If you’ve recently had to get a plumbing permit for a home renovation or other serious plumbing work, you may be wondering how you can make sure you pass a plumbing inspection. What are some common issues with plumbing changes that can make your home fail an inspection?
Find out below or watch this funny video of plumber causes major flood in apartment
1. Problems with Plumbing Traps
House traps for plumbing are a type of pipe that creates a water barrier under a drain, trapping water to prevent nasty and potentially-dangerous sewer gases from escaping into your home. There are lots of different types of traps in plumbing, but some of them are not allowed due to Pennsylvania building codes.
This includes “S” traps, which are shaped like a horizontal S. Your plumber may use under sinks and in other areas either without realizing they violate the plumbing code, or because they don’t care that it’s a violation.
S traps are not allowed because, when draining a lot of water, they may cause a “siphoning” effect that eliminates the water barrier and allows dangerous sewer gases into your home.
You need to make sure that you or your plumber uses P traps or another type of plumbing trap that is allowed by the Pennsylvania Residential Code of 2009.
2. Test Leaks in Plumbing Systems
If you have hired a plumber who doesn’t know their stuff or you try to take on a plumbing job yourself, you may end up with a leaky plumbing system.
If your pipes are leaking in Pennsylvania when the plumbing inspector shows us, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll fail the inspection.
3. Improperly-Sized Pipes & Drains
Pennsylvania, like all other states, has strict requirements outlined in the building codes relating to the proper width and diameter of pipes, drains, and other plumbing elements. If you do plumbing work yourself or hire a plumber who is not familiar with local building requirements, improperly-sized pipes could lead to a plumbing inspection failure – and the entire project may need to be replaced or reworked.
4. Failure to Use Nail Plates & Guards Near Important Pipes
Building codes in most states require nail guards to be installed anywhere water pipes run through or near wall studs. These metal plates protect the pipe from damage if a nail or screw is driven through the stud during a remodel or some other project.
They are required because nails driven into unprotected studs that contain or are near pipes could pierce the pipe. This is particularly dangerous for plastic pipes made of PVC.
Here are a few other reasons you may fail on your plumbing:
Turn to A Pro for Plumbing Work & Make Sure You Pass Inspection!
At Deluxe Plumbing & Heating, we’re intimately familiar with plumbing and building codes in Bethlehem and Pennsylvania. If you need some plumbing work done, don’t try to do it yourself, or hire an unlicensed plumber.
Contact the pros – give us a call at 610-628-1724 or get in touch online, and we’ll provide you with the professional plumbing services you need!