If a water heater's closet is locked during inspection, how should this situation be reported?

When a water heater's closet is locked during an inspection, the inspector should report that the water heater was not inspected because the door was locked. This choice accurately describes the situation; the inspector did not have access to the unit, and as such, could not perform an evaluation or assessment of its condition.

It's crucial for inspectors to communicate clearly about access issues in their reports so that homeowners and other stakeholders understand that the inspection may not provide a full picture of the property's systems. By stating that the inspection could not be conducted due to a locked door, it maintains transparency about the limitations of the inspection process.

In contrast, stating that the water heater was not present implies a different situation where it may not exist at all, which is misleading. Reporting that the water heater was inspected from outside the door would falsely suggest that some observations could be made without direct access, which is typically not sufficient for a thorough inspection. Lastly, saying the condition is unknown could imply ambiguity if the inspector was aware of the water heater's existence prior to the inspection but could not gain access, so it’s not as precise as stating the reason related to the locked door.