 |
InspectAPedia® |
InspectAPedia
|
Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair | Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia |
|
InspectAPedia ® Home WATER HEATERS AGE of WATER HEATERS AIRBOUND HEAT SYSTEM REPAIRS ALTERNATIVE HOT WATER SOURCES ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS ANTIFREEZE for BOILERS ANTI SCALD VALVES APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTER VALVE, HEATING SYS BACKFLOW PREVENTER, HEATER WATER FEEDER BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS BLEVE EXPLOSIONS BOILERS, HEATING CARBON MONOXIDE - CO CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPING CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DRAIN a WATER HEATER TANK ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GAS BURNER Flame & Noise Defects GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS HEATING SYSTEMS HOT WATER SUPPLY HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS HOT WATER DELIVERY SPEED UP HOT WATER EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT HOT WATER PRESSURE EXPANSION RATE HOT WATER PRESSURE LOSS HOT WATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS INDIRECT FIRED WATER HEATERS MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES NO HEAT - NO HOT WATER: HEATER DIAGNOSIS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS NOISE, PLUMBING CHECKLIST NOISE, WATER HEATER ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS IN WATER PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types PLASTIC HEATER VENT PLUMBING FIXTURES, KITCHEN, BATH PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES PUMPS, CIRCULATOR PUMPS, HEAT PUMPS PUMPS, OIL BURNER PUMPS, PONY PUMPS PUMPS, SEPTIC PUMPS PUMPS, SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS PUMPS, SUMP PUMPS PUMPS, WATER PUMPS PUMPS, WATER REPAIR RANGE BOILERS RELIEF VALVE LEAKS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks SAFETY, HEATING INSPECTION SCALE REMOVAL, WATER HEATERS SEWER GAS ODORS SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS SOOT on OIL FIRED HEATING EQUIPMENT SPILL SWITCHES - Flue Gas Detection TANKLESS COILS TANKLESS WATER HEATERS THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING THERMOSTATS, WATER HEATER TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS VALVES, PLUMBING WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE WATER HEATERS WATER HEATER ALTERNATIVES WATER HEATER ANODES, DIP TUBES WATER HEATER AIR INLET WATER HEATER DEBRIS FLUSH WATER HEATER EFFICIENCY WATER HEATER FLUSH PROCEDURE WATER HEATER NOISES WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS WATER HEATER PROPERTIES WATER HEATER SCALE - De-Liming Procedure WATER HEATER SCALE PREVENTION WATER HEATER SAFETY WATER HEATERS for HOME HEATING USE? WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE WATER PIPES, Clogs Leaks Types WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PRESSURE REDUCER / REGULATOR WATER PRESSURE PUMP REPAIR GUIDE WATER PUMPS, TANKS, TESTS, WELLS, REPAIRS WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE WATER PURIFIERS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WINTERIZE A BUILDING    More Information |
This article lists significant residential & light commercial water heater defects, definitions, and home inspection education topics. This article series, beginning at BUILDING DEFECTS LISTS, provides lists of common building defects and basic defect knowledge that also outline recommended curriculum content for home inspector education. The building defects and inspection points listed in these articles also guide homeowners and home buyers to building areas that merit careful attention and often point areas of safety concern or important maintenance and repair tasks. Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman. Home Inspection Education Curriculum - Water Heaters
Watch out: these inspection lists do not list all possible defects for the systems discussed, and not all home or building inspectors will examine all of the items listed here. CONTACT us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website. Also see MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES and see OIL TANKS INSPECT LEAK TEST ABANDON REGS and OIL & GAS PIPING and GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS. The sketch shown at left was provided provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates These curriculae and building defect lists are based on smilar curriculum documents first prepared by Joe Scaduto, an ASHI member who prepared course material for Northeastern University's Building Inspection Certificate program in 1988, subsequently by DF, InspectApedia's editor, for New York University ca 1988 and later, with others, recommended to ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. ASHI did not adopt this material though currently that association as well as others offer extensive HOME INSPECTOR EDUCATION material. The curriculum and lists of defects are informed by additional analysis of the process of home inspection that was developed beginning Calgary, AB for Canadian and U.S. home inspector education and certification examinations in 1997. Other early contributors to home inspection education in the U.S. and Canada include Dr. Jess Aronstein, Alan Carson, Mike Casey, Mark Cramer, John Cox, Dwight Barnett, Douglas Hansen, Rick Heyl, Larry Hoytt, Bill Merrill, Kevin O'Malley, Dennis Robitalille, Keith Peddie, Pat Porzio, Roger Robinson. 6.2 Water Heaters: home inspection recommendations, typical defects list6.2.1 Knowledge Base for Inspecting Water Heaters1. Describe the function of residential water heaters. 2. Describe the three most common fuels used in water heaters. 3. List the materials and components of gas, oil, electric water heaters. 4. Describe the features of adequate installation and repair technique for water heaters. 