Air pressure test for plumbing!!!

[Scott A. Hand]

If the water is turned on then end of discussion...But on a Bank Repo that has been winterized and no water in the lines...there comes a need for some sort of pressure test to assure the plumbing is OK....I personally defer that to a plumber, but another inspector here in town is in need of doing this himself.

So any clue on what equipment needed and cost???

There is no turning on the water for an inspection around here if it is a foreclosure or such!

[Chuck Evans]

Originally Posted by shand

If the water is turned on then end of discussion...But on a Bank Repo that has been winterized and no water in the lines...there comes a need for some sort of pressure test to assure the plumbing is OK....I personally defer that to a plumber, but another inspector here in town is in need of doing this himself.

So any clue on what equipment needed and cost???

There is no turning on the water for an inspection around here if it is a foreclosure or such!

You had better be a licensed plumber, if you intend to pressurize water or waste lines.

[Scott A. Hand]

Originally Posted by cevans

You had better be a licensed plumber, if you intend to pressurize water or waste lines.

I agree...but this inspector already agreed to it apparently. If it were me and I agreed to do it I would maybe bring a plumber with me to do the test.

He wants to have the equipment for this purpose. Maybe he will work it into his contract...I don't know.

[Greg Keene, CPI]

Scott - you need an air compressor with a tire pump attachment for the air hose, a garden hose (or 2) and a pressure gauge with a fitting on it (NG or LP guages work great) -
I had a foreclosed house last winter (when times were really slow) that had been winterized (badly) - realtor (who sends a lot of clients) knew I had construction exp. and asked me to dewinterize for an inspection -
House would not hold pressure - so they had me turn on the water and stand around until the leak showed up - They and the bank agreed that I had NO liability - found the leak, then had to rewinterize - plumber fixed the leak, had me go out again and dewinterize, all is good, but then I had to rewinterize it - got a contract and called me to dewinterize again and inspect - I refused the inspection and referred another inspector - I was there the whole time - all was good - made $750 - the other inspector made $300 - and again, NO liability - made them put it in writing - it is not really hard but have someone show you the right steps - like not try to pressurize using an outside spigot that has an anti-siphon device on it -

[dgagneur]

...or just make a fitting that you can connect directly form the compressor hose to a hose bib attachment. works great, i use this setup all the time to winterize homes. using a garden hose was my first attempt a few years ago, but found they tended to leak the pressure out.

go to one of the big box stores and ask the OLD dude in the tool isle for assistance, he will be able to hook you up with exactly what i'm talking about and what you need.

[James H. Bushart]

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

This is something you shouldn't be doing.

[Scott A. Hand]

Originally Posted by jbushart

This is something you shouldn't be doing.

This is something that I DO NOT do! I have an inspector in town here that wants to do this per a request by a client. So I was trying to get some idea on how this is done and what he could expect to pay for such equipment.

I NEVER do this...I NEVER will!!!

[J. Christopher Weise]

When I was building I had many many minor leaks that would not show a readable drop in air pressure for 12 to 24 hours. Proceed with caution.

[ldapkus]

I had a foreclosure inspection last winter that had the plumbing ripped out of the basement. I did the inspection and agreed to return after plumbing was replaced, it was air tested and was OK until.......the city turned on the water when I was there to reinspect. I found a leak behind a baseboard trim board where a nail had missed a nail plate and punctured a copper supply line during construction. The home had gone through 2 air tests and passed. Debris in line may have obstructed the puncture until water was introduced into the system.

[John M. Murray]

Originally Posted by shand

Yee haw!!!:d

LOL. Been there done that!

I do not provide gauged water pressure readings as much in the same way that I do not provide detailed, numerical air flow readings from each HVAC vent. I am a generalist when it comes to these things.
I simply put down in the report that the water pressure was reasonable, good or below average when running 2 fixtures simultaneously.




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