14 Common Plumbing Code Violations

A plumbing inspector helps you keep it legal

- By Jay Cork

It’s tempting to think of plumbing code as a collection of irritating rules that make projects more complicated. I’m guilty of this sometimes, but I also know that the code is a guide to good results, developed by thousands of experts over the course of more than a century. Ignoring it can result in leaks, damage, clogs, delays when you sell your home, or even an explosion. When DIYers violate code, it’s usually because they don’t know the code. To help with that, we brought in plumbing inspector Eldon Rameaux to help us better understand the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and to identify some common plumbing code violations. Here’s what we learned.

WHAT IS CODE ANYWAY?

The UPC, or Uniform Plumbing Code, is basically a rule book for creating safe, reliable plumbing systems. It’s updated every three years with input from the public, manufacturers and industry experts. State and local building departments then use it as a guide to write their own plumbing codes. Some simply accept the entire UPC as is, while others pick and choose which rules to adopt. These local codes—not the UPC—determine what you can and can’t do on your next project.

Don’t cap your TPR valve