5. Define the following terms as they relate to water heaters: pressure relief valve, temperature/pressure relief valve, sacrificial anode, recirculating system, single pass, dip tube, recovery rate, glass lined tanks, vacuum relief valve, burner, heat exchanger, baffle (turbulator), draft hood, vent connector, external (floating) tank, refractory, thermostat, isolating valve, drain valve, superheated water, discharge tube, temperature cut-outs, energy cut-out (ECO), high efficiency water heater, direct vent system, combination system, tempering (mixing) valve, tankless coil, instantaneous water heater, fan-assisted (power vented) water heater. 6. Outline the typical life expectancy of domestic water heaters. 7. Identify the codes or standards which apply to water heaters in your area (gas, oil and electric). 6.2.2 Inspection skills for Inspecting Water Heaters1. Describe the inspection procedures for domestic water heaters. 2. Identify the common defects listed on the next page. 3. Describe the implications of each defect. 4. Identify the safety issues for the inspector and the occupant of the house (gas explosion, oil fire, steam explosion, electric shock). 5. Communicate findings to client verbally and in writing, recommending corrective actions where needed. WATER HEATER TYPICAL DEFECTSELECTRIC WATER HEATERS, Typical DefectsGAS Fired Water Heaters, Typical DefectsAlso see GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS BURNERS AND VENTING, Typical DefectsGAS METERS, Typical Defects• Gas shut off and locked • Ice • Leak • Mechanical damage • Poor access • Poor location • Rust • Undersized GAS BURNERS on Water Heaters, Typical Defects• Delayed ignition • Dirt or soot • Gas odor or leak • Inoperative • Poor flame color or pattern • Rust • Scorching • Short cycling Gas Water Heater COMBUSTION AIR, Typical Defects• Inadequate combustion air • Inadequate combustion air when utility room door shut • CO alarms sounding, sooting, odors
Water Heater GAS PIPING , Typical Defects• Copper tubing not properly labeled • Improper connections • Inadequate support • Inappropriate materials • Leak • Missing shut off valves • No drip leg • Piping in chimney or duct system • Plastic pipe exposed above-grade • Rust Gas Water Heater Heat Shields, Typical Defects• Loose • Rusted • Missing • Scorched Gas Water Heater VENTING SYSTEMS, Typical Defects• Improper material • Inadequate combustible clearance • Poor support • Poor connections • Poor manifolding • Poor slope • Rust, dirty, obstructed • Spillage or backdrafting at the draft hood • Too long • Vent connector extends too far into chimney • Vent connector too small, too big for water heater OIL BURNER AND VENTING, Typical DefectsAlso see OIL FIRED WATER HEATERS OIL STORAGE TANKS OIL BURNERS AND REFRACTORIES, Typical Defects• Empty • Dirt or soot • Leak • Excess noise or vibration • Not suitable for outdoor use • Incomplete combustion • Poor location • Inoperative • Rust • Leak • Underground • Poor flame color pattern • Refractory problems • Rust FILL AND VENT PIPES, Typical Defects
• Scorching • Abandoned • Too close to combustibles • • OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS
• Damaged or corroded • Leak PRIMARY CONTROLLER, Typical Defects • Missing caps • Inoperative • Missing • Tripped
OIL SUPPLY LINES, Typical Defects • Corrosion, mechanical damage, BAROMETRIC DAMPERS/DRAFT REGULATORS, Typical Defects crimped • Leak • Undersized • Improper location • Unprotected • Inadequate draft air • Inoperative OIL FILTERS • Misadjusted • Missing (often not needed) • Dirty • Rust • Leak • Spillage • Missing COMBUSTION AIR, Typical Defects • Inadequate VENTING SYSTEMS, Typical Defects • Improper material • Inadequate combustible clearance • Loose connections • Poor support • Poor slope • Poor insertion into chimney • Poor manifolding • Rust, dirty, obstructed • Too small or too big • Too long CONVENTIONAL TANK TYPE WATER HEATERS, Typical Defects• Baffle collapsed or missing (gas or oil) • Damaged tank • Drain valve problems • Gas burner cover or roll out shield missing, damaged, rust • Hot and cold piping reversed • Inadequate combustible clearance • Inadequate capacity or recovery rate • Inoperative • Insulation obstructing combustion air or draft hood (gas or oil) • Leak • Low water pressure and flow • No isolating valve • Noisy water heater • Poor location – – Bedrooms – Bathrooms – Closets • Propane water heater in low area • Rust • Tank wobbly or not stable • Temperature/pressure relief valve problems • Not raised if in garage CIRCULATING PUMPS - hot water circulating systems for instant hot water, Typical Defects• Improper arrangement • Inoperative • Leak • Overheating or excess noise or vibration COMBINATION HEATING SYSTEMS, Typical DefectsAlso see WATER HEATERS for HOME HEATING USE? • No hot water or inadequate hot water • Tempering valve missing, set improperly • Water too hot TANKLESS COILS, Typical DefectsAlso see TANKLESS COILS • Leak • Poor hot water pressure or flow (clogged?) • Rust • Tempering valve — – Defective – Missing – Set wrong Demand Water Heaters = Instant Water Heaters = Tankless Water Heaters, Typical DefectsReaders should see WATER HEATERS for our complete list of articles on this topic. Also see HOME & BUILDING INSPECTORS & INSPECTION METHODS. Use the Search Box at the top or bottom of these pages to find in-depth information about building, energy savings, and indoor environment inspection, diagnosis and repair at this website. Watch out: these inspection lists do not list all possible defects for the systems discussed, and not all home or building inspectors will examine all of the items listed here. CONTACT us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website. Also see MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES and see OIL TANKS INSPECT LEAK TEST ABANDON REGS and OIL & GAS PIPING and GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS. ... Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)... Ask a Question or Search InspectApediaQuestions & answers or comments about home inspection education curriculum for inspecting water heaters. Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below. Technical Reviewers & ReferencesRelated Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
| |||||||
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd.,
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes