This article lists significant Plumbing DWV (Drain Waste Vent Piping) 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.

Home Inspection Education Curriculum - DWV Drain Waste Vent Piping

6.3   Drain, Waste and Vent Piping

6.3.1 Knowledge Base

1.    Describe the function of drain, waste and vent plumbing systems for homes.

2.    List the materials and components of the drain, waste and vent piping system, including piping, traps, floor drains, vent pipes, sewage ejector pumps, sump pumps, laundry tub pumps.

3.    Describe the features of  adequate installation and repair technique on drain, waste and vent plumbing systems.

4.    Define the following terms with respect to drain waste and vent plumbing in houses:

drain pipe, waste pipe, vent pipe, combination sewer, public drain, building sewer, building drain, private sewer, septic tank, soil pipe, trap weir, trap dip, trap seal, tail piece, trap arm, self-scouring trap, trap primer, soil stack, vent stack, branch vent, wet vent, siphoning, cross connection, air gap, running trap, self trapping, double trapping, trap primer, P trap, S trap, drum trap, bell trap, crown-vented trap, siphon, island venting, back vent, loop vent, ejector pump – (check valve, gate valve, union), pedestal sump pump, submersible sump pump, high-level alarm.

5.    Identify the codes or standards which apply to drain waste and vent plumbing in your area.

6.3.2 Inspection skills:

1.    Describe the inspection procedure for drain, waste and vent plumbing systems, including all the components discussed above.

2.    Identify the common defects listed on the next page.

3.    Describe the implications of each defect.

4.    Identify safety issues for the inspector and occupant of the home (electric shock, contaminated water causing illness).

5.    Communicate findings to client verbally and in writing, recommending corrective actions when needed.

WASTE PLUMBING TYPICAL DEFECTS

DRAIN PIPING MATERIALS              FLOOR DRAINS

• Clean-outs missing or inaccessible            • Backup

• Clogged                                 • Downspout connection upstream of trap

• Clothes washer drain connections        • Grate missing, rusted or obstructed

• Combustible piping                      • Missing

• Cross connections                             • No trap

• Defective ABS piping                    • No primer or poor primer arrangement

• Dishwasher drain connections                  • Poor location

• Exposed to mechanical damage

• Freezing                                VENTING SYSTEMS

• Galvanized steel pipe buried in soil

• Improper condensate drain

and water softener discharge drain              • Automatic air vents

connections

• Leak                                          • Ineffective

• Noisy                                   • Island venting problems

• Nonstandard materials and patches       • Missing

• Pipe size reduced downstream                  • Poor vent pipe arrangements

• Poor slope                                    • Too small or too long

• Poor support                            • Vent termination problems

• Poor manifolding of drain piping

• Rust, corrosion                                     LAUNDRY TUB PUMPS

• Split, damaged, crimped pipe

• Undersized                                    • Clogged

• Welded steel piping                     • Discharge pipe problems

• Electrical problems

TRAPS                               • Excess noise or vibration

• Inoperative

• Clogged                                 • Missing

• Double trapping                         • Short cycling or running continuously

• Freezing

• Leak                                          SUMP PUMPS

• Missing

• No clean out provision                        • Debris in the sump, clogged sump

• Nonstandard shape or material                 • Discharge pipe problems

• Split, rusted or damaged                      • Electrical problems

• Tailpiece (fixture outlet pipe) too long            • Excess noise or vibration

• Trap primer – possible cross                  • Inoperative, poorly secured or rust

connection

• Trap primer missing                     • Lid missing, rotted or not secure

• Trap arm too long or too short                • Missing

• Traps too small or too big                    • Short cycling or running continuously

• Wrong type                                    • Sump damaged

SEWAGE EJECTOR PUMPS

• Alarm sounding

• Discharge pipe problems

• Electrical problems

• Inoperative

• Missing, rusting or inoperative union,

check valve or gate

• No vent

• Odor

• Short cycling or running continuously

      top not secured sanitarily or missing

 

Also see HOME & BUILDING INSPECTORS & INSPECTION METHODS.

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.

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.

...

Continue reading at ARTICLE INDEX to PLUMBING SYSTEMS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ARTICLE INDEX to PLUMBING VALVES
• BUILDING DEFECTS LISTS - home
• PIPING in BUILDINGS, CLOGS, LEAKS, TYPES
• PLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR - home
• SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
• TOILET REPAIR GUIDE

Suggested citation for this web page

PLUMBING DWV DEFECTS LIST at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING & HOME INSPECTION

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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