Home/Field notes/FN-003
Repairability is decided at installation
A system that cannot be isolated, reached and identified will cost more at every repair. Seven checks, made while the wall is still open.
Example note This shows the format. The figures are illustrative and do not come from a real job.
The problem
Most of what a repair costs is set on the day of installation. A valve buried behind tile, a heater with no union, a manifold with no labels. None of these fail on day one. All of them turn a one hour repair into a day.
Seven checks
Each check is yes or no. The count is the repairability score for the installation.
- Isolation. Every fixture and appliance has its own working shutoff.
- Disconnect. Equipment can be removed without cutting pipe.
- Access. Every valve, trap and cleanout can be reached without demolition.
- Clearance. There is room to swing a wrench and pull the part.
- Labels. Valves and circuits say what they serve.
- Standard parts. Wear parts are stocked locally, not special order.
- Record. Photos of the open wall and a simple as-built are on file.
Example score
| Installation | Score | Time to isolate |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater, as found | 3 of 7 | 14 min |
| Water heater, after rework | 7 of 7 | under 1 min |
Why it matters past this building
Time to isolate is a small number that says a great deal. In a home it is the difference between a wet floor and a flooded one. In a remote or sealed environment, where the people living there make the repair, it is the difference between a nuisance and an emergency. The checks are the same in both.