(a) Plumbing systems.
(1) The inspector shall: (A) report: (i) location of water meter; (ii) location of homeowners main water supply shutoff valve; and (iii) static water pressure; (iv) visible material used for water supply lines and drain lines; (B) report as Deficient: (i) the presence of active leaks; (ii) water pressure exceeding 80 PSI; (iii) the lack of a pressure reducing valve when the water pressure exceeds 80 PSI; (iv) the lack of a visible expansion tank when a pressure reducing valve, check valve, or backflow preventer is in place at the water supply line/system; (v) the absence of: (I) fixture shutoff valves; (II) dielectric unions, when applicable; (III) back-flow devices, anti-siphon devices, or air gaps at the flow end of fixtures; and (vi) deficiencies in: (I) water supply pipes and waste pipes; (II) the installation and termination of the vent system; (III) the performance of fixtures and faucets not connected to an appliance; (IV) water supply, as determined by viewing functional flow in two fixtures operated simultaneously; (V) fixture drain performance; (VI) orientation of hot and cold faucets; (VII) installed mechanical drain stops; (VIII) commodes, fixtures, showers, tubs, and enclosures; and (IX) the condition of the gas distribution system.
(2) The inspector is not required to: (A) operate any main, branch, or shut-off valves; (B) operate or inspect sump pumps or waste ejector pumps; (C) verify the performance of: (i) the bathtub overflow; (ii) clothes washing machine drains or hose bibbs; or (iii) floor drains; (D) inspect: (i) any system that has been winterized, shut down or otherwise secured; (ii) circulating pumps, free-standing appliances, solar water heating systems, water-conditioning equipment, filter systems, water mains, private water supply systems, water wells, pressure tanks, sprinkler systems, swimming pools, or fire sprinkler systems; (iii) inaccessible gas supply system components for leaks; (iv) for sewer clean-outs; or (v) for the presence or performance of private sewage disposal systems; or (E) determine: (i) quality, potability, or volume of the water supply; or (ii) effectiveness of backflow or anti-siphon devices.
(b) Water heaters.
(1) General Requirements. (A) The inspector shall: (i) report: (I) the energy source; (II) the capacity of the units; (ii) report as Deficient: (I) inoperative units; (II) leaking or corroded fittings or tanks; (III) damaged or missing components; (IV) the absence of a cold water shutoff valve; (V) if applicable, the absence of a pan or a pan drain system that does not terminate over a waste receptor or to the exterior of the building above the ground surface; (VI) inappropriate locations; (VII) the lack of protection from physical damage; (VIII) burners, burner ignition devices or heating elements, switches, or thermostats that are not a minimum of 18 inches above the lowest garage floor elevation, unless the unit is listed for garage floor installation; (IX) the absence of an opening that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing permanent construction or building finish; (X) when applicable; a floored passageway and service platform that would allow access for equipment inspection, service, repair or replacement; (XI) the absence of or visible deficiencies in the temperature and pressure relief valve and discharge piping; and (XII) a temperature and pressure relief valve that failed to operate, when tested manually. (B) The inspector is not required to: (i) verify the effectiveness of the temperature and pressure relief valve, discharge piping, or pan drain pipes; (ii) operate the temperature and pressure relief valve if the operation of the valve may, in the inspector's reasonable judgment, cause damage to persons or property; or (iii) determine the efficiency or adequacy of the unit.
(2) Requirements for electric units. The inspector shall report as Deficient deficiencies in: (A) performance of heating elements; and (B) condition of conductors; and
(3) Requirements for gas units. The inspector shall report as Deficient: (A) gas leaks in water heater not associated with the gas distribution system; (B) flame impingement, uplifting flame, improper flame color, or excessive scale build-up; and (C) deficiencies in: (i) combustion and dilution air; and (ii) vent pipe, draft hood, draft, proximity to combustibles, and vent termination point and clearances.
(c) Hydro-massage therapy equipment.
(1) The inspector shall report as Deficient: (A) inoperative units; (B) the presence of active leaks; (C) deficiencies in components and performance; (D) missing and damaged components; (E) the absence of an opening that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing permanent construction or building finish; and (F) the absence or failure of operation of ground-fault circuit interrupter protection devices.
(2) The inspector is not required to determine the adequacy of self-draining features of circulation systems.
(d) Gas distribution systems.
(1) The inspector shall: (A) report: (i) location of gas meter; and (ii) visible material used for gas distribution system; (B) report as Deficient: (i) noticeable gas leaks; (ii) the absence of a gas shutoff valve within six feet of the appliance; (iii) the absence of a gas appliance connector or one that exceeds six feet in length; (iv) gas appliance connectors that are concealed within or extended through walls, floors, partitions, ceilings or appliance housings; (v) deficiencies in: (I) gas shutoff valves; (II) access to a gas shutoff valves that prohibits full operation; (III) gas appliance connector materials; and (IV) the condition and type of gas distribution lines and fittings; (vi) lack of visible bonding on gas distribution system, including corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST); and (vii) lack of visible sediment traps.
(2) Specific limitation for gas lines. The inspector is not required to: (A) inspect sacrificial anode bonding or for its existence; (B) pressurize or test gas system, drip legs or shutoff valves; (C) operate gas line shutoff valves; or (D) light or ignite pilot flames.
Source Note: The provisions of this §535.231 adopted to be effective January 1, 2014, 38 TexReg 3350; amended to be effective May 21, 2014, 39 TexReg 3863; amended to be effective September 7, 2016, 41 TexReg 6742; amended to be effective February 1, 2022, 46 TexReg 5770