Plumbing inspection. Hot water tank had leak on copper line. There was no drain pan. Also no pipe on tpr.
Great article on pressure assisted toilets. This type of toilet is a great choice when looking for green options. They use less water and do not clog as often. They need 30bs of water pressure to operate effectively. They make more noise than a convential toilet and can shred the toilet paper so it will sometimes have difficulty going down during the flush
I read the article on tankless water heaters. Unlike a storage tank water heater that stores water and keeps it at a constant temperature, a tankless water heater sits idle and uses no energy until the hot water is turned on. In a tankless water heater when the hot water tap is opened cool water passes over the heat exchanger and is warmed to a pre-set temperature. The hot water travels directly to the faucet or appliance. This is why tankless water heaters are more efficient than storage tank water heaters. Some more advantages of tankless water heaters are unlimited supply of hot water,I compact, no Stand by heat loss, service life of 20 years and some heaters can be installed outdoors. The main disadvantage is the cost associated with these water heaters.
This picture is of the underside of a bathroom vanity. There are no shut off valves installed at hot and cold supply lines.
This photo shows a vanity drain with an air admittance valve. This valve allows air into the drain pipe while preventing sewer gases from escaping out.
Picture was taken under the kitchen sink. Showing the copper waterlines with shutoffs. A small amount of standing water was noted.
This photo is of a natural gas manifold. The right side has the main shutoff valve, and just below the valve there is a dripleg. The yellow pipe used in this system is called Corrigated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST). It was approved for residential use in 1988, and because of its flexibility, it has reduced the time it takes to install residential gas piping dramatically.
![IMG_20161204_095255500[1].jpg](https://discourse-cdn-aws1.com/internachi/original/3X/7/4/742b34730c5b93d021339e3fb3ac5dcdb271f1c3.jpeg)
I chose research on sewer gases in the home. Hydrogen sulfide (sewer gas) is an explosive and toxic gas. Sewer gas can cause asphyxiation, fire and explosions. The rotten egg odor that sewer gas gives off is a good warning sign that a leak is occurring. Causes can be from dried out drain pipes and plumbing fixtures, cracks in drain lines and vent pipes, plumbing vents installed too close to air intakes.
This is a picture of an active leak on the hot water side of the washer. Recommended a reputable licensed plumbing contractor.
This picture is of a dishwasher drain that had been disconnected due to the dishwasher having a leak. The drain was capped using the aluminum body of a flashlight.
Advantages of pressure assist toilets.
Pressure assist toilets are relatively new and growing in popularity in some new construction and even being required by some HOA’s. First coming out in 1984 pressure assist toilets function differently than gravity toilets. In the pressure assist toilets when the plumbing fills the tank an air filled diaphragm shrinks. When the toilet is flushed the compressed air pushes the water into the bowl with more force. The air pressure can help dislodge waste stuck in the lines especially in older homes with older pipes. Pressure assist toilets use less water than other toilets making them more economical. In fact the EPA estimates a yearly 4000 gallons of water can be saved per year using pressure assist toilets.
Hello everyone,
For my fourth assignment, I would like to discuss shut off valves. As the name implies, a shut-off valve shuts off the flow of water to plumbing fixtures such as lavatories, kitchen sinks, and water closets; thereby, allowing these same items to be repaired without water needing to be completely shut-off at the main valve. Shut-off valves serve an integral part in a plumbing’s water supply system—and therefore, should be installed on each plumbing fixture, excluding showers and bathtubs. In the case showers and bathtubs, shut-off valves are a nonissue (mainly because they wouldn’t be accessible for maintenance).
The article “Foreclosure Inspections: Trust Your Gut” written by Nick Gromicko and Kate Tarasenko touches home to many “would-be” investors of distressed properties. The main theme of the article boils down to common knowledge. To say the least, the allure of taking the plunge to make such an investment shouldn’t be left with-out mentioning potential caveats. The buyer-beware in this particular case is this: Investing in foreclosed property without the help of a certified home inspector wouldn’t be a very wise decision. The reason: Homes that have been foreclosed on (i.e., taken back by the bank) have traditionally been neglected to the point of having some form of major maintenance issue, including (but not limited to) major moisture issues, vandalism, and even defacement by the homeowners themselves.
This is a photo of a gas fired boiler and indirect heat water heater I inspected during a recent mock inspection. The equipment had been winterized and could not be tested for operation.
![FullSizeRender[117].jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/7/2/7267fed8a6a0d59536baf82733c28feed5d5a11a.jpeg)
I performed a pluming inspection on my own home using the standards of practice. The water and sewer services are both public. The water supply lines are copper and the waste lines are mostly cast iron with some galvanized steel drain lines. Venting is through the roof and proper. Fuel and water supply shut off valves are both located in the basement. The hot water heater and furnace are both gas fired. Connections and venting are proper and both units have supply shut off valves that are proper.
Both toilets and all sinks, lavatories and shower/bathtubs were functioning properly and without visible leaks on the day of inspection. None of the sinks or lavatories have shut off valves at the fixture. Water pressure appears to be adequate when running multiple fixtures. The washing machine has proper hookups and drains into a laundry sink. The dryer venting is solid walled to the exterior and proper. There is a sump pump in the basement. The pump activated when I lifted the float.
The photo below is of an indirect water heater I encountered during a recent mock inspection. There is a TPRV installed but the required discharge pipe was not present as indicated by the arrow.
![FullSizeRender[120].jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/8/e/8e39b1b9f570b61f3c9e97e09a7eff78bf06f783.jpeg)
Research exercise
I read the article about backflow preventers. It’s obviously very important to protect the potable water supply from bacteria and contaminants entering the system through an unintended cross connection.
