Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 12, March 26, 2025
(a) Home
inspectors shall observe and report on the following visibly and readily
accessible components, systems and conditions:
(1) interior water supply and distribution
systems including fixtures and faucets;
(2) drain, waste and vent systems;
(3) water heating equipment and vents and
pipes;
(4) fuel storage and fuel
distribution systems and components;
(5) drainage sumps, sump pumps, ejector pumps
and related piping;
(b) In inspecting
plumbing systems and components, home inspectors shall operate all readily
accessible:
(1) fixtures and
faucets;
(2) domestic hot water
systems;
(3) drain pumps and waste
ejectors pumps;
(4) the water
supply at random locations for functional flow;
(5) waste lines from random sinks, tubs and
showers for functional drainage.
(c) Home inspectors are not required to:
(1) operate any main, branch or fixture
valve, except faucets, or to determine water temperature;
(2) observe and report on any system that is
shut down or secured;
(3) observe
and report on any plumbing component that is not readily accessible;
(4) observe and report on any exterior
plumbing component or system or any underground drainage system;
(5) observe and report on fire sprinkler
systems;
(6) evaluate the
potability of any water supply;
(7)
observe and report on water conditioning equipment including softener and
filter systems;
(8) operate
freestanding or built in appliances;
(9) observe and report on private water
supply systems;
(10) test shower
pans, tub and shower surrounds or enclosures for leakage;
(11) observe and report on gas supply system
for materials, installation or leakage;
(12) evaluate the condition and operation of
water wells and related pressure tanks and pumps; the quality or quantity of
water from on-site water supplies or the condition and operation of on-site
sewage disposal systems such as cesspools, septic tanks, drain fields, related
underground piping, conduit, cisterns and equipment;
(13) observe, operate and report on fixtures
and faucets if the flow end of the faucet is connected to an
appliance;
(14) record the location
of any visible fuel tank on the inspected property that is not within or
directly adjacent to the structure;
(15) observe and report on any spas, saunas,
hot-tubs or jetted tubs;
(16)
observe and report on any solar water heating systems.
(d) Home inspections shall describe the water
supply, drain, waste and vent piping materials; the water heating equipment
including capacity, and the energy source and the location of the main water
and main fuel shut-off valves. In preparing a report, home inspectors shall
state whether the water supply and waste disposal systems are a public, private
or unknown.
