REPAIR vs. REPLACE

[Christian F. Mettel]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rray
I always "recommend repair or replacement." That way I'm covered regardless of what the other professional recommends.

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

Ditto

Regards

Gerry

Double ditto

Chris

[kpierce]

Originally Posted by jpope

My reports are written in the "present tense."

Ditto.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by jpope

My reports are written in the "present tense."

I do the same.

My report reflects the "present condition" of the home.

[Frank Magdefrau]

Originally Posted by lkage

I do the same.

My report reflects the "present condition" of the home.

The inspector does write the report after the event has taken place. He is reporting past events. One writes a report after the fact. The water heater was leaking before the inspector observed it. The inspector observed it before he wrote about it. When writing the report, you do so in the past tense.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by fmagdefrau

The inspector does write the report after the event has taken place. He is reporting past events. One writes a report after the fact. The water heater was leaking before the inspector observed it. The inspector observed it before he wrote about it. When writing the report, you do so in the past tense.

You are welcome to do it that way but that is not how I report it.

I use present tense and it works well for me.

[Frank Magdefrau]

Originally Posted by lkage

You are welcome to do it that way but that is not how I report it.

I use present tense and it works well for me.

Good for you.

[Frank Magdefrau]

Originally Posted by jpope

When did it stop leaking?

I guess when someone fixes the leak or shuts off the water supply.

When do you think it does?

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by jpope

I have no problem recommending one of the following;

(1) Repair
(2) Replace
(3) Repair or Replace.

and I know how to type it

Given the age and condition of the WH, I would recommend to budget for replacement .

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by fmagdefrau

I guess when someone fixes the leak or shuts off the water supply.

When do you think it does?

Reporting that the water heater was leaking, implies that at some point, it stopped leaking. So when did it stop - while you were there, before you were there, or after you left?

I will state that is "was" leaking, only if there is evidence that it had been leaking and it is no longer leaking - which is technically correct - although I would state it differently.

"There is evidence that the water heater connections were leaking at some point, but they are not leaking currently."

You can report it however you wish, but to insinuate that reporting in the past-tense is the only proper way, is simply wrong.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Water heater piping was leaking at the time of the inpsection.

More than one cat to skin or Wok or something????

[Bruce A. King]

The only time I use past tense:

The furnace was not working but the repairman came during the inspection and worked on it. It is now operating.


The master bath toilet would not turn off and was leaking onto the floor so I turned it off.

Frank is correct about the inspection being past tense but I see no reason to word it that way since repairs would not have likely occured yet.

[Kevin A. Richardson]

Originally Posted by mgratton

Kevin,

But does the WH needs to be replaced asked the client???

Cheers,

If I feel that the water heater needs to be replaced, I will say so. It depends on the age and condition of the tank. I think Ben's point was that we should be consistent in the terms we use in writing reports, and more importantly, know the difference between "repair" and "replace."

If the water heater in this example is two years old and there is minimal rust damage to the top of the tank, I'm not going to tell my client it needs to be replaced. Fix the leak and move on.

However, if the tank is 15+ years old, it would be prudent and more cost effective to just replace the tank.

In that case, I would write something like this:

Adverse Condition: The water heater in the utility room is leaking at the supply shut-off valve. The leak is causing rust damage and corrosion to the top of the tank. Due to the age and condition of the water heater, a replacement is advised. Recommend Corrective Action by a Qualified Plumber.

Kevin

[Kevin A. Richardson]

Originally Posted by fmagdefrau

FYI- When writting (reports) you should always speak in "past tense"

The water heater was leaking...

You only use- The water heater is leaking... when you are on-site telling who ever is there you need to inform in person.

I write my reports in the "present" tense. Using "past" tense just doesn't sound right to me.

Plus, here is the definition of present tense:

The present tense is the tense (that is, the form of the verb) that may be used to express:

• action at the present
• a state of being;
• an occurrence in the (very) near future; or
• an action that occurred in the past and continues up to the present.

Kevin

[William Warner]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Water heater piping was leaking at the time of the inpsection.

More than one cat to skin or Wok or something????

I have used this on occasion.

But I agree... using past tense insinuates that somehow the issue reported may have been corrected or is no longer an issue.
The majority of my report concerns are written in present tense.

Oh... and to the original post, I use "repair or replace" together and quite often add the words "as necessary"

[Brian E. Kelly]

I have used both, but the best IMO is to note that what was observed, was observed, at the time of the inspection.

Was it leaking before you got there, maybe, was it still leaking the next day, maybe. Should it be repaired or replaced, maybe.

Was it a "Heavy" leak????