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(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.
The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed
the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal
authority.
Filed with the Office
of the
Secretary of State on August 23, 2021
TRD-202103314 Vanessa Burgess
General Counsel
Texas Real Estate Commission
Effective date: February 1, 2022
Proposal publication date: May 21, 2021
For further information, please call: (512) 936-3284
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