The Residential Plumbing overview required the additional reading of two articles.
I selected the following,
http://www.nachi.org/plumbing-terms.htm
and
As a requirement of the Residential Plumbing course, i have performed an inspection of an outdoor electrical water heater, capacity 50 liters, inlet cold water and outlet hot water is galvanized 1/2" tubing, with check valve, also it has a zinc anode inside, to protect water against galvanic corrosion, a thermostat and Cromalox resistance (as per tag)
Electrical switch -located at 10" from tank- needs to turn on to heat water at least 1 hour, and turn off when finish using it.
It should be noted that electrical cables are not protected and electrical tapes are dry, they should be changed, also, it doesn’t have seismic support.
Additionally, it holds a polyacrylic sheet roof on top for protection.
Thank you.
![20150911_111611[1].jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/0/f/0f8436ac1511902c4bfaed680bbac8a67ff00891.jpeg)
9/11/15
I inspected the main water supply shut-off valve located on southeast side of property. Main fuel supply shut-off valve was also inspected with no visible issues. I inspected the water heating equipment, including the energy source, venting connections, temperature/pressure-relief valves, Watts 210 valves and seismic bracing. All appear to be in good condition. I inspected the interior water supply, including all fixtures and faucets, by running the water. No inefficiencies were observed. I inspected all toilets for proper operation by flushing. I inspected all sinks, tubs and showers for functional drainage with no observed malfunctions. There were no drainage sump pumps to observe or inspect.
Based upon observed evidence, the water supply is public. The static water pressure reading was measured at 40 lbs.
Greg Weswt
This is a water heater label on an AO Smith water heater.
Things to look for on a water heater label are:
- Serial number (It varies from model to model, but the date of the unit is usually within the first 4 digits)
- Maximum work pressure (consider this and check for properly sized fittings)
- Model Number
- Capacity
- BTU
Septic system inspections should occur once a year, as well as when a house is put up for sale. This helps to avoid any possible liability issues that might result from a malfunctioning system. First of all, they need to be found! Sometimes this can be done with drawings, oral history, probing, spotting a rise, or spotting a leach field. Find the date of last pump, check the sludge level. The septic tank and drain field should be far from wells and streams. Check that the tank is of adequate size. Check for liquid waste that has made it’s way to the ground surface, this would signify that the tank has become overfilled and has over flown. Septic system inspection is outside the normal scope of home inspections and requires special training.
Polyvinyl chloride or PVC piping is a widely used plumbing material that has been criticized for it’s potential health hazards. The compound was originally discovered, like many great things, as a laboratory “accident”. And it has succeeded to become the third most relied upon plastic in the world today, as it is inexpensive, durable, strong, regulated for storm trooper usage, chemically and biologically resistant, as well as easy to work with and replace. It is used for electrical insulation, plumbing piping, window frames, etc. Health wise, pvc produces extremely dangerous combustion by products if it is to burn, namely dioxin and hydrogen chloride. PVC has also been blamed for emitting chemical softeners, lead additives, and toxic glues. According to the EPA, vinyl chloride can even enter drinking water released from contact with PVC pipes.
I inspected with no visible issues the main water supply shut-off valve located in the unfinished basement.
I inspected with no visible issues the main fuel supply shut-off valve.
I inspected the water heating equipment, including the energy source, venting connections, temperature/pressure-relief valves, Watts 210 valves and seismic bracing. It is propane fueled and vented with a Type B vent hood appropriately through the wall and outside. This unit does not have a Watts 210 valve but does have a TPR valve. The TPR valve does not have a discharge pipe installed and is partially obscured by the insulation on the tank. Seismic bracing is not present. Sediment trap was installed properly on the supply line, as well as a shutoff to the appliance.
I inspected with no visible issues the interior water supply, including all fixtures and faucets, by running the water.
I inspected with no visible issues all toilets for proper operation by flushing.
I inspected with no visible issues the drain, waste, and vent system.
The drainage sump pumps with accessible floats were not inspected, because they were not present.
Based upon observed evidence, the water supply is private.
The location of the main water supply shut off valve is in the unfinished basement at the North West corner.
The location of the main fuel supply shut off valve is on the exterior East facing wall.
The location of the observed fuel storage system is an above ground 500 gallon propane tank approximately 20’ off of the East wall.
The static water pressure reading, taken off of the pressure tank was measured at 40psi.
The capacity of the water heating equipment is 40 US Gallons
I saw no evidence of deficiencies in the water supply by viewing the functional flow in two fixtures operated simultaneously.
I saw no evidence of deficiencies in the installation of hot and cold water faucets.
I saw no evidence of mechanical drain stops that were missing or did not operate if installed in sinks, lavatories, and tubs.
I saw no evidence of toilets that were damaged, had loose connections to the floor, were leaking, or had tank components that did not operate.
I saw no evidence of material defect.
I saw no evidence of cosmetic defect.
Here is a picture of a set up for an automatic clothes clothes washer including then hot and old water hook ups and waste stack.
As part of the course I inspected he plumbing in a residential home.
