At a one-year warranty inspection. There is a plumbing clean out with the P trap and a flex line connected to it on the exterior of the home, and a similar set up at a plumbing vent in the attic space. There was also a wire coming from the tankless water heater and plugged into the outlet with an extension cord. I found there is a whole house water filtration system installed but I have never come across any modifications or additions like this. The clients were also having a swimming pool built. Does anyone know what these items may be and what the reason for these additions to drain/vents are? Thanks in advance!
You’re in my neck of the woods. There have been one or more of these softner/filter companies using all kinds of wrong and unsafe installation practices. No doubt the softner/filter was not properly permitted. Don’t know of any municipalities that do not require major plumbing changes to be permitted and these are due to what has to be done.
First are the issues with the softner/filter equipment.
Plumbing clean-outs are not to be used for any other purpose so that is wrong. Additionally it appears they did not even make that connection capable of being disconnected. All of the connections appear to be cemented together (no removable joints).
We are obviously in a freeze area and that is reflected in the municipalities amendments to the building codes. As a result all plumbing exposed to the weather must be appropriately protected. The backwash line from the filter and the PVC drain line set-up is not.
The electrical cord connected to the exterior outlet is a complete mystery and obviously improper for multiple reasons. Did you ask the homeowner what they were doing with this? What was on the interior wall side of that tankless heater? That cord appears to enter the rear of the cabinet and if so they have drilled straight through to the interior. If it entered one of the bottom knock-outs it would still be coming in most likely behind the tankless unit.
For the attic drain connection was a black flex line found at the HVAC unit? Since the water heater was on the exterior then the only thing left in the attic would be the HVAC unit. If it was a condensing unit it might be the condensate drain point? No matter what it is the black drain line appears to be running upward and whatever is draining might be by gravity making this incorrect. Other possibilities.
Was this a two story home? Was there more filtration equipment on the second floor that might have a backwash to it?
Same question if a one story with additional backwash lines they are making a discharge point for?
I’ve seen Builders put two tankless units in with one outside and one in the attic. Was there a condensing unit in the attic as well that needed a condensate discharge point?
Good find Pat! Looks like a homeowner attempt at freeze control for an exterior mounted tankless water heater. These water heaters have freeze kits available for them.
That’s one of our problems here with construction. We do not often have deep freezes but they also are not rare. Yet Builders choose not to add the kits as they are an additional cost. Also I never agree to mounting these on an exterior wall for a myriad of problems they can cause. Most are but many are at least mounted inside the garage where fewer problems occur with them.
Looks like @pnolan knows the difference between a heat cord and an extension cord. Cudos to you.
Those are used quite a bit in northern climates to prevent pipes from freezing and to prevent ice dams on roof tops at the eves. The little black knob where the cord turns from orange to black is a thermostat of sorts and acts as a switch to energize the cable when temperatures drop below around 40 degrees. That switch is supposed to be in direct contact with with what ever it is that needs frost protection in order to function as designed. When used for ice dams the switch would need to be on the bottom of a gutter, as they are typically not waterproof, and the rest of the cable would be clipped to the gutters and shingles. There are other versions that are waterproof that can lay inside the gutter or be left out in the elements w/o any concern.
Kind of a waste of money on the homeowners part to set it up like that.
