Air pressure test for plumbing!!!

[relliott]

Around here it is done in conjunction with winterizing.

[Rex A. Kulla]

I've thought about offering this service for bankowned properties that the bank won't turn the water on. There are so many of them now. I'd only check the supply side, not the waste. Any thoughts on this, Liability issues?

Rex

[Nick Gromicko]

Kevin, a trick I used to do is to take the pic of the meter from an angle which reveals something in the background that if need be (never needed to), my attorney could ask in court if the plaintiff recognizes the background as part of their home. Time/date stamps help too.

[Nick Gromicko]

Next week I'll have us a deal on special meters for home inspectors for this.

[Russell Spriggs]

My credo is to stay within the SOP, it's the first line of defense.

[Mark Jones]

I test the PSI. and also recommend the buyer taste the water to make sure it's palettable to them.

[jcoleman]

I agree this is beyond inspection. I can see if the home is winterized maybe air testing the water piping, but even that should be done by a plumber, in my opinion. And even then it would leave a lot of areas you could not check (toilet flow, water pressure, water temp on hot, etc). It could save on water damage if the winterization wasn't done properly.

[Nick Gromicko]

http://www.nachi.org/well-meter.htm

[tdietrich1]

Only seen it done with new construction plumbing code inspections.

tom

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by tdietrich1

Only seen it done with new construction plumbing code inspections.

tom

I have done it in the past in commercial applications to detect leaks. If you know what you are doing and you only perform a LOW PRESSURE test it will be ok.

You want to be really careful putting compressed air into any piping as the stored energy can become problematic.

[Dean A. Conrad]

How reliable is the air pressure testing?

I have an upcoming inspection where the water provider won't turn on the water. How do these air pressure tests detect, if possible, leaky fawcetts, toilets, etc. Are they reliable? The home has hot water radiators. Can they be tested, as well?

Thanks,

Dean Conrad

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by dconrad

How reliable is the air pressure testing?

I have an upcoming inspection where the water provider won't turn on the water. How do these air pressure tests detect, if possible, leaky fawcetts, toilets, etc. Are they reliable? The home has hot water radiators. Can they be tested, as well?

Thanks,

Dean Conrad

Air tests are generaly used to test the piping only, the other items are tested once the water is back on.

I myself would not be interested in performing such tests as I do not needd the headaches. Find a plumber that is willing to do it.

[Henry Valenzano, CMI]

Originally Posted by shand

Does anyone out there do air pressure tests for plumbing at all or everytime you inspect. This is not something I have done or that I want to do each time because it seems to be something that a plumber would be more suited for.

Am I completely wrong in that statement?

I do water pressure tests for the psi. But is anything beyond that out of the scope of the inspection?

I just want to know if this is something I should or shouldn't be doing.

Thanks

I offer air pressure testing. I also offer winterizing and Dewinterizing. Works out great for bank repos. If you dont have any experience with pressure testing or winterizing and Dewinterizing i would say stay away from it. When you take on those you take on extra liability that is not covered by your standard E&O and Liability insurance. I have over 30 years plumbing and HVAC experience but i still carry a Ins policy to cover that end.

[Scott A. Hand]

What equipment would be needed and how much cost would be involved in purchasing the equipment to do this air pressure test for the plumbing?

Thanks

[Brian C. Hoagland]

Turning on the water is a must for an inspection. How come I get it on for every one I do and you guys can't, it has to be a difference in the service your clients are getting from their real estate professionals. No need for a pressure test on a system which is already pressurized, especially with water. If you are checking the pressure while you are at it you can check for invisible leakage if you go out to the street(this is on public supply-not wells) and turn off the meter supply valve and see if you get a drop in line pressure. If you do then go open it and shut off the water supply at the house if it drops again the problem is in the house supply not the line from the meter.If you don't want to bother with the pressure gauge you can just turn the meter off for a while then turn it on and see if the guage moves when nothing has been turned on in the house. Surprised nobody else brought this up.