It is not uncommon, while inspecting roofs, to find the test caps still in place on plumbing vents. Part of inspecting the original installation of the plumbing system for leaks requires that all openings be capped off. After the test, the test caps are removed so that the plumbing system can function properly. Here is a picture of a test cap I found still in place recently on a roof----most likely it had been there since 1980 when the building was built. Even 30 years later the “instructions” for how to remove the cap are clearly visible. In light of the instructions, I got a good giggle out of how the problem was resolved----as shows in the next picture. Holy vent pipe Batman! Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
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Charles,
I think many of us are guilty of reading instructions. Don't you wish they were written in plain easy English?
What' s the rule? Stupid is as stupid does? Can't tell you how many times, I have NOT read the instructions only to my frustration.
You must run into stuff like this all the time, although amusing-you wish people would have some common sense! Thanks for sharing, Jen
I've never heard of this before and find it interesting! Have a great Saturday!
Mr Charles,
Please explain why you drilled all those holes in the pipe. Doing that will allow air to pass in you know.
Nutsy
Seriously?? Seriously!?!? they recognized that the pipe needed to be "open"... and instead of removing the very clearly marked cap... they drilled holes in the freakin' pipe!?!
Charles,
Now that is pretty funny.....I bet that gave you as great of a chuckle as it did for us...
Funniest thing I ever saw? Well, considering it's a plumber's venue, I suppose not.
There are some real idiots running around! This cap left on is a common problem.
Interesting. I don't think even I would be that foolish. Well, perhaps...
Ron and Alexandra, in this case the instructions were pretty clear :)
Larry, that is a "guy" thing after all :)
Jennifer, it helps me keep my job
Sam, thanks for stopping by
Nutsy, they kind of match the ones in your head don't they?
Alan, this is almost "Believe it or not" material isn't it?
Lori, yes I got quite the good laugh
Lizette, yup----happens a lot
Jason, I am sure you are smarter than this :)
Kinda looks like the muzzle of a machine gun sticking out of the roof.
Wow, amazing that it would be closed all these years. 'Read the instructions' is right in there with 'plug it in!'
Charles - that is interesting that it has been closed for all this time. I did not know about this, and appreciate learning something new!
Charles,
The plumber got to charge lots more for drilling the holes then unscrewing the cap. S/he also propably got to convince his/her significant other that they needs yet another tool to accomplish this specific job. We all know how everyone like to go out shopping for new tools.
I can see the logic here. Using this approach prevents rain water from entering the... plumbing?
OK, maybe logic wasn't the right word.
Do you think the builders knew that, perhaps, the home owner or other person, wouldn't go up on the roof to remove it, so they just install it as a fail safe solution? Was this the first you've seen?? You find the most interesting things!
Real Men don't need to stinky directions! We just geter done.
Someone was in a hurry to get a cold one on the way home or maybe the helper fell off the roof.
Once I found the roof sheathing with the "This Side Installed Up" stamp on the underside, visible from the attic space. The builder got mad at me for pointing this out to my client, who clearly understood that it was installed improperly. I said, "Get roofers who can read or understand English," to the builder. It was an expensive fix on a new home.
Clearly those guys on your roof didn't read well either!
Wow, the things you run across in just doing your job. That would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.
Alan, do you have some first hand experience with that?
John, yup----one of the first thing a techie will ask you.
Sharon, for sure
Diane, I would love to know the "hole" story about this :)
Curtis, yes it is hard to find a way to include "logic" in the conversation
Carla, I find the caps often left in place----just never this "solution" to the problem :)
Gene, yup----for sure
Jack, there are all kinds of excuses I can think of for the cap being left there----the holes is way out there
Lanette, I still found it pretty dang funny :)
Well, I once again learned something new! In 14 years of attending/reading clients Home Inspection Reports this is the first I heard of this one. The issue looks pretty obvious though -- even to me! Digital cameras rank right up there with computers!
Sue of Robin and Sue
Sue, this defect is actually less common than the post may imply-----I probably only find a couple a year.
Hi Charles,
A fantastic post. Only in Gotham City would a machine gun be seemingly used to open up a vent pipe. Tough neighbohoods there in Seattle.
I find it hard some times to read the instructions. The roof is my obstacle...
Mr Charles,
You are infuriating me with your non-chalet way of talking down to me. This is not acceptable and I transcended for your scraggly sole.
Nutsy
It never ceases to amaze me some of the things you guys see when inspecting homes.
Charles,
Great post, I am still giggling. I had one (vent plug) just a week ago but your 30 year old plug with custom vent holes beats my by far.
Great stuff,
Don
Bill, a few more shots and it would have been cut right off
Paul, so shooting it off from the ground is a way to avoid going on the roof? :)
Nutsy, that is the most sense you have made in weeks
Craig, me neither :)
Don, for sure
Bwahahahahaha! I've seen a lot of vent caps that haven't been removed, but never seen a repair like that.
Reuben, this was a first for me too
I bet the home owner went to a do-it-yourself store and told the clerk, my vent pipe has a cap on it what do I do? The sales person then upsold a drill, extension cord, couple bits and the homeowner 'saved' the expense of hiring a 10 yr old to read the instructions! cheryl(just my version of the story)willis
Cheryl, capitalism at its best :)
Mr Charles,
That is over my head and cut my ears off
Nutsy
Oh no, not reading the instructions. He could never do that. It's much easier to just keep trying into you break whatever it is. Either by twisting it too hard, or kicking it. I have seen "the boys" do that more times than I can count.
Oh, and I forgot the old stand-by. When all else fails, us a bigger hammer.
Nutsy, trust me when I say that no one is surprised
Carolyn, that is a "guy thing" for sure
I never would have guessed this was so common, LOL. Passing it along to those in my area :)