Checklists by equipment
2 lists · 11 items · 15 photosDomestic water heater maintenance checklists
Domestic water heater maintenance checklists for the quarterly and annual rounds: 2 free lists, 11 items and 15 photo requirements, each item naming what to look for and the photo that proves it. Work is commonly verified against IPC / UPC plumbing codes; the edition in force is the AHJ's call on each project.
The domestic water heater rounds
Domestic water heater QuarterlyDomestic water heater quarterly maintenance checklistT&P valve, venting, leaks and temperature verified on the quarterly round6 items9 photosDomestic water heater AnnualDomestic water heater annual maintenance checklistFlush, anode inspection and full safety test on the annual service5 items6 photos
Where each walk sits in the schedule
- Domestic water heater quarterly maintenance checklistquarterly
- Every quarter, paired with the recirculation pump check since the two fail together. Run by: The plumbing or maintenance tech on the quarterly mechanical round.
- Domestic water heater annual maintenance checklistannual
- Once a year. The flush is what keeps sediment from cooking the bottom of the tank or coating the elements. Run by: The plumbing service tech on the annual service visit.
What most often fails on a domestic water heater
- T&P valve assumed good because it isn't dripping. It's never actually lifted and reseated.
- Flue or intake partially blocked by stored material in the mechanical room.
- Delivered temperature drifting high or low with no one reading a fixture, just the aquastat.
- Tank 'flushed' until the first cup runs clear while pounds of sediment stay behind.
- Anode never pulled because the ceiling clearance makes it awkward, so the tank fails early instead.
Verified against
Families only, never clause numbers. Adoption varies by jurisdiction; confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
Common questions
- Which domestic water heater maintenance rounds do these checklists cover?
- Domestic water heater quarterly maintenance checklist (quarterly): Every quarter, paired with the recirculation pump check since the two fail together. Domestic water heater annual maintenance checklist (annual): Once a year. The flush is what keeps sediment from cooking the bottom of the tank or coating the elements.
- Who runs the domestic water heater maintenance round?
- The plumbing or maintenance tech on the quarterly mechanical round. The plumbing service tech on the annual service visit.
- What most often fails on a domestic water heater?
- T&P valve assumed good because it isn't dripping. It's never actually lifted and reseated. Flue or intake partially blocked by stored material in the mechanical room. Delivered temperature drifting high or low with no one reading a fixture, just the aquastat. Tank 'flushed' until the first cup runs clear while pounds of sediment stay behind.
- Which standards is domestic water heater work verified against?
- IPC / UPC plumbing codes, published by the International Code Council / IAPMO. Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
- Can I run these checklists in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace and load any of the 2 lists (11 items in total). The Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached, and approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.