Making Sure Remodels and New Builds Are Up to Plumbing Code
Plumbing code compliance is very important for the safety of everyone in our homes and businesses. Whenever Mayfield Plumbing & Backflow does an installation we always bring the project up to code. This means your new hot water heater, new piping, or remodel will be compliant with Boulder County plumbing code and safe for you and your family. Here are some common issues with code compliance and how we will deal with them at Mayfield Plumbing.
Plumbing Code Compliance for Toilet Clearance
A common issue in older homes is the placement of the toilet. Sometimes the toilet is too close to the sidewall or a cabinet in a bathroom. Code requires that a toilet must have a minimum of 15 inch clearance from the center of the toilet to adjacent walls, cabinets or other bathroom fixtures. When we come across this issue we have two options: move the plumbing or move the wall/cabinets. To move the plumbing our technicians go into the crawl space and reposition the plumbing lines. This allows them to place the toilet within plumbing code compliance. If the wall, cabinet or other bathroom fixtures needs to be moved, this can be a bit more involved, but will ultimately make your bathroom more usable and safe.
Hot Water Heater Code Compliance
Older style hot water heaters didn’t need combustion air coming into a room to breathe, but the newer styles do. This can be an issue when a newer hot water heater is placed into a closet where the older version used to be located. The newer gas style hot water heaters need air flow for combustion and venting. They typically have grills that allow them to “breathe” and therefore need to be placed in a non-enclosed space with ventilation. Another issue that can arise is storing chemicals, like cleaners, in the same area as your hot water heater. The chemicals can off gas and with the flame from your water heater nearby, this can lead to ignition which can start a deadly fire. So remember to always store your chemicals/cleaners away from your hot water heater!
Bringing Piping Up to Code
If your home was built between the late 1970s and mid 1990s there is a chance you have Polybutylene, or PB, piping in your home. PB piping, also known by the brand name “Quest” or “Qest,” and the acetal fittings that were used with it, were extremely popular alternatives to copper piping. This gray plastic piping was widely touted as having the same lifespan of copper piping. Additionally it was flexible and freeze resistant.
But the problem with PB piping is that chlorine in municipal water causes it to degrade, corrode, crack and leak over time. Several class-action lawsuits have been filed since the mid 1990s because the piping tends to only last for 10-15 years, but in some cases longer. Ultimately it will degrade though, and must be replaced. If you have PB piping in your home, Mayfield Plumbing will bring your piping up to code. Our plumbers will replace it with copper or Uponor PEX-a piping, which is now the industry standard.
Home Inspections That Find Code Violations
Often during home inspections your home inspector will find code violations. This is of course the best time to find these issues, before you have purchased your new home. Home inspectors trust the work we do here at Mayfield Plumbing. They will call or refer us to correct these issues with plumbing code compliance. Sometimes it’s an easy fix like adding drip pans to hot water heaters, but our plumbers are always ready to assist with large projects too, like re-piping or remodels to bring homes up to code.
Commercial Backflow Code Compliance
As a certified commercial backflow plumbing service, Mayfield Plumbing & Backflow should be the first place you call for blackflow issues. If your backflow system isn’t compliant with the city water department this can lead to contamination of the local water supply. There are two types of prevention devices, the older style “Double-Check Valve Assembly” and the newer “Reduced Pressure Zone Valve Assembly”. If working correctly, both systems will protect the water supply from backflow. But if the Double-Check Valve fails, there isn’t any indication of the failure. This is why it is important to update your Double-Check system to the newer model.
The new Reduced Pressure Zone Valve Assembly (RPZ) will protect the public water supply by disposing of any backwards-flowing water even if the check valves or the relief valve fails. You’ll know there’s an issue with your RPZ backflow system if you see that it’s dripping. This is when you need to call a backflow technician to fix the issue. It’s important to bring your backflow system up to code to protect everyone’s drinking water. And Mayfield Plumbing & Backflow are the Boulder area plumbers to get the job done right.
Mayfield Plumbing & Backflow will help you bring your home or commercial location up to code in or around Boulder County, contact us today at 720-505-0731.