Inspect Plumbing Fixtures, Shutoffs, Drains, and Visible Supply Lines

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one complete, non-invasive inspection of every accessible water-using fixture, appliance connection, visible supply line, and trap in one residence, including gentle testing of selected shutoff valves, producing one fixture-by-fixture plumbing maintenance list.

B. Inspection Route Schedule

Segment	Areas Covered	Primary Purpose
Service points	Main water shutoff, fixture shutoffs, cleanouts, sump systems, water heater, pressure equipment	Locate and record controls before fixture-level inspection
Kitchen and laundry fixtures	Sinks, faucets, disposal, dishwasher, refrigerator line, washing-machine connections	Identify leakage, operation, and drainage conditions
Bathroom fixtures	Sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, and visible supply connections	Identify leakage, base movement, and fixture operation
Traps and visible supply lines	Trap assemblies and accessible supply piping and connectors	Identify material, alignment, support, and corrosion conditions
Water heater and utility connections	External water-heater connections, drain pan, relief-discharge path, and visible venting	Identify external leakage and clearance conditions without internal service

C. Records and Reference Takeoff

• Records to review before beginning: known leaks, water-pressure concerns, slow drains, backups, fixture age, prior plumbing work, and water-damage history.
• Plumbing Fixture Inspection worksheet: one copy, used to record every fixture, shutoff, trap, and supply-line finding generated by this inspection.
• Photograph index: maintained alongside the worksheet, linking each finding identifier to its overview and close photograph.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Route coverage	Every accessible water-using fixture, appliance connection, trap, and visible supply line is inspected and recorded
Valve status recorded	Every encountered shutoff valve is recorded as tested-serviceable, tested-defective, or untested, with no valve assumed functional from appearance alone
Observation/interpretation separation	No finding states a vent, sewer, or water-heater-safety diagnosis not supported by a prior report or qualified professional
Photograph completeness	Every significant finding has one overview photograph and one close photograph
Immediate-hazard handling	Any active leakage, sewage, fuel-gas odor, or unsafe water-heater venting is reviewed with the responsible party before the inspector leaves the property
Restoration	Every valve exercised during the inspection is returned to its required operating position and rechecked for leakage

E. Preparation — Records, Access, and Leak-Response Setup

1. Review known plumbing history. Review known leaks, water-pressure concerns, slow drains, backups, fixture age, prior plumbing work, and water-damage history.
2. Locate the main water shutoff. Confirm access to the main shutoff without operating it unless the approved scope includes a safe test.
3. Identify all visible service points. Locate fixture shutoffs, cleanouts, sump systems, water heater, pressure equipment, and other visible service points.
4. Stage leak-response supplies. Prepare towels, a catch pan, flashlight, inspection mirror, moisture-screening tool where authorized, and leak-response supplies.

F. Fixture-by-Fixture Leakage and Operation Inspection

1. Inspect under and around every water-using fixture and appliance. Cover sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, laundry connections, water heater, refrigerator, dishwasher, and other water-using equipment.
2. Look for leakage and related evidence. Note active droplets, mineral deposits, corrosion, staining, swelling, soft cabinet material, damaged flooring, and prior patching.
3. Inspect faucet bodies and connections. Cover handles, spouts, sprayers, supply connectors, shutoffs, escutcheons, and mounting security.
4. Operate each faucet through normal flow when safe. Run hot, cold, and mixed flow and observe flow, temperature response, sputtering, vibration, leakage, drainage, and fixture stability.
5. Fill and drain approved sink or basin fixtures. Observe drain bodies, overflow paths, traps, joints, and cabinet bases during the fill-and-drain cycle.

G. Trap, Drain, and Fixture-Specific Inspection

1. Inspect traps without dismantling them. Check material, alignment, support, corrosion, leakage evidence, improper strain, and access.
2. Observe drain speed without assigning a system-wide diagnosis. Note drain speed and sounds without concluding a vent or sewer defect from one slow fixture.
3. Inspect toilets. Check base movement, staining, supply leakage, tank leakage, continuous running, fill operation, flush performance, and secure seat, without aggressively rocking the toilet or concealing base leakage with caulk.
4. Inspect tub and shower components. Cover controls, spouts, heads, drains, accessible panels, enclosure joints, and adjacent finishes.

H. Visible Supply Line and Shutoff Valve Testing

1. Inspect visible supply piping and connectors. Check for corrosion, unsupported runs, abrasion, kinks, bulges, leakage, incompatible repairs, and freeze exposure, and identify recalled or inappropriate connector materials only through documented product information.
2. Inspect each fixture shutoff visually before operation. Confirm accessibility and visible condition before any testing.
3. Exercise only valves selected for safe testing. Use gentle, controlled movement and observe for leakage immediately, stopping if a valve binds, leaks, lacks support, corrodes, or appears likely to fail.
4. Verify that each tested valve actually stops or reduces flow. Confirm the result through the approved downstream fixture.
5. Return every tested valve to its required operating position. Recheck for leakage after the valve is restored.

I. Water Heater Exterior, Hazard Review, and Closeout

1. Inspect water-heater connections from safe external observation points only. Cover the drain pan, relief-discharge path, venting, combustion area, and clearances without operating relief valves, removing covers, adjusting controls, or performing combustion work.
2. Identify priority referral conditions. Flag active uncontrolled leakage, sewage, fuel-gas odor, unsafe water-heater venting, damaged piping, or electrical exposure for immediate referral.
3. Record every fixture and visible connection. Include location, observation, operation result, shutoff status, drainage result, photograph, and recommendation for each item.
4. Create the maintenance action list. Separate cleaning, aerator service, valve service, connector replacement, trap repair, fixture repair, drainage evaluation, and water-damage investigation.