How To Look At A House

McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of  

site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes

Is a hot water faucet handle required to be on the left?

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Yes, the building code requires “hot” to be on the left as you face the water outlet (spigot) (IRC 2722.2). This means that if a faucet is on the side of a bathtub, like in the photo below, the hot water valve must be on the left when viewed from inside the tub, but would be on the right if approached from outside the tub.


    The purpose of this left-side requirement is to avoid accidental scalding by turning on the wrong faucet. Although it is recommended that water heater thermostats be set at 120º F to avoid a skin burn from a stream of exclusively hot water, many homes have the temperature set higher, so scalding by turning on the wrong faucet is a real possibility. Verifying that the hot water service is on the left is one of the things checked during a home inspection, and occasionally find the hot/cold reversed.

    Scalding prevention in a shower is addressed by a building code requirement for a single-handle anti-scald valve that prevents the water temperature from rising above 120º F. See our blog post Why are shower water valves all single-handle nowadays? to learn more.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about PLUMBING:

How can I protect my pipes to keep them from bursting during a hard winter freeze in North Florida?

Why is the vacuum breaker at my hose faucet leaking, gushing water, or making funny sounds?

Why is the cover plate of some water meter boxes in the ground painted purple?

Why is it a problem when a trap under a sink is installed backwards? 

What are the code requirements for plumbing vent terminations?

What are the code requirements for layout of drain piping under sinks?

Why is there sand in the bottom of my toilet tank?  

What causes a gurgling sound when a bathtub or sink drains? 

Are drop-in toilet bowl cleaner tablets safe?

What can I add to my septic tank to help it work better? 

Why do septic tank contractors want you to get rid of your kitchen disposal?

Why is there mold inside my toilet tank?  

What are the pros and cons of a wall-mounted toilet?

Does a refrigerator water supply line require a shutoff valve behind it?

Which plumbing fixtures require water shut off valves in a home? 

Is a hot water faucet required at a washing machine?

What are the pipes sticking out near my water valves?

Can PEX pipe be installed outside?  

What is the difference between water pipe and sewage (waste) pipe? 

How can I tell if a house is connected to a septic tank system or sewer?

Are plastic pipes (PVC, CPVC, and PEX) safe for drinking water? 

What do the ABS, PVC, CPVC, PB, and PEX plumbing pipe names mean?

Why is a backflow preventer required on lawn sprinkler systems? 

How can I locate my septic tank?

Can you live in a house while the plumbing is being replaced?

What is the loose wire sticking out of the ground under the gas meter for? 

Why is sunlight exposure bad for PVC pipe?

Why is the European-style bottle trap not approved by the plumbing codes in the U.S.? 

• Does a home inspector check the plumbing under the floor slab?

• Is it alright to disconnect the washing machine drain from the septic tank and divert it to the ground in the yard?

    Visit our PLUMBING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.

Water Heaters

Water Heater Age

"What Are The

Signs Of..."

Septic Tank Systems

Structure and Rooms

Plumbing Pipes

Termites, Wood Rot

& Pests

Sinkholes

Stairs

When It First

Became Code

"Should I Buy A..."

Park Model Homes

Site

Shingle Roofs

Safety

Stucco

Remodeling

Wind Mitigation

Roof and Attic

"Does A Home

Inspector...?"

Pool and Spa

"What Is The Difference Between..."

Radon

Brick

Plumbing

Concrete and

Concrete Block

Metal Roofs

Foundations

Modular Homes

Rain Gutters

Mold, Lead & Other Contaminants

Condominiums

Older and

Historic Houses

Crawl Spaces

Mobile-Manufactured Homes

Building Permits

Life Expectancy

Clay Soil

Insurance

Floors

Insulation

Toilets

Exterior Walls

& Structures

Generators

Common Problems

HUD-Code for

Mobile Homes

Garages and Carports

Flat (Low Slope) Roofs

Electrical Panels

Sprinkler Systems

Electrical Receptacle Outlets

4-Point Inspections

Hurricane Resistance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Home Inspection

Heating and Air Conditioning

Building Codes

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Inspector Licensing

& Standards

Energy Efficiency

Washers and Dryers

Electrical

Kitchens

Doors and Windows

(placeholder)

Cracks

Electrical Wiring

Click Below  

for Links

to Collections

of Blog Posts

by Subject

Plumbing Drains

and Traps

Appliances

Smoke & CO Alarms

Aging in Place

Top 5 results given instantly.

Click on magnifying glass

for all search results.

Bathrooms

Lighting

AFCI, CAFCI,

DFCI, & GFCI

Sinks

Air Conditioner & Furnace Age/Size

Attics

Electrical Switches

Siding

Search

This

Site

Water Intrusion

Electrical - Old

and Obsolete

(placeholder)

Foundation Certifications

Tiny Houses

About McGarry and Madsen

(placeholder)

Wells

Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a  team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.

Moisture Problems

Crawl Spaces

Bedrooms

Closets