Do you always test floor drains?

[John Allingham]

Originally Posted by jgilleland

Every once in a while I run into an indirect and it puts me off my procedure and I have to use 2 gallons.

What's that.

[John Allingham]

Originally Posted by cbottger

I run water from all faucets and drains for at least two hours of my inspection time enough to flood any main drain line, if the main was blocked at the city connection a few minutes of running water would never detect this.

Charlie
What is your procedure. Do you leave taps running unsupervised in bathrooms. What if the drain line was indeed blocked and the sink overflowed causing significant consequential damage - who would pay?
Would the blame not fall on your procedure since it seems to be significantly different from what others do?

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by jallingham

Charlie
What is your procedure. Do you leave taps running unsupervised in bathrooms. What if the drain line was indeed blocked and the sink overflowed causing significant consequential damage - who would pay?
Would the blame not fall on your procedure since it seems to be significantly different from what others do?

John I take control of the water flow use my eyes and ears while I am inspecting the bathroom the lavatory will be flowing first and I will know before I leave the bathroom if it is draining slow or has proper drainage. The lavatory is the highest drain line connection in the bathroom and is not going to overflow because the main is stopped up the tub and commode are the lowest point in the drainage system and water will back into the tub before the lavatory and I do leave it unsupervised but I am in the area checking bedrooms and am in and out of the bathroom checking on the tub water has a different sound when hitting the bottom of the tub than it does when hitting water as if when the tub was backing up and I alway have my ears tuned for that sound while in the bedrooms. I shut my water flow down while I am in the attic I don't inspect in the attic with water running in the home. Crawl space different story I always do that last if present and I will know if the main is flowing before I enter the crawl and I leave the water running while in the crawl same with a basement all water is flowing while I check the basement drainage lines.

Up stairs bathrooms slow leaks on tub drains and or shower pans are not going to be detected with a small amount of water I run a lot of water upstairs and if over the course of the inspection water appears on the downstairs ceiling so be it failed during test Owners responsibility not mine My SOP requires me to check the drainage it does not state How I do it

[John Allingham]

Originally Posted by cbottger

John I take control of the water flow use my eyes and ears while I am inspecting the bathroom the lavatory will be flowing first and I will know before I leave the bathroom if it is draining slow or has proper drainage. The lavatory is the highest drain line connection in the bathroom and is not going to overflow because the main is stopped up the tub and commode are the lowest point in the drainage system and water will back into the tub before the lavatory and I do leave it unsupervised but I am in the area checking bedrooms and am in and out of the bathroom checking on the tub water has a different sound when hitting the bottom of the tub than it does when hitting water as if when the tub was backing up and I alway have my ears tuned for that sound while in the bedrooms. I shut my water flow down while I am in the attic I don't inspect in the attic with water running in the home. Crawl space different story I always do that last if present and I will know if the main is flowing before I enter the crawl and I leave the water running while in the crawl same with a basement all water is flowing while I check the basement drainage lines.

Up stairs bathrooms slow leaks on tub drains and or shower pans are not going to be detected with a small amount of water I run a lot of water upstairs and if over the course of the inspection water appears on the downstairs ceiling so be it failed during test Owners responsibility not mine My SOP requires me to check the drainage it does not state How I do it

Thanks Charlie. Seems like a good procedure.

[Billy F. Boerner]

I do the same as Charlie. Don't run the water for 2 yrs however I do run for a great period of time and I always check basements and crawls while water is running from all faucets full blast once I determine no stops exist. All drains must be flowing fine before I deam safe to leave them unattended.

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Our SOP are vague on this issue. Most SOP's require you check for things like functional flow, functional drainage, etc - then define those words. Ours don't.

Many other SOP's say the HI does not inspect underground drains or water linres once they leave the structure. Ours has something similar to this but you have to read 2-3 places to find them.

No - In 30 years I've never ran water down a floor drain. I run water while I'm in the house - thats it. NO - I don't run water through each fixture for 30 - 45 minutes UNLESS I'm doing a septic system push and dye test.

If the drains work like this they're good to go - If someone moves in 3 weeks to 1.5 months later and the drains back up - would I feel this was my responsibility - NOPE - no more than I would feel it was my car mechanics fault if my tire blew out 4 weeks after an oil change.

**** happens. Live with it or get in another line of work.

[Gary L. Farnsworth]

I am with Dan. The harder you check drains, the more liability. I had a home last year where all the drains where clear. Owner moved in about two months after my inspection and professional interior painting, and found a flooded basement and sewer back-up. A plumber came out and fished a painter's rag out of the sewer. A lot of contractors clean chemicals at the home in toilets and sinks. It is not their home. Watch for painters. **** happens.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by gfarnsworth

I am with Dan. The harder you check drains, the more liability. I had a home last year where all the drains where clear. Owner moved in about two months after my inspection and professional interior painting, and found a flooded basement and sewer back-up. A plumber came out and fished a painter's rag out of the sewer. A lot of contractors clean chemicals at the home in toilets and sinks. It is not their home. Watch for painters. **** happens.

WEll I would have to disagree with Dan and You on this one the harder you check the drains the less Liability which came first the chicken or the egg the home inspector or the painter????

[Billy F. Boerner]

Originally Posted by cbottger

WEll I would have to disagree with Dan and You on this one the harder you check the drains the less Liability which came first the chicken or the egg the home inspector or the painter????

I'm with Charlie as well. SOP is grey however it does state we will check drains.

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Sorry Guys -

Been doing this for over 30 years. In Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Florida, California, and Colorado. Checking a drain for functional drainage is not putting a hose down it and running water for 30 minutes to an hour.

The test is whether water drains SLOWLY or BACKS UP during the 2-3 hour inspection and operation of fixtures, appliances, showers, toilets, etc.

[Jack L. Gilleland]

An indirect is where a floor drain is placed in one area and then the pipe is taken over to the main floor drain riser on a tee. It can't be done if the wastes are to shallow.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Originally Posted by cbottger

I have spanked realtors for turning off my faucets they know better after the first time GRRRRRR

Charley, do you find this helps get repeat referrals from the realtors?

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

Charley, do you find this helps get repeat referrals from the realtors?

Only if I wear leather and use a bull whip

[Dominic J. Maricic]

haha