I read an article on TPR valves and discharge piping. Homeowners should check their TPR valve about once a month to ensure the valve is working. If the TPR valve does not open or fails to close fully after testing, a professional service tech should be called.
A hot water tank is a thermal storage tank, hot water thermal storage unit, heat storage tank and hot water cylinder) and it is a used for storing hot water for space heating or domestic use. For many of houses.
I have learned alot throughout this section of home expection in plumming that ive known before which was minimum. I am going to be able to use this knowledge gained throught the rest of my life to help more people.
this is a p-trap and it is really the only trap that is allowed to be put on fixtures. there are other traps out there that you will run into and they are allowed to stay on there but if there is going to be work done on them then you need to change them.
In this picture I observed a gas supply line.This gas line is black steel and is used to supply LP. The supply line was intended for a range that isn’t in use. The gas line should not be in a hidden area and should be capped when not in use.
The home has an electric domestic water heater located in the basement. The heater appears to be newer and in good working condition. Hot water was produced at the kitchen and bathroom faucets at the time of my inspection. I did observe the presence of a temperature and pressure relief valve but did notice that there was no discharge pipe. I recommend that a licensed plumbing/heating contractor install a discharge pipe per requirements. I also recommend that the heater be lifted off of the basement floor using 4" blocks to prevent potential water damage.
i learned that plumbing is very interesting to work with. there are many different components that go into plumbing fixtures and the pipping. if you use the wrong kind of piping things could go terribly wrong and they could potently plow up.
Steel adjustable columns or sometimes called lally columns are used mostly to support the main beam in a basement or crawl space. They are mostly found in the northeast of the U.S. Steel post are primarily used for added support under beams but sometimes can have some integrity issues. If not coated in a rust inhibitor, rust can effect the structural integrity of the post and this can cause a hazard. The post can also be undersized and show signs of lateral displacement by bending in the middle. It is not up to the inspector to determine whether the size or type of the post meets the code in the region where the inspection is taking place (make sure to leave that up to the engineers). Look for defects or problems such as rust, bending, wall cracks and too much of the threads being exposed. Its important to note and defects and make proper recommendations for the future integrity of the home.
This is a picture of a 50 gallon hot water heater located in the garage. This unit has 2 heating elements cold water enters the tank causing the thermostat to and the heating element at the bottom of the tank.
An expansion tank is a metal tank connected to a buildings water heating appliance designed to accommodate fluctuations in the volume of a buildings hot water supply system. These fluctuations occur because water expands in volume as it gets hot and loses volume as it cools.
No drain line was installed for the temperature-pressure relief valve. This is a potential safety hazard due to the risk of scalding if someone is standing next to the water heater when the valve opens. A qualified plumber should install a drain line as per standard building practices. For example, extending to 6 inches from the floor, or routed so as to drain outside.
Improper chimney flashing is a common problem found during home inspections. In most cases the counter flashing is not set into the brick mortar joints, where contractors and/or home owners are utilizing a significant amount of roof sealant to provide protection from water penetration.
To the casual observer, pipes, like the one in the picture, would appear to be immovable. For this reason, DIY homeowners will resort to all kinds of quick fixes to support these components. The fact is that under zero-load conditions, pipes may stay put and any support may be better than no support at all. However, once water and waste begin to surge through them, kinetic energy will cause any pipe, regardless of its weight and dimensions, to shake, rattle, and roll. After an unknown number of cycles, an improperly-supported pipe will begin to leak and possibly break, scattering its unsavory contents into the living space.
The bladder-type pressure tank is a component of a private water supply system that acts both as a reservoir and as a pressure regulating device. It is a metal tank with a rubber diaphragm separating its upper and lower hemispheres such that the top part contains the compressible air, and the lower part contains the water. As water enters the tank downstream of the pump, the pressure generated by the pump causes the diaphragm to rise, increasing the air pressure above it which in turn is transmitted to the system water supply.
When the pump lifts water from the well during periods of zero demand,the tank will act as a storage vessel and will signal the pump to switch off when the system pressure has reached a preset level (40 PSI in this case). When the household begins to use water, the pressure tank will maintain system pressure and will signal the pump do its job when system pressure drops below the preset level. Thus, both water pressure and supply remain constant.-
Water heater appears to be leaking and in need of repair by a licensed plumber. The Temperature relief drain line is connected to the pan drain line. The unit does not have a drip leg and should be installed next time a licensed plumber is present at the property.
Labeling of water heater is the photo I have chosen. Seeing the inside of the water heater is big because its the parts you typically don’t see or think about. Studying these part can greatly help identify and issue that may be found while at an inspection.
Bathroom 2 in hallway supply lines and drain outlet have signs of water stains. Possibly due to a past leak from faucet. Gate valves show no signs of staining. I recommend having licensed plumber replace supply lines and drain outlet.
Vapor barrier is the common name given to what should actually be referred to as vapor-diffusion retarder. Typically not needed in most southern climates will be more effective in reducing moisture in winter climates where temperatures stay colder longer. Vapor-diffusion retarder is not a guarantee to lock out moisture, rather another added layer in the fight against moisture.
While inspecting a water heater it was found to be missing the tpr valve discharge pipe, it was recommended that an approved discharge pipe be installed that terminates no more than 6 inches above the floor by a licensed plumber.
The article on Inspecting the dryer exhaust was very informative as this is a potential fire hazard if not installed and maintained properly. So I take extra time when inspecting the dryers venting and note it in my report and advise the homeowner to periodically inspect and clean the vents.