Inspecting the electric water heater in the residence. It . As seen in the photos there are signs of corrosion on the hot water side, a qualified plumber should evaluate this further. Also the TPR valve discharge pipe does not discharge within 6” of the floor.
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Reading and writing assignment .
Water damage and quality .
There are several ways water can damage a home and leaking is high up on the chart . Leaks can come from faulty flashings , windows , roofs and more . Water causes a lot of damage if gone un noticed including dagerous molding and rotting .
As inspectors it is out of our scope to test for water quality . In my opinion , everyone with any health issues should have their water tested for anything that they may be sensitive to .
I inspected the water heater in my home. It is located in the garage and has a 55 gallon capacity. Has a plastic drain valve and the TPR valve is located on the top. The TPR drain does not go the the floor, but travels through the wall. I can’t determine if there is a leak or not. I have included images of the data plate, top of the heater and the TPR drain going into the wall.
For the Reading and Writing assignment, I chose to read “Water Heater Expansion Tanks” and “Estimating the Lifespan of a Water Heater”. I wanted to read a little more on the expansion tanks, because I wasn’t sure that every house was required to have one. I don’t have one in my house, so I needed to know. i found that not all jurisdictions require them. As for the Estimating the lifespan of a water heater, it was a very informative. It gave some important things to consider before you actually perform maintenance on a water heater. Sometimes its cheaper just to buy a new heater than to fix a older one.
This is a 28 gallon electric water heater. Although there is some pant sprayed on it, there is no leakage or rust. It is fully functional and has a drip pan on the bottom, as it is in a second story apartment.
I read the article “Water Heater Expansion Tanks”. It stated the general purpose of water heater expansion tanks, which is to accommodate fluctuations in the volume of a building’s hot water supply system. It also said the most common issues a home inspector should look for, which are proper location, support, corrosion and leakage.
The next article was titled “Protect Your Property From Water Damage”. Aways check your roof, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for any leaks or moisture. If any water intrusion occurs act immediately by contacting a professional to remove or replaced any damaged areas.
Starting Course
Here is a State Select Electric water heater. Water heater is a 2012, 50 Gal. water heater with an expansion tank located on the cold side. There is a drain pan and TPR line which are separate running to the floor of the garage. The TPR did not run up hill at any point and was not threaded at the end. The tank is more than 18" above the garage floor but not protected. All electrical wire was intact and there is a cutoff within site of the heater. Safety is installed in the cutoff. Wires are entering the unit are clamped properly and not damaged. No visible leaks or corrosion observed on the water heater at time of inspection.
Here are pictures of an electric hot water heater. As you can see there are a few issues. This is a 50 gallon tank. The home was just recently re-piped throughout with CPVC. The TPR valve is missing the drain pipe completely. Also noted here, there is no drip pan at the bottom. There was no expansion tank for this water heater.
Night Lights and Appraisals
Night Lights
Night lights are a good safety feature for you home. They can map out the footprint of a room at night without putting strain on your eyes when going from dark to bright lights. A few things to keep in mind when installing night lights, always keep night lights out of children’s reach. Also when installing a nightlight make sure it is in a well ventilated area with nothing touching the light. They have been known to light toilet paper on fire and numerous models have been recalled due to dangerous operation and over heating.
Appraisals
Appraisals are used to determine the real estate tax on you home. They also are necessary during any real estate transaction. Homeowners should make sure they rely on a home inspector in regards to the condition of a home and a certified Real Estate Property Appraiser for the value of a home. There are three methods an appraiser may use when determining value of a home. Cost approach, Sales Comparison, and Income Approach are the three options from which an appraiser can choose to do his report.
Reading and writing assignment:
Bat Infestation
Bat infestation in homes can be a health hazard as well as a nuisance. Indication of a household bat infection can be an accumulation guano which resembles rodent droppings but shiny and crumbles easier than rodent droppings. Another good indication is noises such as squeaking, scratching and crawling in attics shortly before dusk and dawn. Bats can carry rabies and histoplasmosis from fungus spores found in guano. Bats can transmit diseases to humans and inspectors and homeowners should be wary of bat infestations.
Bidets
Common in Europe and Asia, Bidets are like toilets fixtures but instead clean body parts that need cleaning. Bidets spray water within the rim to rinse desired areas. Some Bidets come with built in air dryers to dry wet areas. Many people believe that Bidets are more hygienic and effective than toilet paper.
In this photo is an AO Smith 50 gallon electrical water heater. Photo shows cold water inlet, hot water outlet and TPR valve. Sacrificial rod is hidden behind the hot water piping but present. Water heater is in proper working condition and no leaks found.
this is a relatively new water heater so not much corrosion is present, well at least to the visible eye. there is a drip pan present, and the tpr valve is present as well as functional. the water heater is located in the garage as well which provides it with the ventilation needed.
ten easy ways to save energy: Most people assume that any energy saving devices will be pricey and not worth the purchase. But they don’t realize that it can be as simple as installing a ceiling fan or regularly replacing/ cleaning air filters. also do laundry smarter massive amounts of energy and water is wasted, set a day for washing and hang sheets and blankets to dry.
This post is for the water heater inspection. Upon my inspection of this particular water heater, I noted it’s capacity of 50 gallons and that it is an electric type. I got this info from a photo of the label. I found that it was recently replaced this year. The drain pan has a pvc fitting and is piped to the outside of the home. The TPR valve is connected to a standard pvc pipe made for this condition and leads into the drain pan. All electrical and plumbing connections are tight. There are no signs of any leaks.
This posting is for the article named attached garage fire containment. I learned from this article that the separation from the garage and the living space extend from the floor to the attic also to include the specific requirements for the doors. I noted that doors leading directly into a sleeping room is prohibited. All doors from home to garage require a solid wood, steel, or 20 min. rated door of min. of 1-3/8" thickness.
This posting is for the article named pull down ladders. I learned that often homeowners will install these with common defects as follows:
- Cut structural members.
- Improper or missing fasteners.
- Ladders cut too short or too long and thus creating additional loads to the hinges, thus greater risk of failure.
- Loose mounting bolts and cracked steps.
- Missing insulation or installed in garage and compromising the fire rating.
Great instructor great. Class
at the moment i am unable to post pictures on my computer but i did do a inspection on the water heater in my home. it is past the warranty at 9 years old but i did not notice any leaks or rust. i did not have an expansion tank either and has been working that way since install. i will upload a picture of it as soon as i resolve my computer issue.:shock:
http://www.nachi.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=111582&stc=1&d=1449022649
This picture shows a potential water heater problem. Apart from the messiness of the wiring and junk on top of this water heater, the temperature and pressure relief valve is not piped to a drain. In fact, the valve is turned towards the back corner of the room so that damage would be maximized should there be a release.
