FHA Testing Water

[Tom4value]

Never, ever, turn a spigot on to check the water flow in a sink or toilet. Get them to do it. A flood will create more headaches for you than you realize.

I see your point. If they are there to ask, they are also there to turn it on themselves.

 

[Sadie]

Had an FHA appraisal. Water was turned off. Made it subject to water turned on so toilets could be flushed and a sample of faucets could be turned on.

Told everything was on. Went to property and water was only on to the kitchen and one full bath. The other full bath and two half baths had the water turned off

4000.1 I believe states toilets need to be flushed and a sample of faucets.

Note it doesn't say a sample of toilets, I could only flush one of them. Also is a sample ok of the faucets that had the water turned on?

I asked FHA and was just told the number of test points for a water system is not mandated.


It seems they are saying that it doesn't matter and this is fine but it is also vague to me with the 4000.1 verbiage and curious what others would do.

Porbably the water turned on to the house and not to the individual outlets. Not your job to reach under there and twist the little spigots.

 

[Sadie]

Been doing FHA appraisals for over 30 years and unless something changed that I am not aware of, we are to attest that “all fixtures and appliances appear to be in working order”. That is the verbiage I put in the report. The only “sample” tests are for electrical outlets and built in light fixtures. I turn on all faucets, including shower heads and flush all toilets. If I can’t because some are turned off, I make it subject to.

I have done inspections in the past that are similar to yours and ask the realtor or owner why they are turned off and ask permission if I can turn them on. Sometimes you just have to open the valve at the fixture. Always ask, though!

I was told the reasoning is that if someone is in the shower and someone else flushes the toilet, the cold water flow should be sufficient that the shower person doesn't get scalded.

 

[Mark K]

Never, ever, turn a spigot on to check the water flow in a sink or toilet. Get them to do it. A flood will create more headaches for you than you realize.

Back when I owned a brokerage, one of my agents had the main water turned on at the street by the Town for an inspection, at the direction of the out-of-state owner. Tri-level home. Upstairs bathtub faucet had been left on and the drain was closed. Yeah...next day the lower level had about a foot of standing water. Luckily the HO agreed that the water situation was due to his directions and his insurance covered it. Could have been a major E/O claim.

 

[Tom4value]

I was told the reasoning is that if someone is in the shower and someone else flushes the toilet, the cold water flow should be sufficient that the shower person doesn't get scalded.

That is true! However, when I took a shower and asked them to flush the toilet, they got angry!

Seriously, the mode was to turn on a faucet with hot water and flush the toilet and see if the temp changed. Gotta admit, I haven’t done that in years.

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

I see your point. If they are there to ask, they are also there to turn it on themselves.

I won't turn it on, I don't want liability if something breaks or the house floods.