Thread: Hot/Cold reversed - do you call it?

I always have due to the chance of a child or elderly person (or anyone) scalding themselves by just turning it more to what they think is cold, thus getting burned more and faster.

I'm just wondering what you all do?

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I mention it, not as a repair item but more as an informational item. I don't want to establish myself as inspecting ALL fixtures for proper hot/cold connections. I don't as a rule check toilets for cold water connections but I'll report it if I happen to notice one.

Bruce, in all due respect why would you not confirm all hot & cold water supply faucets for proper alignment?

Yes, always call it. Safety first above all else. REversed also indicates non pro work which I also indicate possibility of.

Check every Faucet and Fixture.

If the Water Heater is non-Functional due to utilities off or isolated, a notation in the report is made that the fixtures could not be checked and must be reviewed at a Later Date (prior to closing).

"I mention it, not as a repair item but more as an informational item"
It is a repair item

"P2722.2 Hot water. Fixture fittings and faucets that are supplied

with both hot and cold water shall be installed and
adjusted so that the left-hand side of thewater temperature control
represents the flow of hot water when facing the outlet.

Exception:

Shower and tub/shower mixing valves conforming
to ASSE 1016 or CSA B125, where the water temperature
control corresponds to the markings on the device."

From the Florida Building Code, aka the IRC:
607.4 Hot water supply to fixtures. The hot water supply
to any fixture requiring hot water shall be installed on the
left side of the fixture.

I have had two new homes that I inspected that the plumber got everything back wards. The builder came in with a magic marker and wrote H and C on the escutcheons.

I ended up having my client call the AHJ and after quite a bit of arguing and the threat of lawsuits, both homes had to be re-plumbed.

When I check for this, I feel the pipe while the hot water is running. If the left side is cold, then the piping is wrong, which can be very expensive to fix.
If the pipe is correct and it is a single throw handle, I correct it at the faucet.

Learned the hard way:

When you see reversed hot/cold somewhere, check for hot water at toilets, hose bibs and refrigerator ice-makers, reversed hot/cold at the washer, and cold water at the dishwasher. HW at a humidifier may be OK, check the manufacturer's installation instructions.

Early on I got into the habit of reporting that the hot/cold orientation was correct at all faucets. It's one of those things that reminds me that I'm there to tell them as much as I can about the house, not just what is wrong.

Yes, I report it as needing correction.

I have also found that is becoming more and more common for some reason on homes that have been plumbed with PEX. With the common PEX colors (Red, Blue, White) it is easy for the lines to get mixed, especially when they intermix the colors with the intent of Blue being for Cold and Red for Hot. Then the plumber runs out of one color and subs the other.

When I see it I call it out. It's in the 2006 Bible of Residential Shoulds and Should Nots for health and safety of the public...bla,bla,bla

My silly brother says he changed his in his home because he's left handed, so he installed it backwards. HA!

GS

Hot on the left / cold on the right.

If not, I write it up as a repair.

rick

Its wrong - so why would you not report it.

Seems about 15 years or so ago, a baby girl got scalded badly when her 7 year old sister tried to give her a bath in a fixture with this type condition. Everybody paid many $$$$$ to stay out of court. Everybody being the plumber, builder, inspector, seller, agent that referred inspector. If memory serves me correctly they even included the city codes dept and they paid to stay out of public eye.

Dan's Simple Rule #1 - Is it right or wrong?? Could it be a big deal or not??

Do I like the client well enough to wanta pay for this if I don't mention it and they later come back on me??

Then I write it up!! That often ends up with me being called nitpicky by agents, sellers, builders, etc. My simple response is "Did I lie"??

To me this is just doing what you are being paid to do #1;

Its like saying "Your grandma has gray hair"; You're not being nitpicky, you're just describing whats there OR not there #2;

AND #3 you're learning self protection and practicing the manly art of CYA.

When someone says to me "How have you made it through 28 years of inspecting and never been sued"?? Rule #1 is where it starts.

It's wrong, you know it's wrong, and yet you don't report it? Why wouldn't it need repair,,,,it's wrong?

Hot and Cold should not be refersed. I personally check e v e r y faucet for this defect. To do less would be irresponsible in my opinion,,,but thats just me.

I am in agreement that this should be charted as a needed repair. Unless, of course, one does not mind driving on the road with those that think they should be driving on the opposite side of the road ... oops - drifting there - sorry.

Where there are separate hot and cold wall-mounted knob-type control valves (for example, controlling flow to a tub spout), is there a requirement that the left-hand (hot) valve turn OFF when turned clockwise?

- Thanks

"Where there are separate hot and cold wall-mounted knob-type control valves (for example, controlling flow to a tub spout), is there a requirement that the left-hand (hot) valve turn OFF when turned clockwise?"

No
From the 2006 IRC
P2722.2 Hot water.

Fixture fittings and faucets that are supplied
with both hot and cold water shall be installed and
adjusted so that the left-hand side of the water temperature control
represents the flow of hot water when facing the outlet.

Exception:

Shower and tub/shower mixing valves conforming
to ASSE 1016 or CSA B125, where the water temperature

control corresponds to the markings on the device.

[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Exception:

Shower and tub/shower mixing valves conforming
to ASSE 1016 or CSA B125, where the water temperature
control corresponds to the markings on the device."

[/QUOTE]

Ok, here is the problem I have with this....Which end of the temperature control device are they talking about, the short end or the long end. We have all seen those types of fixture handles.

Chuck

If it is wrong then it is wrong. Write it up.