Thread: How many ways can a plumber screw up?

This morning I inspected a really nice new construction home, it really had just a few problems but they were all plumbing problems.

The first set of pictures is a tankless water heater with a screwed up TPR line. Besides the line being PVC I was able to count five elbows just in this picture. It would not have been so bad if the big yellow tag with the instructions on how to install a TPR was not hanging on the valve! The install had other problem as well.

Then we have a mechanical vent under the kitchen sink and wet bar instead of an AAV. The plumber was at the home and my client wanted me to point it out to him. The plumbers response was "that is what they gave me at the supply house", I just did not say a word and turned to my client and I told the that I needed to finish the inspection.

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What??? You expect a plumber to know how to read???

"How many ways can a plumber screw up?"

One more then 'when you think you have seen every conceivable way' ...

It could have been worse Scott. At least he didn't need to bust out his sawzill.

A little clarification about the tankless water heater TPR drain please.

This appears to be installed in an attic, (something we never see here in Alberta) where should the TPR drain terminate?
(I understand that there should be an air gap in the room with the heater and the drain should terminate where it is readily visible)

We never see more than a simple vertical TPR discharge tube here. Do you consider the elbows to be restrictive or is there some other reason that this arrangement is bad?

I've seen references to hi-temp PVC - and I know the Big Orange box store sells a non-metallic discharge tube, never really looked its composition, could it be CPVC?

Thanks for filling some gaps in my knowledge!

Originally Posted by Egbert Jager

Do you consider the elbows to be restrictive or is there some other reason that this arrangement is bad?

DUOH!! <smacking my own forehead...> Reread the yellow tag a little slower and noticed the reference to more than four elbows.

Originally Posted by Egbert Jager

DUOH!! <smacking my own forehead...> Reread the yellow tag a little slower and noticed the reference to more than four elbows.

Don't feel bad, the plumber, the local code offical and a myriad of other folks did not read the tag either!

I figured that the entire run had 8-9 elbows in it. It was normal schedule 40 PVC (printed on the pipe).

Originally Posted by Egbert Jager

I've seen references to hi-temp PVC - and I know the Big Orange box store sells a non-metallic discharge tube, never really looked its composition, could it be CPVC?

I think you will find it is a form of PEX. I know Watts makes some and would assume they are a listed component.

Scott, What about the CSS gas piping. I recall reading about lightning and explosive issues with this in attics???

Originally Posted by Robert Dalga

Scott, What about the CSS gas piping. I recall reading about lightning and explosive issues with this in attics???

It's only an issue if lighting strikes the house, enters the attic and strikes the
CSST.

From everything I have read; the issue is that CSST is a thin wall pipe in comparison to good old black pipe and a lighting strike could punch a hole in the CSST easier than the black pipe. The black pipe with the thicker sidewalls (mass) can dissipate a direct lighting strike better, but it could still have the same explosive results if the conditions are just right.

Scott:

Plumber? You're being too kind.

Never heard of restrictions of CSST in attics. We have allot of gas furnaces in attics and all have CSST and all is also bonded.

Hey, at least he didn't have to notch the trusses to make the TPR pipe slope properly. Though it looks like it doesn't slope at all.

Does he have a sawzall and how many blades does he have?