This article lists significant water supply 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 - Plumbing, Supply

6.0   PLUMBING System Inspection Recommendations & Typical Defects List

6.1   Supply Plumbing Inspection & Typical Defects

6.1.1 Knowledge Base for Inspecting Building Supply Piping Systems

1.    Describe the function of residential supply plumbing.

2.    Describe public and private supply systems.

3.    List the materials and components of public and private systems, including wells, pumps, pressure tanks, service piping, shut off valves, piping, isolating valves, hangers.

4.    Describe the features of  adequate installation and repair technique on supply plumbing systems.

5.    Define the following terms: (note- private well systems not required to be inspected, but nice to know, maybe delete well pump terms below?)

Cross connection, static pressure, anti-siphon device, potable water, pressure, flow, volume, pressure loss due to friction, pressure loss due to elevation, pressure regulator, distribution piping, shallow well, deep well, foot valve, reciprocating (piston) pump, centrifugal pump, jet pump, submersible pump, foot valve, venturi, total head, suction head, discharge head,  pressure tank, globe valve, gate valve, ball valve, type M, L, K and DWV copper piping, flare fitting, dielectric union, water hammer, backflow, back siphonage, air gap.

6.    Outline the life expectancy of each common supply plumbing material.

7.    Identify the codes or standards which apply to public and private plumbing systems in your area.

6.1.2 Inspection skills for Inspecting Building Supply Piping Systems

1.    Describe the inspection procedure for supply plumbing systems.

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 occupant of the home (fall hazard re: wells, contaminated water causing illness)

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

SUPPLY PLUMBING TYPICAL DEFECTS

WATER SUPPLY PUMPS, Typical Defects

• Damaged   

• Excessive noise or vibration

• Frozen

• Inoperative

• Leak   

• Lost prime  

• Overheating

• Running continuously   

 

PRESSURE REGULATORS, Typical Defects

• Leaking

• Missing

• No bypass or relief valve

• Poor location

• Rust

• Set wrong

          

SUPPLY PIPING IN HOUSES, Typical Defects        

• Excessive pressure

• Combustible piping ???

• Cross connections

• Non-standard material

• Poor pressure or flow

• Poor support

• Rust / Corrosion

• Split, damaged, crimped

PRESSURE TANKS, Typical Defects   

• Rust

• Short cycling                    

• Wiring problems        

• Excessive noise

• Leak

• Condensation                     

• Leaking                          

• Rust                             

• Tank wobbling or unstable        

• Waterlogged                      

• Suspect connections on polybutylene

 

WATER SERVICE PIPES, Typical Defects

• Freezing
• Lead
• Low pressure
• Mechanical damage
• Leaking or corroded and at risk of leaking
• Corrosion, rusted
• Interior corrosion or blockage: low flow rate (low "water pressure")
• Material: lead water supply pipes - LEAD PIPES in BUILDINGS

SHUT OFF VALVES, Typical Defects

• Leaking
• Mechanical damage or exposed to mechanical damage
• Damaged or missing handle
• Inooperable, inaccessible, buried
• Missing, none, or cannot be located
• Partly closed
• Stem broken from handle - (gate valves)

Readers should see PLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR 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.

...

Continue reading at ARTICLE INDEX to PLUMBING SYSTEMS where we include articles on specific types of piping (copper, lead, plastic etc), or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• DEFECTS LIST - PLUMBING SUPPLY PIPE
• PIPING in BUILDINGS, CLOGS, LEAKS, TYPES
• SPA, HOT TUB, SWIMMING POOL INSPECTION & CODES
• WATER PURIFIERS
• WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
• WATER PUMP DIAGNOSTIC TABLE
• WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT
• WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS
• WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL
• WATER TESTS for CONTAMINANTS
• WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES
• WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS
• WINTERIZE A BUILDING

Suggested citation for this web page

DEFECTS LIST - PLUMBING SUPPLY PIPE 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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