Name: Shower Drain Test Inspection
Uploaded: 2023-05-17T21:46:27.071448+00:00
Duration: 1464 s
Channel: ALD OSHA

After you run hot water through the Shower Drain go to where the water damage is and use your Thermal Image Camera to see if there is a change.

You want to take a picture before you run the Shwer Drain Test to be able to compare.  When using hot water you will be able to see a different color on your Thermal Image Camera.  If there is a leak and you use hot water you will see a white spot with your Thermal Image Camera.

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After you run hot water through the Shower Drain go to where the water damage is and use your Thermal Image Camera to see if there is a change.You want to take a picture before you run the Shwer Drain Test to be able to compare. When using hot water you will be able to see a different color on your Thermal Image Camera. If there is a leak and you use hot water you will see a white spot with your Thermal Image Camera.

https://d3ev5earl6dvd0.cloudfront.net/public-media/videos/005/848/005848/video_MOTpjVm.MOV#t=1071

ALD OSHA

Shower Drain Test Inspection

Cause and Origin - Introduction

Thermal Image Scanner

Moisture Meter

Origin of Water Intrusion from Below

Origin of Water Intrusion from Above

Fiberglass Stand up Shower

Water Meter and Pressure Test- Intro

Locating the Water Meter

Water Meter Test

Pressure Test

House Supply Line and Pressure Test

Shower Riser Test

Shower Valve Inspection

Shower Drain Test

Review of Job and Report

CTA1

This is a video for an Insurance Cause and Origin Job from start to finish.

This is a video for an Insurance Cause and Origin Job from start to finish.

https://d3ev5earl6dvd0.cloudfront.net/public-media/videos/005/848/005848/video_MOTpjVm.MOV

Introduction to Cause and Origin.

First step is to put shoe covers on before you enter the house.

When you first enter a residence use your Thermal Image Scanner to detect a spot of Water Intrusion.  You can see a difference in color to detect where water may be or may have been.

Use your Moisture Meter to detect moisture in the ceiling.

When determining where the leak is coming from you must determine ROUGHLY where the Water Intrusion is coming from.

You can measure with a tape measure or determine how far the source of the Water Intrusion is from a wall to determine where to being the next step.

After you measure from below wher the Water Intrusion is occurring go to the second floor to measure where it is coming from.

In this video it is determined that it is coming from the Fiberglass Shower Enclosure.

WHen there is a Fiberglass Stand up Shower there are a few ways water can extrude.  

1 - Drainage
2 - Seepage
3 - Domestic Line

Each of these will be gone over in another video in detail.  It is important to know that, no matter what, these are the three types of water extrusion from a shower.

Before you begin any test of the shower you must first check the Water Meter and do a Pressure Test.

Pressure Test for Insurance jobs are especially important because Insurance Companies ask for Pressure Tests.

Checking the Water Meter will show that there is a leak somewhere in the Domestic Line.  If the Domestic Line to the Shower is not the cause of this leak but the Water Meter is still showing a leak there is an additional problem in the house which could create an additional job for you and the company.

Locate the Water Meter.  You can ask the homeowner if he or she knows where the water meter is.  It could be on the edge of the property and the street in the lawn or inside the house.

This Water Meter has a Leak Indicator.  A Leak Indicator is either a red triangle or gear that will spin to show that water is being used.  Some Water Meters do not have Leak Indicators.  Please see Pressure Test Moment if the Water Meter does not have a Leak Indicator.

Turn on a water source in the house to ensure your Water Meter is for the residence.

To verify the Water Meter is working properly turn on a water source to the house to ensure the Leak Indicator is moving.  

This is to verify that it is the correct Water Meter attached to the residence and that the Water Meter is working properly.

Hook up Pressure Gauge to Hose Bib.

Make sure Hose Bib is not leaking as this will give you an inaccurate Pressure Test.

Main Water Shut Off will be in different places off each residence.  Ask the Homeowner if he or she knows where the Valve is.  If they do not know you must trace the line from where the domestic line enters the house. 

Turn off Valve.

Insurance companies require 20 minutes of Pressure Test.  After 20 minutes check your pressure gauge.  In this instance there is no pressure loss which means the supply line within the house is not the cause.

Insurance companies require a picture of the pressure gauge.

Shower Risers are the pipe between the Shower Head and the Valve.  

Because the Shower Valve is in the off position when doing a Pressure Test of the house you must check the Shower Riser.  If there is a leak between the Shower Head and the Diverter the Pressure Test of the house will not show a leak.

Take off the Shower Head and put a Pressure Gauge onto the Shower Head neck.  Always use Teflon Tape when connecting your tools to a Shower Head neck.

When you turn on the Valve to the Shower Head ensure there are no leaks coming from your Pressure Gauge setup.

Open the Valve and the Pressure Gauge will show pressure.  When you turn off the Valve the Pressure Gauge should hold.  If you are losing pressure on your gauge there is a break in the line between the Shower Head and the Valve.

Take off the Shower Valve Escutcheon (also called a Shower Valve Plate).

Inspect behind, in the wall, for any sign of moisture or leaking whent eh Shower Valve is turned off.  Turn on the Shower Valve to see if when the Shower Valve is turned on there is no leaking.


Ensure the Escutcheon is placed and sealed properly before continuing.  Screws should be snug.  Overtightening the screws could cause the Escutcheon to warp which would lead to potential leaks in the future.  Use silicone to ensure a proper seal.

Hook up a test hose on the Shower Head connection.  If you can remove the Drain Trap you can put your hose directly into the Drain to test the Drain system.  You want the water to go driectly down the drain and not hit where the pipe meets the Shower Pan transition.

The water you use should be hot.  You can use your Thermal Image Camera below to check for hot spots. Run the water for about a minute.

When writing a report you MUST be very specific.

This video is to review everything that has been done. It is important to write each test and inspection you have done for Insurance purposes.

For Insurance Reports it is important to take pictures of each step of your testing and inspection process.  Including them in the report will ensure the insurance company has everything it needs to determine what they need to fix.