TOPIC: Cross Connection

I got the email ...  "You inspected my house..."

Turns out they have a cross connection somewhere. The shower runs out of hot water, there is hot water in the toilet, etc.

When I inspected the home the water temp. in the kitchen was low (100F). I reported the temp. but made no comment.

My question is this: Should I have been suspicious of the 100 degree water? Assuming the CC existed at the time of the inspection, should I have caught it?

Thanks.

Tom, you can only note a cross connection if you actually see one. You noted the temp. and commented on that. I would have commented on the water heater age, size, condition, (usual stuff) and left it at that. You cannot comment on what you cannot see, and you are not there to troubleshoot. Did you, in your temp. comments recommend having a plumber check the possible source of the temp. problem?

Cross connections you cannot find, except perhaps by serendipity.  That is one of the things you discover when you live in a house and run stuff.  My wife noticed that our upper oven gets hotter on the back side than the front.  Casseroles get over cooked in back if she does not turn them half way through cooking.  That is something no home inspector anywhere will ever find.  How could they?

As to your 100 degrees.  Finding that the temp is only 100 is diligent home inspecting.  Point that out.  When I have low hot water temps, I run a bath tub for a while and see if the hot water runs out.  Sometimes low temps can mean a bad element (if electric).  If temps are low on a gas water heater, I can then teach, and show, clients how to get it hotter.  But a cross connection is hard to find on a "visual inspection." 

Does your agreement or report state that you are conducting a visual inspection and not a technically exhaustive one?  If it does not, change it after you resolve this one.

Also, Drew is right.  There should be something on your report or agreement that says that things noted on the report are potential problems and it is wise to have them all investigated by a licensed specialist.

Hey Guys check out cross connections,
www.epa.gov/safewater/crossconnectioncontrol/index.html