The home is supplied by public water. The main water shut off is located in the garage. All of the home appliances are powered by electric. The hot water is supplied by a 50 gallon water heater. The water heater was installed in 2010 according to the owner. There are currently no signs of leaks or rust, and the TPR valve and discharge pipe are installed as required. There is a water softener installed on the proximal supply line.
All faucets in the domicile were functioning at the time of the inspection, and had adequate pressure. All sinks, tubs, basins and shower pans drained properly, but the stopper in the master bathroom lavatory did not mechanically function due to not being connected to the lever underneath the sink. Both toilets flushed well, but the toilet in the master bathroom is loose on it’s base. Repair is recommended. The drain and vent system were inspected and were adequate.
have been inspecting manufactured homes and found the water heaters on most are not strapped properly.found dish washers that drain thru air gap.
found suspicious repairs in bath room walls.
Inspected the plumbing system in my home.
The water meter was located in the front yard. The main water shutoff valve for the home was located adjacent to the water service entry point in the basement.
The visible water supply lines throughout the home were copper. The water was supplied by a public water supply. The visible waste lines consisted ABS and PVC pipe. The home was connected to a public water supply. All plumbing fixtures not permanently attached to a household appliance were operated and inspected for visible leaks. Water flow throughout the home was adequate. There were no material defects observed in the visible portions of the plumbing system.
Water Heater:
There was a 50 gallon capacity, electric water heater located in the basement of the home. The water heater was manufactured by A.O. Smith
Model number: ECT 52 200
Serial number: 0951AO13309
Information on the water heater indicated that it was manufactured approximately 6 years ago.
A temperature and pressure relief valve (T & P) was present. Because of the lime build-up typical of T & P valves, we do not test them. An overflow leg was present and did terminate close to the floor. Your safety depends on the presence of a T & P valve and an overflow leg terminating close to the floor. The water heater was functional.
Note- codes change for proper water heater installation. As a reminder, we do not inspect for current code compliance but for safety. When a water heater is replaced by a licensed technician it is necessary for him to bring the setup up to the current code. This may include altering the configuration of the water heater.
Sump Pump:
There was a sump pump located in the basement. The sump was tested and found to be functional. There was not a working battery backup system in the sump pit. Recommend having a qualified plumber install a battery backup sum pump to help protect against water intrusion during a power outage.
Read the article on PB piping. Manufactured from 1978 to 1995. PB piping was used in interior and exterior plumbing. Many occurrences of failure occurred with this type of plumbing resulting in a law suit in which the manufacturer paid out over one billion dollars to home owners.
Read the article on grinder pumps. The primary purpose of the grinder pump is to grind the waste into a slurry force pump it up to the main sewer drain which would be located at a higher level than the pump. When inspecting the pump the inspector should run water long enough to activate the pump ensuring that it is functional.
I inspected a hot water tank system for my report assignment. It is a natural gas fuel fired tank. 6 years old and 50 gallons. It has a natural gas shut off valve within 6 feet of the tank and in the same room. There is a verticle drip leg down stream of the valve just before the tank regulator. It is properly capped to allow cleaning out the drip leg of debris. The tank is a high efficiency condensating type with an electric induction draft motor for venting. There is an outdoor fresh air intake pipe for the burning and a second pipe for the venting of exhaust gases. The tank is sitting in a non draining pan so drips can be caught. The floor drain is within 1.5 feet of the hot water tank, however, the floor is not sloped to the drain so if there is a major leak of the tank that exceeds the pan volume there is no chance the water will go into the floor drain.
Just posting a pic of a simple double sink with disposal set up. The plumbing class has been great, learning a lot of diffrent things i normally do not see day to day. thanks.
This picture is from a recent inspection I performed. It shows a leaking lavatory trap that was “repaired” by the tenant. Looking at the visible portions of the pipe, it appeared to be the old thin walled metal that becomes brittle with age as it corrodes.
This is the s-trap under my kitchen sink that I recently replaced because the one that was on there had a hole in it. I know, s-traps are no longer allowed.
The first article that I read was “Sewer Gases in the Home”. This article discusses the various hazards that can be associated with sewer gases entering the home and the most common causes of entry. Some of the hazards associated with sewer gases in the home include, hydrogen sulfide poisoning, asphyxiation, fire or explosion, and odor.
The next article that I read was “Septic System Inspections”. This article covers when septic systems should be inspected, how to locate various parts of the septic system, what InterNACHI inspectors look for during a septic inspection, what baffles are, maintenance tips, precautions, and dangers. Some tips it provides is that vehicles should not be driven over a drain field due to the potential for damaging under ground piping. Only grass should be planted above a tank or drain field as the roots from trees and shrubs can cause damage to the system.
I read the article on ways to save money on home efficiency. Many of the points made were common knowledge to me, and that leads me to a suggestion. It would be great if I were able to share that article on my Facebook page through the Facebook link like most web articles are able to be shared.
Inspection Assignment
Water heater in full functioning condition. no signs of damage, rust, leaks, or corrosion. TPR Valve is present with the correct labeling, however the discharge pipe is directed into the drip pan. This should be directed toward the floor drain and is in need correction by a licensed plumber.
Plumbing Inspect Report.pdf (209 KB)