Gas and Plumbing

Plumbing Drains – May, 2025

A trombone comes to mind... Or maybe miniature golf. Drainpipes under a sink should be simple: a small U-shaped bend called a “trap” holds a plug of water to prevent sewer gas from rising out of the drain. This plug of water should never be more than 4” deep and the remaining drainpipes should be as short and direct as possible. The drain [...]

2025-04-30T22:35:29-07:00May 1st, 2025|Gas and Plumbing, Snaps from the Field|

Plumbing – Mar, 2025

What is a toilet fill valve? A toilet fill valve performs the thankless plumbing task of refilling a toilet's tank after each flush. They come in a variety of configurations, based on the size, shape, and design of the toilet. A malfunctioning one can make the toilet run continuously or fail to refill the tank with the right amount of water. When they're installed [...]

2025-02-27T12:32:27-08:00March 1st, 2025|Gas and Plumbing, Snaps from the Field|

Piping – Feb, 2025

PVC pipe is a no-no. This water heater has a 1/2" PVC extension tube on its temperature-pressure relief valve. PVC stands for Polyvinyl chloride, but a more suitable name might be “Pipe Very Cracky”. The piping is brittle and not rated for use inside a home generally, and especially not as an extension tube on a water heater temperature-pressure relief valve. In addition to [...]

2025-01-27T11:56:08-08:00February 1st, 2025|Gas and Plumbing, Snaps from the Field|

Plumbing – Dec. 2024

Duct tape and bailing wire are a short-term fix. Anyone who grew up on a farm knows that much can be done with duct tape and bailing wire, at least to get a job done in the short-term. But repairs made in the short-term are often forgotten and become long-term, permanent, repairs. Here we see duct tape used to repair a gaping hole in [...]

2024-12-19T09:17:52-08:00December 1st, 2024|Gas and Plumbing, Snaps from the Field|

Plumbing Installation – Sept. 2024

Rule #64 of home inspections: If anyone *can* do their own plumbing work, anyone *will* do their own plumbing work. As we’ve mentioned before, every plumbing fixture is supposed to have one trap to hold a small plug of water and prevent sewer gas from rising up out of the drain. This homeowner must have been one of those people who believe that “more [...]

2024-12-19T09:21:37-08:00September 1st, 2024|Gas and Plumbing, Snaps from the Field|

Plumbing Installation – April 2024

Is this a plumbing drain or miniature golf course? The home inspector’s nemesis: a homeowner who’s willing to undertake any repair, regardless of ability. Every plumbing fixture with a drain requires a trap to hold a small plug of water and prevent sewer gas from entering the home. Even though this installation has two traps, neither will do any good because they’re both installed [...]

2024-12-19T09:28:09-08:00April 1st, 2024|Gas and Plumbing, Snaps from the Field|

Dangerous Gas Line – February 2024

Here’s a serious mistake that could be very dangerous. This is a picture of a gas furnace with an air conditioning evaporator coil above it. The gas pipe is made from black steel pipe and begins at the left. After running through a red-handled valve that is, thankfully, turned off, the gas pipe runs into the condensate drain opening for the air conditioner coil. [...]

2024-12-19T09:30:26-08:00February 23rd, 2024|Gas and Plumbing, Snaps from the Field|

Electrical and Plumbing – September 2023

Fashionable sinks haven’t sported S-traps for over 100 years. Like wearing white shoes after labor day, S-traps simply aren’t done.  Of course, the lack of a high loop at the dishwasher drain is also a sad error. These mistakes will make little difference, however, to the poor soul who reaches a wet hand under the sink to turn on the disposer, only to [...]

2024-02-23T11:34:57-08:00September 1st, 2023|Electrical, Gas and Plumbing, Snaps from the Field|
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