Plumbing code exists for two reasons: safety and correct operation. When your home has a code violation, whether you put it there or inherited it from a previous owner, you’re carrying a liability that will cause a problem during a sale, an insurance claim, or an actual failure. Here are ten of the most common violations found in homes throughout Chicagoland.
Drain lines need to run at the right grade, usually a quarter inch of drop per foot of horizontal run. Too little slope and waste doesn’t move reliably, leading to chronic clogs and buildup. Too much slope and the liquid outruns the solids, leaving deposits behind that accumulate over time.
Every drain in your home needs to be properly vented to let air into the system and prevent siphoning of the water seals in your traps. Unvented or improperly vented drains gurgle, drain slowly, and let sewer gases enter the living space.
Every fixture (toilet, sink, dishwasher, washing machine, water heater, etc.) should have its own dedicated shutoff valve. Without individual shutoffs, a fixture failure means shutting off water to the whole house rather than just the problem.
A cross-connection happens when a potable water line gets connected in a way that lets contaminated water flow back into the clean supply. Improperly installed sprinkler systems, older washing machine connections, and some DIY under-sink setups are frequent culprits.
This one covers everything from missing expansion tanks on closed systems to incorrect temperature and pressure relief valve installation, wrong clearances, improper venting on gas units, and discharge pipes that don’t terminate correctly.
Not every pipe material is appropriate for every use. Using the wrong material in the wrong place can also be a genuine failure risk under the pressures and temperatures the system actually runs at.
Pipes need to be supported at code-specified intervals, and that spacing varies by material and orientation. Unsupported pipe runs sag, stress their joints, create noise, and eventually fail at the connections.
Every fixture needs a properly installed P-trap, and without the S-trap configuration that older homes frequently have. S-traps are prohibited because they self-siphon, pulling the water seal out of the trap and letting sewer gas into the home.
Your drain system needs accessible cleanout points so that blockages can be cleared without destructive access. When a blockage happens deep in the system, the options for clearing it without cleanout access get expensive fast.
When you buy a home, you inherit every unpermitted modification the previous owners made. When something fails, your insurer may ask questions about the work’s origin. When you sell, the inspector will find it.
If you’re concerned about any of these issues in your home, Elk Grove Village Sewer & Plumbing can help. Contact us to schedule an assessment.
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