ref Handbook 7420.8 form HUD-52580-A (9/00)
Page 15 of 20
Previous editions are obsolete
7.3 Ventilation and Adequacy of Cooling
If the tenant is present and has occupied the unit during the summer
months, inquire about the adequacy of air flow. If the tenant is not
present or has not occupied the unit during the summer months, test
a sample of windows to see that they open (see Inspection Manual
for instruction).
“Working cooling equipment’’ includes: central (fan) ventilation system;
evaporative cooling system; room or central air conditioning.
Check “Inconclusive” if there are no openable windows and it is
impossible, or inappropriate, to test whether a cooling system works.
Check with other tenants in the building (in a muIti-unit structure) and
with the owner or manager for verification of the adequacy of
ventilation and cooling.
7.4 Water Heater
"Location presents hazard’’ means that the gas or oil water heater is
located in living areas or closets where safety hazards may exist
(e.g., water heater located in very cluttered closet with cloth and
paper items stacked against it). Gas water heaters in bedrooms or
other living areas must have safety dividers or shields.
Water heaters must have a temperature-pressure relief valve and
discharge line (directed toward the floor or outside of the living area)
as a safeguard against build up of steam if the water heater
malfunctions. If not, they are not properly equipped and shall fail.
To pass, gas or oil fired water heaters must be vented into a properly
installed chimney or flue leading outside. Electric water heaters do
not require venting.
If it is impossible to view the water heater, check “Inconclusive.”
Obtain verification of safety of system from owner or manager.
Check "Pass" if the water heater has passed a local inspection. This
applies primarily to hot water that is supplied by a large scale
complex water heating system that serves multiple units (e.g., water
heating system in large apartment building). Check in the same
manner described for heating system safety, item 7.2, above.
7.5 Water Supply
If the structure is connected to a city or town water system, check
‘’Pass.” If the structure has a private water supply (usually in rural
areas) inquire into the nature of the supply (probably from the owner)
and whether it is approvable by an appropriate public agency.
General note: If items 7.5, 7.6, or 7,7 are checked “Inconclusive,”
check with owner or manager for verification of adequacy.
7.6 Plumbing
“Major leaks” means that main water drain and feed pipes (often
located in the basement) are seriously leaking. (Leaks present at
specific facilities have already been evaluated under the checklist
items for “Bathroom” and “Kitchen.”)
“Corrosion” (causing serious and persistent levels of rust or contami-
nation in the drinking water) can be determined by observing the
color of the drinking water at several taps. Badly corroded pipes will
produce noticeably brownish water. If the tenant is currently occupy-
ing the unit, he or she should be able to provide information about the
persistence of this condition. (Make sure that the “rusty water” is not
a temporary condition caused by city or town maintenance of main
water lines.) See general note under 7.5.
7.7 Sewer Connection
If the structure is connected to the city or town sewer system, check
“Pass.” If the structure has its own private disposal system (e.g.,
septic field), inquire into the nature of the system and determine
whether this type of system can meet appropriate health and safety
regulations.
The following conditions constitute “evidence of sewer back up”:
strong sewer gas smell in the basement or outside of unit; numerous
clogged or very slow drains; marshy areas outside of unit above
septic field. See general note under 7.5.
7. Heating and Plumbing
7.1 Adequacy of Heating Equipment
“Adequate heat” means that the heating system is capable of
delivering enough heat to assure a healthy environment in the unit
(appropriate to the climate). The HA is responsible for defining
what constitutes a healthy living environment in the area of the
country in which it operates. Local codes (city or state codes)
should be instructive in arriving at a reasonable local definition.
For example, for heat adequacy, local codes often require that the
unit’s heating facility be capable of maintaining a given tempera-
ture level during a designated time period. Portable electric room
heaters or kitchen stoves or ranges with a built-in heat unit are not
acceptable as a primary source of heat for units located in areas
where climate conditions require regular heating.
“Directly or indirectly to all rooms used for living” means:
“directly” means that each room used for living has a heat
source (e.g., working radiator; working hot air register;
baseboard heat)
‘’indirectly’’ means that, if there is no heat source present in
the room, heat can enter the room easily from a heated
adjacent room (e.g a dining room may not have a radiator,
but would receive heat from the heated living room through
a large open archway).
If the heating system in the unit works, but there is some question
whether a room without a heat source would receive adequate
indirect heat, check “Inconclusive” and verify adequacy from
tenant or owner (e.g., unheated bedroom at the end of a long
hallway).
How to determine the capability of the heating system: If the unit
is occupied, usually the quickest way to determine the capability
of the heating system over time is to question the tenant. If the unit
is not occupied, or the tenant has not lived in the unit during the
months when heat would be needed, check “Inclusive.” It will be
necessary to question the owner on this point after the inspection
has been completed and, if possible, to question other tenants (if
it is a muIti-unit structure) about the adequacy of heat provided.
Under some circumstances, the adequacy of heat can be deter-
mined by a simple comparison of the size of the heating system to
the area to be heated. For example, a small permanently installed
space heater in a living room is probably inadequate for heating
anything larger than a relatively small apartment.
7.2 Safety of Heating Equipment
Examples of “unvented fuel burning space heaters” are: portable
kerosene units; unvented open flame portable units.
‘’Other unsafe conditions’’ include: breakage or damage to heat-
ing system such that there is a potential for fire or other threats to
safety; improper connection of flues allowing exhaust gases to
enter the living area; improper installation of equipment (e.g.,
proximity of fuel tank to heat source, absence of safety devices);
indications of improper use of equipment (e.g., evidence of heavy
build-up of soot, creosote, or other substance in the chimney);
disintegrating equipment; combustible materials near heat source
or flue. SeeInspection Manual for a more detailed discussion of the
inspection of safety aspects of the heating systems.
If you are unable to gain access to the primary heating system in
the unit check ‘’Inconclusive." Contact the owner or manager for
verification of safety of the system. If the system has passed a
recent local inspection, check ‘’Pass.” This applies especially to
units in which heat is provided by a large scale, complex central
heating system that serves multiple units (e.g., a boiler in the
basement of a large apartment building). In most cases, a large
scale heating system for a multi-unit building will be subject to
periodic safety inspections by a local public agency. Check with
the owner or manager to determine the date and outcome of the
last such inspection, or look for an inspection certificate posted on
the heating system.
