**Without inspections, appliances can be dangerous **
A join study by Montgomery County and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission has concluded that most inspections on new appliances are not being done, even though customers are paying for them.
When the inspections don’t take place, in some cases, things can go very wrong. In once case, two people were hospitalized after improper installation of a dryer caused a Rockville home to explode.
In another case, a Fort Washington family nearly died from carbon monoxide poisoning, likely because of an improperly installed gas appliance.
“You want to know it’s being done, that things are being taken care of and things you are paying for and being charged for are actually happening,” resident Udoh Opiotennione says. “It’s not a good thing.”
The report reviewed 1,250 cases and found that two-thirds of the water heaters purchased at The Home Depot, Sears and Lowes were not inspected, even though a $55 fee was paid to WSSC. The utility acknowledges that $45,870 was paid for inspections that were not done.
However, WSSC says the responsibility of scheduling the inspection falls on the plumber who installs it.
“All we know is that roughly one-third of inspections were (done),” WSSC spokesperson I.J. Hudson says.
Meanwhile, no residents that 7 On Your Side caught up with Friday had any idea that gas appliances even needed to be inspected.
“Nobody has the responsibility,” resident Keith Farley said. "This money is breing paid and there’s no way of monitoring this thing
Just want to point out that appliances are furnace to range hood and the connections often are the issue.
No reason to be lazy and not look at both or why only furnace / water heater but not stove and dishwasher?
G2422.1.1 (411.1.2) Protection from damage. Connectors and tubing shall be installed so as to be protected against physical damage.
G2422.1.2.3 (411.1.3.3) Prohibited locations and penetrations. Connectors shall not be concealed within, or extended through, walls, floors, partitions, ceilings or appliances housings.
G2422.1.2.4 (411.1.3.4) Shutoff valve. A shutoff valve not less than the nominal size of the connector shall be installed ahead of the connector in accordance with section G2420.5
G2420.5 (409.5) Equipment shutoff valve. Each appliance shall be provided with a shutoff valve separate from the appliance. The shutoff valve shall be located in the same room as the appliance, not further than 6 feet (1829 mm) from the appliance, and shall be installed upstream from the union, connector or quick disconnect device it serves. Such shutoff valve shall be provided with access.
I really need to get me the IRC in the PDF format to just copy and paste.
I was wondering about the brass connector. Thanks for pointing that out!
From the “14.6 Shut-Off Valves for Fuel-Gas Appliances” page:
Shut-off valves should not be located in concealed locations, and shall access provided. They should be easily located and operated in the event of an emergency. For example, a gas shut-off valve for an appliance on the first floor should not be located in the basement. There is an exception for decorative appliances.
Thanks for the info Dave.
I am already aware of that and this picture was a actual wall oven cabinet which often has the pipe come in either under it or the cooktop which in most homes is next to it and more often than not on the right for some reason (Same style of the period and developer I guess).Often times it has a tee connection.
My example was looking for someone to notice the flex line itself is defective however.
They actually had removed the oven and placed a toaster oven plus microwave inside which lead to me asking the client what is missing? which she did not notice till I pointed it out and we had a good laugh over it.
No place to cook the turkey.
Years ago when installing appliances for Sears I actually had a big job going around swapping out these flex connectors and one day moved a stove ,
out just to look at the line upon which it broke open and the pilot light ignited it.
Every exposed hair on my body got singed in the flare up.
Good tip for all is that you can stop gas with anything such as a piece of clay,plastic shopping bag,etc in a pinch as the gas is only about 3 lbs pressure.
The flame will most likely not go backwards into the pipe however you may put out all other pilots in the house once they lose pressure.
Last… when inspecting make sure every appliance has its own shutoff.
