Is it common practice for the installer to pressure test the water system even if there is no sign of a leak? I get that it is a good idea, I just wondered if your installers typically do this.
I’ve had some experience as a plumber. Part of this experience was working as the foreman laying 6" mains in two subdivisions, we had tees, laterals to the lots, fire hydrants, and isolation valves. The only tests were turning it on and visually looking for leaks on the job on which we had a city inspector watching us, and the other we just buried everything as went, no visual test much less an elevated pressure test… I’d conclude the majority of underground private work is tested only visually at working pressure.
1 Like
Thanks for your response. We had a water leak show up in a new home a year after delivery - extensive mold in the insulation and the sheetrock. Our installersays there was no sign of a leak below or in the home during install, or when we found the leak (wet carpet in the LR and mold showing up through the paint over 20’ of sheetrock). He found 2 nails in the roof and a row of raised shingles, sealed these areas, and the home dried out. The manufacturer maintains this was a plumbing leak, and refuses to accept any responsibility for it. They asked if he performed a pressure test during install. When we found the leak the pressure test showed no drop. Anyway, we just wondered if it was standard practice to do this during install. The roofer says the water damage was from the roof, not a plumbing leak. The home has had to have $20K+ worth of work done, partially covered by insurance and has been uninhabitable since Nov.
I thought you were talking about underground. In above ground commercial public works, the inspector would make us pump the system up to twice the working pressure an hold it for an hour, while he banged every single fitting an joint with a billy club.
In residential work we would pressurize the system and leave it on but no pressure tests. That’s how it was done in my local I am sure other localities would want to see a pressure test documented.
Our local inspector does not ask for or require a pressure test.
I wonder about other municipalities.
Out here in CA, we are not required to run a pressure test on water lines. We are required to run a pressure test on gas lines. It’s a 24 hour pressure test.
Sorry for your misfortune. If it makes you feel any better, we had a home in escrow a few years ago, my guys (park employees) installed the refrigerator and left. Well, they accidentally broke the 1/4 water line that feeds the ice maker. It cost me about $40k to fix all the water damage and nothing was covered by insurance. I really lost my A$$ on that one.
The moral of ther story is if you don’t have a F up every now and then then you are not doing enough business.
1 Like
Thanks for the story, SDGuy. In your case, you took responsibility for your employees’ errors. In this case, there is evidence of shoddy work by the manufacturer. I had hoped they would step up. As it is, the homeowner has had to bear the bulk of the cost to fix it. In the future, I do plan to do a roof inspection!
1 Like
It’s been over 1 year. The Manufacturer’s warranty is probably expired.