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Sometimes Late Is Better Than On Time

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

When things are done quickly to meet a deadline, or simply to get something done quickly, it lacks quality.  And often it can lack safety!  And its unprofessionalism can stick out like a sore, well, thumb would be too small...

This water heater replaced the one that was still sitting in another part of this basement!

The other heater was much taller than this one is.  And you can tell from the wiring, maybe 8" or so.

That blue plastic thing is a connector clamp.  It should be secured into a hole on top of the unit into which the wiring is intended to go.  The clamp holds that wiring in place.

All those electrical connections should be inside a box provided in the water heater, which comes with its own metal cover, in addition to the cover on the heater.

I'm impressed he used wire nuts!  Often those aren't used at all!

Also, do you see the brass pipe sticking out, with the yellow tag hanging from it.  That is the Temperature Pressure Reduction valve (called the TPR).  It releases any steam from inside should the water get too hot for some reason.

If that discharges its steam onto someone, the temps can be as high as 275F!  And quite dangerous.

For that reason, a tube should be connected to the TPR valve which extends to within a 2" or so of the floor.  That way, should steam discharge, it does so harmlessly.

 

My recommendation:  it is easy to spot unprofessional work.  But if you are going to do something, it is quicker to hire a professional!

 

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments(48)

Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Silvia - and/or the safety of those who are yet to move in!

Valerie - nervous to say the least!  I didn't touch anything with my tongue to test it though.

Cindy - how about a smart homeowner blog?  Or a "This is how it should be done," blog?  I'll be right over.

Oct 01, 2010 05:10 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Jeff - I'm going with the Harry Homeowner, or, as I say, Uncle Bob installation.

Dave - good point!  Testing that insurance policy or lawyer's ability!  Good one!  And professional work like that would kick a "pro's" company out of this area.

Fernando - I am betting Handy Manny would do a better job than this!

Oct 01, 2010 05:14 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Rich - I don't think a permit is needed here, even with a gas water heater, but you are right, it is wrong.

Derek - this is a big money loser for that guy!

Eddie - plain scary is a good way to put it.  But nothing plain about the installation - it really stands out!

Oct 01, 2010 05:16 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Pam - that's a good phrase!  Mine is similar - don't have time to do it right the first time, but plenty of time to come back later to fix it.

Got a logo yet for Canadian Bacon?  Did you post an entry?  Or ten?

Claudette - and it's always fun when that happens!  How far can the basement fill up before it is noticed!

John - you have a point there!  Maybe the installer had that old favorite tune playing, "Wire Nuts Roasting On An Open Fire, TPR Steaming On My Toes..."

Oct 01, 2010 05:20 AM
Gina Nugent
Donohue RE - Palm Beach, FL
Real Estate Agent - Palm Beach, FL

Wow, frightening......

Oct 01, 2010 05:22 AM
Andrew Stutz
Rock Solid Real Estate Co. - San Diego, CA

This is a perfect example to showcase the importance of spending a little extra time to get the job done right!

Oct 01, 2010 05:22 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Bruce - I would go with that as a personal motto if I was a plumber/contractor!

Allen - dangerous is the operative word here!

Michael - an accident or a serious injury!

Oct 01, 2010 05:22 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Cheryl - I know HOW to do this and I wouldn't do it.  If something goes wrong I have no one to turn to to fix it!  When you have the receipt of a company, there is a number to call!

'Tis, Tish, 'tis.  Safety is number one in my book.

Not only what you see, Charlie, but the temperature was way, way high!  Go figure...

Oct 01, 2010 05:25 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

David - this house was a find after a find after a find!  I am still writing the report, days later.   ;)

Tni - I don't think a company was responsible for this, but the homeowner!

Gina - not the only thing in this house!  Just to the left was the leaking water main, with mold all over that little room.

Great username by the way!

Andrew - big dividends when that is done!  I like dividends...!

Oct 01, 2010 05:28 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Wow.  When it comes to safety, always hire a professional.  This is flat out dangerous.  Doesn't matter how much time or money was "saved."

Oct 01, 2010 05:32 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Debbie - and that is said by a contractor who does it right!  I am betting you guys don't cut corners and, because of that, don't get many call backs!

Oct 01, 2010 05:34 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Jay, you have good stuff in your posts!  And you are so right about having the work done by a professional - a licensed one at that! 

Oct 01, 2010 09:31 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Poorly protected wiring over a vessel that is holding many gallons of water with copper piping in close proximity, what could be the problem? ;)

Oct 01, 2010 10:01 AM
George Fanucci
CoreFact.com - Los Altos, CA
Internet - Technology - Business - Solutions

My own tragic flaw is, Getting it Done Right always comes ahead of Getting It Done On Time.. if that is the required tradeoff.  I'm reminded about the story "there's never enough time to do it right the first time, but then there's always time to do it over..." 

Oct 01, 2010 12:04 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Thank you Pat!  I am happy you think so!  I try to be instructive and at times silly, and sometimes at the same time!

Jim - I'll bet it looks the same from your Uncle Bob's perspective as it does from my Uncle Bob's.  Hey, wait!  It's the same Uncle Bob!

George - thanks!  One of my mottoes!  Those two things never make a good trade off.

Oct 01, 2010 01:01 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

This is why it's so important to have a home inspection done, so we can understand what's been done and what needs to be done.

Oct 01, 2010 02:36 PM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

True true true. I've taken clients thru a house that had the pressure valve blowing water straight out into the basement for who knows how long. It's not a pretty sight.

Oct 01, 2010 03:06 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Christine - some people would look at that and instinctively known that something is wrong, but maybe not the extent or degree.

Eric - that is a broken valve!  And they can get stuck when tested, which is why your home inspector will probably not test it!

Oct 01, 2010 09:58 PM
Glen Fisher
National Property Inspections of Southern New Jersey, LLC - Oaklyn, NJ

Hi Jay,

Regarding my previous comment, I forgot to add that the copper pipes to the water heater need improvement.  The installer should replace those with garden hose to make it look complete. 

 

Oct 02, 2010 02:38 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I'd go with that myself Glen.  Think symmetry!

Oct 02, 2010 01:17 PM