The variables BUS (business on property) and TOIL (presence of flush toilet) were removed from the 2016 ACS questionnaire in an effort to reduce respondent burden. The variables are still presented on the 2012-2016 ACS 5-year PUMS since the file contains data from years 2012 through 2015, when BUS and TOIL questions were still collected. Deleting these items for 2016 affects SVAL (specified owner), which incorporated BUS, and PLM (Plumbing - Complete/Incomplete), which used TOIL as a component.

SVAL and PLM in the 2012-2016 ACS 5-year PUMS file will therefore not be directly comparable to SVAL and PLM in previous 5-year PUMS files. Data users can create a comparable PLM code by using the variables BATH (bathtub or shower), RWAT (hot and cold running water) for the U.S. and BATH and RWATPR (running water) for Puerto Rico. To make the units interviewed in 2012 through 2015 in the U.S. comparable to units interviewed in 2016, data users can consider those units interviewed in 2012 through 2015 with hot and cold running water (RWAT equals 1) and a bathtub or shower (BATH equals 1) to have complete plumbing. Complete plumbing for Puerto Rico cannot be determined for housing units interviewed in 2012 because research determined that hot water was not a necessary condition for complete plumbing in that climate. Therefore, many Puerto Rico respondents put RWAT = no because they did not have hot water and RWAT = yes would have meant that the respondent had hot and cold running water. In the following year, RWAT was changed to RWATPR (running water) to better reflect Puerto Rico's special circumstance. Housing units interviewed in 2013 through 2015 in Puerto Rico that have a bathtub or shower (BATH equals 1) and running water (RWATPR equals 1) then can be considered to have complete plumbing.

Similarly, for SVAL; the data user can create a specified owner units flag that is comparable across 2012 through 2016. A comparable SVAL can be created for years 2012-2016 using the following algorithm:  The home must be owner-occupied (TEN equals 1 or 2) or vacant, for sale (VACS equals 3) or vacant, sold not occupied (VACS equals 4). The building must either be a one-family home detached or attached (BLD equals 02 or 03). The one-family home must be on less than 10 acres (ACR equals 1 or 2). Units meeting these conditions are considered specified owner units; otherwise, they are not.