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Prone To Less Sediment

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

This sediment trap may be prone to less sediment.  For sure it is prone!

Gas appliances should have a sediment trap.

There are various nicknames for the technique, but we'll go with that one.

The sediment trap is the vertical, downward protrusion under the gas line.  It's purpose is to capture sediment or moisture in the gas before it gets into the mechanism to be burned.

OK, this one is on the wrong side of the gas valve, but that was the point of another post!

Sometimes I run into things I have not seen before.

It isn't unusual - I learn new things every day! 

Especially from DIYers!

In this case, this is a new home.

Checking the unit in the attic I ran into something I have never seen before.

A sediment trap!  This was a completely new style of installation for me!

The problem is, this trap is prone!

Horizontal!

And likely installed by a "professional."

It's not a trap at all, but the end of the line, before the beginning of the big burn.

Does it work?  Probably not well, if at all.

This one is about 1 1/2" long.

The trap is supposed to be about 3" or so and downward. 

Downward because gravity works.  Things fall.

Does this horizontal trap actually trap anything?

I don't know, but suspect not!

There is no choice for me but to point it out on the home inspection report.

And include a photo for any "professional" that will be consulted to evaluate it.

My recommendation:  gas lines are not something to be inventive and free thinking with!  I would go with tradition and proper technique when installing a gas line.  This installation is a bit odd to say the least.  And perhaps dangerous.

 

 

 

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(16)

Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Jay... ya know I have heard that all of life can be sort of a sediment trap... if not installed correctly.

Mar 12, 2012 09:34 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Karen Anne - not a bad philosophy!  And very important to know what is the sediment that needs trapping!

Hope you're doing well.  Call me sometime!

Mar 12, 2012 09:48 PM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Sometimes I feel trapped, like in a tiny attic or crawl space. I must say, I have never seen a horizontal sediment trap. Very inventive. 

Mar 12, 2012 09:53 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Thank you for sharing the post with all of us. I have never really understood the purpose for the trap, with gas. Thank you for the coaching.

Mar 12, 2012 10:06 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Nor have I Jim.  Hence the post!  Can it work right when horizontal?

Joe - we have sediment trap posts here periodically.  Some say that our gas today is cleaner and drier and there is no more need for the traps.

Mar 12, 2012 10:16 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Once again the obvious to even my untrained eye is a trap means it is vertical not horizontal.  Another flip?

Mar 12, 2012 10:54 PM
Kathryn Maguire
GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

You truly do see it all as a home inspector.  Would love to be a fly on the wall as someone explains the benefit of a horizontal sediment trap!

Mar 13, 2012 12:33 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

New construction Cindy!  And that old sticker threw me too!

Kathryn - I would like to be a fly with you!

Mar 13, 2012 01:01 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jay, I thought those were reserved for horizontal furnaces :)

Mar 13, 2012 03:36 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That hadn't occurred to me Charlie, but it certainly follows! I guess they grabbed the wrong one from the truck for this installation.

Mar 13, 2012 04:50 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Steven - I don't know if there is enough pressure to force it horizontal like that, if there is any sediment at all!  But the down tubing only needs to be 3" and there is about 7" there to accommodate that.

Mar 13, 2012 05:24 AM
Steven Cook
No Longer Processing Mortgages. - Tacoma, WA

Jay -- I am sure the sediment most likely gets caught, because it would rather travel in a straight line than go around that corner.  ;-)   Besides there clearly wasn't room to have such a long one going down from the joint.

Mar 13, 2012 05:29 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Jay - this is one of those things that I would have NO idea about and why a home inspection is always needed!

Mar 14, 2012 12:21 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Barbara-Jo - glad you learned something!  That's the point here!

Mar 14, 2012 09:55 AM
Reuben Saltzman
Structure Tech Home Inspections - Minneapolis, MN
Delivering the Unbiased Truth.

Looks like someone had a rookie on the crew that day...

Mar 15, 2012 11:28 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That is pretty funny Reubs.  Having never seen this "style" before, I thought I would introduce it to everyone...

Mar 15, 2012 07:28 PM