Have you had a new air conditioner or swamp cooler installed? How about a water heater? As you begin to enjoy that new purchase, you’re probably aware that you’ll potentially need inspections from a representative with either the County, City or even the State.
When you need a large installation, a permit is pulled with the appropriate jurisdiction. Once the installation is complete, you’ll require an inspection to ensure it’s up to code. What does “up to code” mean? That the item installed meets current safety standards and is done correctly.
How Inspections and Building Permits Work
Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling has a team member who helps to schedule inspections and pulls permits for our customers, and she provided the following tidbits of information:
It is the responsibility of the homeowner or contractor to obtain a building permit. If you own a home that you lease or rent to others, you’ll require a licensed contractor to obtain a permit. Once you submit an application, it can take up to ten (10) business days to review your residential permit application. During the construction process, after permits are issued, inspections are required to ensure compliance with approved plans and ordinances.
The inspector posts either:
- A green tag indicating work passes inspection,
- A yellow tag, which indicates code deficiencies that must be corrected before violations are concealed, or
- A red tag indicating that work in a category, such as plumbing, HVAC, drains, or electrical, must be stopped, corrections made, and approved before work can continue. If corrections are necessary, the contractor or homeowner is responsible for making the corrections and calling for a re-inspection.
All inspections are scheduled Monday through Friday from 7:30 am-4 pm, excluding federal holidays. Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling advises our customers to make sure that they pick a day that they, or someone who’s at least 18 years old, can be home all day to wait for the inspector. A fee may be assessed if the homeowner is not home.
When Do Inspections Take Place?
When does an inspector with the State needs to come to your home? It depends on where you live. If you live in a mobile home, live in Corrales, or live outside the Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Bernalillo area, then you will need to arrange the inspection with the State directly.
Contact Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling, and their friendly customer service representatives can help you schedule the inspection at your home.