Water Heating Dating Chart: This chart help in deciphering when the water heater was manufactured based on the letters and numbers located on the serial number. In general, the first and second digits showed the month it was manufactured and the third and fourth digits showed the year it was manufactured.
The exhaust flue piping is not secured to the draft hood and the draft hood is not secured to the top of the water heater. Repairs are needed for safe and effective venting of dangerous flue gasses. A qualified plumbing contractor should repair as needed.
Condensation is water that forms on materials with temperatures that are colder than the current dew point. This water can cause problems ranging from wood rot to mold growth. Insulation should be used where practical to prevent condensation and the issues that can occur from the resulting water droplets.
Electric hot water heater appears to be working correctly. No leaks at the time of the inspection. The Temperature pressure relief valve should have a drain pipe extending vertical to six inches above the floor. I recommend one be installed by a qualified person.
I found it interesting that most biting insects are more attracted to the CO2 in the breath as compared to the florescent light of a bug zapper. Knowing that one study showed that on average only 0.22% of insects killed by a bug zapper were of the biting variety, I think I’ll look for a different form of insect control.
This course taught me that it is not safe to install Water heater in bedroom, bathroom and closets space. Also that if a water heater is install in a garage it needs to be no less than 18 inches above the garage floor.
Rafter ties vs Collar ties, Home inspectors should be familiar with these structural members and the differences between them, as they are not the same. Rafter ties are installed between opposing rafters, and they should be installed as close as possible to the top plate. collar tie is a tension tie in the upper third of opposing gable rafters that is intended to resist rafter separation from the ridge beam during periods of unbalanced loads, such as that caused by wind uplift, or unbalanced roof loads from snow.
Summary of energy saving items included improving the heating of your home by adding a programable thermostat so the night time temperature can be reduced, installation of a tankless water heater so energy consumption is only called for when hot water demand is required, change incadescant light bulbe to led type, and changing shower heads too energy efficient.
Upon my inspection of this 220 volt electrical hot water tank, I observed that the pipe for the TPRV valve did not meet the requirement to be no more than 6 inches above the floor. Release of this valve will result in scalding if any person is nearby the vicinity of the hot water tank at the time of the pressure release.
At the time of the inspection, an Electric water heater was furnished in the house. The water heater made in 2006. it is equipped with two element to heat up the water. It has an expansion tank to handle water expansion in the tank. it is equipped with a TRP. TRP is not tested during the inspection time. inspector did not observed any deficiencies at the inspection time.
There are two different types of water heater tanks are commonly used in residential buildings. those of which are using either gas or electric. Inspectors need to understand how they were built and they operates, so they can give as much information to their customer about the unit.
Pictured is a gas water heater located in the garage. GAs valve connection located on the left side of water tank has a directed gas connection to the furnace. This condition will be documented and recommended that a gas shut off valve is installed separately from furnace and a drip leg is installed past the shut off valve for maintenance
A pressure regulator is installed at the main shut off valve to maintain water pressure at an acceptable level when the city pressure is above 80 PSI. The existing interior pressure is above 80 PSI. The regulator is either damaged or not functioning correctly, we recommend that it be replaced or adjusted. High water pressure can result in active leaks at fixtures, valves etc.
This inspection found that the TPRV piping teed into the drain line for the water heater drain pan. The flow from the release is not into a dedicated drain line and would easily overwhelm the pan with scalding hot water and overflow into living spaces. In addition there were two additional water heaters abandoned in place from previous repairs. All that is a 1200 sqft condo.
“15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own” should be re-titled 15 tools every homeowner should know how to use. It never ceases to amaze me at inspections to find homeowners with no tools, not even a screw driver. I have actually given a home owner a screw driver, I coluldn’t bear the thought of using a butter knife to loosen/tighten a screw. I don’t even want to know what they use for a hammer, maybe a rock from the landscape
The picture shows the bottom of a gas water heater. Gas line with a dirt leg, and gas shut off valve. The inspection plate plate is in place. All appear in good operating condition. The plate should be removed to inspect the combustion chamber.
Water heater maintenance. It is obvious to us as inspectors but apparently not to home owners, how necessary it is to keep the top of a gas water heater clear. In most homes that have been occupied for some time, the top of the water heater becomes a storage area.
The TPR valve in this picture has a discharge pipe that terminates on top of the water heater. This is a defect. The drain pipe should be rerouted so that it extends down the side of the tank and terminates not less than 18 inches of the floor to allow for proper drainage (and to keep from making a huge mess). Opening the test lever proved that the valve is in working condition.
Water Heater Expansion Tanks- https://www.nachi.org/water-heater-expansion-tanks.htm In this article, I learned that Water heater expansion tanks provide relief for pressure buildup from closed water systems, but are not a replacement for a TPR valve. A TPR valve is still the most essential safety device attached to a water heater.
