Pressure gauge testing of water pipes - Should you?

[Joseph Tribuzio]

At a recent inspection,  I was cornered by the agent who said that all inspectors perform pressure testing of water lines.  He went on to say that he was told that by a HVAC guy who recently checked the boiler, but for some reason did not own a pressure testing gauge him self

     then i was treated like a fool when i told them i scarcely hear of inspectors doing an invasive test like that, and if anything, the HVAC GUY SHOULD HAVE.

What do you all think?

[Dominic Maricic]

They wanted you to pressure test THAT? The thing looks like it's on its last leg.

[Jay Markanich]

I usually look at the pressure gage, but that may have seemed odd to that agent - too obvious.  Looks like the pressure is about 8 lbs, which is slightly low (if I see the gage right).  That unit has a new pressure-relief valve, a leaky circulating motor, a newer gas valve, a newer junction box, a newer transformer and a newer selenoid mechanism, and a suspect exhaust flue.  Someone has been doing work on the unit over time.

And, on that unit, I would have recommended a complete service and cleaning prior to the next heating season.  I would also have said to the client that this will last another week or another 8 years, impossible to know.

For that agent, that may, again, have been stating the obvious.  If it was checked by an HVAC guy (who oddly doesn't own a gage to do what an inspector is "supposed" to do), how did he proclaim it?  Did he leave an itemized bill of what was done and/or installed?  I would have asked that of the agent.   And told him/her that intrusive testing is not part of a home inspection.

[Joseph Tribuzio]

Well, Jay those are great observations, and you just made me glad i got a high quality camera 

But i didnt look that deep at it because he boiler system was already called out by the hvac guy, ( CRACKED HEAT EXCHANGER)  plus The system was shut off, so i didn't look at the gauge on the boiler itself.

What they were really suggesting is that i should be pressure testing the radiant piping that was embedded in the floor, because they suspected a leak. Either way it was not something i do.

I didnt bring a wrench anyway...lol
 the home owner was a diy er but he appeared to lean more towards industrial set ups

There were two huge skylights that were industrial sized- just massive, with ugly springs and latch.

He also installed a giant whole house fan and actually did it smart by installing it on a switch.

This home though, was modestly sized.

[Jay Markanich]

I wish houses built today had whole-house fans!  I think those are great.  They cool off a house in seconds!

[Dominic Maricic]

I wish houses built today had whole-house fans!  I think those are great.  They cool off a house in seconds!

Yeah but they make a mess and blow all your papers everywhere

[Jay Markanich]

Ay yay, Cap'n...

[Davin Strand]

Was the realtor talking about the water lines of the home? I usually preasure test the the home water lines at an outdoor faucet, but wouldn't do it to the boiler lines.

[Joseph Tribuzio]

The Realtor was actually telling me i should pressure test the buried water pipes for the radiant floor heat system in the home, after he told me the HVAC tech they called in the night before found a cracked heat exchanger and shut the system off. The same HVAC tech supposedly told them that EVERY home inspector does that test. Evidently the HVAC guy showed them which fitting to remove.

[Davin Strand]

Not me! Thats the HVAC guys job in my opinion, especially if he was there.

[Steven Turetsky]

I would be more than happy  to pressure test the lines... for a fee. That test is well above the scope of an HI.

Now, if you want to be more realistic, and offer a client more relevant information on a system that is used alot more frequently than lines buried in a way that one can not detect water leaks, I would suggest checking the pressure of the expansion tank. It is easy to do, all you need is a tire gauge. There is a shraeder valve on the tank.

When a tpr valve leaks, it is very often the expansion tank. (or the water pressure regulator) If the system only leaks when it heats up, its the expansion tank, or the tpr valva. If it leaks all the time, it's the water pressure regulator. You also have to look at the tridicator, if the pressure builds up beyond about 14lbs. it's the expansion tank, and the tpr is doing what it was hired to do.  If it stays below 14 pounds, its the tpr valve. Check what the tpr is rated for.