Turn Off Your Well Pump When You Leave
When a client of mine is buying a house, particularly a part-time home, I emphasize - more than once - the importance of turning your well pump (or main water line, if you're connected to community water) off when you leave for more than a day. Sometimes I feel like an overprotective mother reminding her charges to wear their rubbers when they go out in the rain. I harp on it because its REALLY IMPORTANT.
This week, a house that a client of mine is in the early stages of buying had a pipe burst — and the well pump was on. Its a part-time, weekend house, so no one was around. The heat had gone out, a pipe froze and burst. When the weather warmed a bit, the ice jam in the pipe melted and the water started flowing, and flowing and flowing. Needless to say, the house right now isn't a pretty sight. Sure, its all fixable — there are companies that specialize in cleaning up and repairing water damage. But its so, so preventable.
So this post is just a reminder — particularly in winter — to turn off your water pump or main water connection when you leave. And put a note on your front door reminding guests, contractor or anyone else who may be in the house when you're not there, to turn it off when they leave, too.
turning the water pump off is an excellent suggestion to absent homeowners. in addition, homes that are vacant and on the market during winter months should always be winterized by having a plumber send antifreeze through any heating system that has water in it, such as hot water baseboard heating systems. if the heat turns off, there is no freezing and breakage of water pipes. sinks and toilets should be drained with notes nearby indicating "DO NOT USE". showing a house at a comfortable temperature allows agents to do their job and experience the home with buyers. duct taping the heating system emergency switch at the top of the basement stairs is also a good idea. more than once agents have turned off that switch thinking it was the basement lights!
Posted by: larry | February 04, 2008 at 06:22 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/nyregion/03property.html
{NYC} Home Prices Start to Dip, Recalling ’90s Slump
Posted by: TR | February 05, 2008 at 08:54 AM