before taking this course that this is where most fires occur during a house fire. i now know the regulations on having fireproof doors separating the attached garage from the house and the required thickness of the walls inside the garage.
As you will see in the attached picture we have to areas of concern or one “discrepancy” and “one area of concern”.
Item # 1 - Discrepancy and in need of repair. The TPR valve is installed but missing a discharge pipe, I recommend contacting a licensed plumber for repair. Due to the severity of high pressure, hot water and steam the missing discharge pipe can cause damage to property and bodily injury.
Item #2. Mixing of galvanized pipe with black iron pipe for gas supply line. At first I thought it was only one fitting, the T as show in picture. But after further inspection I noticed the the vertical line from the gas supply line overhead was also galvanized. The gas supply line from the meter to the mechanical room is black iron. From that point a T was installed to branch the line in two directions. One to the hot water tank and furnace, the second to the gas dryer and kitchen range. From a T in the line leading to the gas dryer the pipe again changes back to black iron. The mixing of galvanized pipe and black iron pipe can be an issue. The galvanized pipe can flake and possible block entry ports, galvanized pipe is mainly used for water service so if exiting pipe is removed it could mistakenly be installed for water line. I recommend further inspection or correction by a licensed plumbing contractor.
The TPR valve discharge pipe on the water heater pictured is not long enough. The pipe should extend to within 6 inches of the floor to minimize the scalding danger. It also appears that water is collecting in the plastic trash can; which is a sign the TPR valve could be leaking.
Bathroom fan venting: After sizing the appropriate bathroom exhaust fan and installing it, the next step is relatively simple. “Venting the exhaust to the exterior of the structure”. On too many occasions I find bathroom exhaust fans either missing a vent line or the vent line extends to the overhang of the roof and stops. The exhaust line should run to a roof cap or a wall vent, this will allow for the exhausted air to vent to the exterior of the structure. The line should be as short as possible, to long of a run my be to much air for the fan to push.
Arc-Fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are required by most modern codes because they are important safety features. The AFCI breaker detects if there is any arcing in the branch circuit and cuts power to the branch circuit before personal injury or property damage can occur.
In the picture above there’s a picture of structural damage on the property. The crack in the driveway is a trip hazard. Also if yoy go into the house there are cracks throghout the interior of the house. There are also cracvks along the walls on the outside.
I read an article about the hvac system and leaks. If the ducts are leaky, this can lead to poor HVAC performanceand comfort problems through loss of heated or cooled air, creating a loss of air pressure in the ducts. Air leakage problems can be worst at the HVAC furnace or air handler cabinet, where air pressures are highest.
The component from this course that I decided to cover is the roof. More specifically the starter strip of the roofs underlinement. The home location is in Florida and the underlinement starter strip is glued down to help prevent damage during high wind events.
I choose to write about the article titled “Aging in Place”
It described how the baby boomer generation prefers to live out their lives at home verses a nursing home. When one is choosing to stay in their home they should really consider investing in the homes major structures like the roof while they can afford to do so. They should also invest in new appliances and safer functions of the home like the following…
front-loading washing machines;
raised dishwasher with push-button controls;
stoves having electric cooktops with level burners for safely transferring between the burners; front controls and downdraft feature to pull heat away from user; light to indicate when surface is hot; and
replace old stoves with induction cooktops to help prevent burns.
Bathroom:
fold-down seat installed in the shower;
adjustable showerheads with 6-foot hose;
light in shower stall;
wall support, and provision for adjustable and/or varied-height counters and removable base cabinets;
contrasting color edge border at countertops;
at least one wheelchair-maneuverable bath on main level;
bracing in walls around tub, shower, shower seat and toilet for installation of grab bars;
if stand-up shower is used in main bath, it is curbless and wide;
low bathtub;
toilet higher than standard toilet, or height-adjustable;
design of the toilet paper holder allows rolls to be changed with one hand;
wall-hung sink with knee space and panel to protect user from pipes; and
slip-resistant flooring in bathroom and shower.
etc
Attached garages being a common place for fires to start makes it require certains construction. Must have the 1/2 inch gypsum board to try to help slow the burn. The seperstion is to allow time for escape and also for it to be contained.
Carbon monoxide poisioning also known as the silent killer. Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen either slow or fast and usually happens without the person even noticing or by the time you notice can be to late and will cause you to pass out
Summary of Buying a Foreclosure.
Buying a foreclosed property can be risky but it can also be a good investment strategy. There are four ways to purchase a foreclosed property which are buying it at a presale, public auction, directly from the bank, or from HUD. If you decided to buy a foreclosure do your research on all of the factors involved to make sure it is a good investment.
The air condition unit located in the attic is adequately positioned per code, including a 24-inch solid walkway and 30 by 30 inch maintenance platform. Overhead lighting with an external switch is conveniently located within reach of the attic access.
The article, “10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home”, provides an interesting discussion on ways to save money. I especially found the recommendations on installation of a tankless water heater and not keeping charger plugs in electrical sockets without the charging equipment attached.
This photo is of the drain for a bathroom sink. This should be a p-trap with a minimum water depth of 2-4" to be within code. This trap should be located less than 24" from the sink in order to avoid self siphoning. This example meets that criteria.
The article that I read was titled ‘A Garage Inspection.’ The article summarizes an inspection where the home owner made major structural alterations to the trusses and to the hangers in the structure of the roof. No changes should be made to engineered trusses without an engineers’ approval. Also the hangers were fastened deck screws that are not designed for shear forces. Both of these modifications severely altered the structural integrity of the garage.
The attached photo depicts an attic access opening with a built-in folding ladder. The opening measures 20 inches wide by 50 inches long, exceeding the minimum required dimensions of 20 by 30 inches to adequately allow removal of the air handler.
Tankless water heaters (a.k.a. instantaneous, continuous-flow, or on-demand water heaters) are a relatively new option for homeowners. Like conventional water heaters, they are designed to provide hot water for the entire house. However tankless heaters do not have a water storage reservoir, but instead heat water only when demand calls for it (i.e. when a hot water faucet is turned on). Although tankless water heaters have a higher initial cost, they typically last longer than conventional systems and also consume less energy.
Here we have a Rheem 50gal. electric water-heater. It has the expansion tank, TPR valve,and the required bonding jumper on the expansion tank. Note the TPR is actually lower than the drain line exiting the house and thereby requires a drain port on the elbow. Anytime the TPR is operated this port must be opened to remove any water from standing inside the TPR mechanism causing premature failure.
