The Install Starts Before the Truck: The Pre-Install Site Survey, Step by Step

A careful walk-through of the install site before the crew arrives shows you which measurements, connections, and access points will decide whether the job goes smoothly.

Most install problems that show up on the day of the job were visible beforehand. A site survey, done before the crew is booked for a fixed date, shows whether the spot you picked will work. Here is what to check, and what to ask the installer to confirm.

Find the main shutoff and the feed point

Locate the main shutoff for the house and the point where the new equipment will tie into the supply line. Check that the shutoff turns fully and holds. If it does not hold, the installer will need to shut the whole house off mid-job, which changes the schedule. Ask the installer whether they plan to add a separate shutoff at the feed point, and who pays for it.

Check the pipe and the space around it

Note the pipe material and size at the install point, and whether there is enough clearance to route new pipe without opening walls you did not plan to open. Measure the floor space for the tank and the height for any overhead fittings. Make sure you can reach the controls and the bypass valve once the equipment is in place, because you will need both later.

Check the drain and the power

If the system needs a drain, confirm where the discharge will go and how it will get there. If the unit needs electricity, confirm there is an outlet within reach of the install point and that it is on a circuit the unit can use. Check whether the outlet is in a location where it will not be blocked by the equipment.

Check the path for delivery

Measure the doorways, hallways, and stairs the equipment must pass through. Note any tight turns and any item that must be moved out of the way. Ask the installer whether they will bring a dolly or whether the equipment is light enough for one person to carry.

Confirm the schedule and the handoffs

Ask the installer to put the survey findings in writing, with the install date, the expected duration, and who is responsible for each task that touches the site. Ask whether any local permit applies to the work. A survey that ends with a list of agreed items and a named contact is worth more than one that ends with a handshake.