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Houston Texas Real Estate Blog > How Do You Pass a Building Inspection with New Green Systems in Your HomeHow Do You Pass a Building Inspection with New Green Systems in Your HomeContributed by Frank Schulte-Ladbeck on July 27, 2008 The world is changing. Gas has reached $122 a barrel, and other fuel costs are going up as well. The demand for bio-fuel has spurred food prices to go higher. As homeowners, we look for ways to save money, which has led us to “green” technologies. Some products that have been around for some time are still new to most people, especially when it comes to new energy efficient products. I am planning to install a tankless water heater on my own home this year, but I have never seen a unit installed on a home that I have inspected. About a month ago, I met a plumber who has been installing these units in Houston. We had a lively talk about the proper way to install these water heaters, and the common mistakes people make when purchasing this product. I then went to some home inspectors around the country to see if they knew of any other issues. It appears that tankless is popular in California, but it has not caught on in most other parts of our union. Yesterday, I ran into an acquaintance who mentioned that she and her husband have been working on “greening” their home, but she was frustrated. The plumber who installed her unit happened to be the plumber that I had spoken with. I had checked out his facts in the building code, and found them to be correct, so I was sure that he did a good job for her. When the city's building inspector came, her frustration began. He had never seen such a unit. She reported to me that he had never heard of one. He asked for the installation manual, which he glanced over. He came to the determination that the unit was not installed to code, so he insisted further modifications be made. Unfortunately, he had the authority to enforce his demand. Although most home inspectors that I know are trying to keep up with new developments, city building inspectors do not always have that luxury. Having to go from one site to another, every day, prevents them from having the time to study the latest information on new products. If you are an early adapter, you may face a similar situation. My best advice is to have the installer there when the inspector comes. He may be able to show how the system works and meets the guidelines for the proper installation. Comments:No comments have been submitted yet.
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