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The Indoor Hose Bib Shut-off Valves Need To Be The Right Ones

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

If you are going to winterize your exterior hose bibs the indoor hose bib shut-off valves need to be the right ones.

And what are the right ones?

To the right is a valve which has a brass cap on the side.

That is called the "bleeder valve."

It's intention is to break the vacuum in the pipe for winterization.

In winter the indoor valve, like you see here, should be shut off and the exterior hose bib opened.

Then the bleeder valve can be opened, or even removed, so any water in the pipe can drain.  Then the pipe can freeze, but without water it will not expand and burst.

This "professional," flipper or plumber, installed new CPVC pipes in this remodeled house.

These valves correspond to the exterior hose bibs.

Neither has a bleeder valve.

Is this an oversight?

Is this ignorance?

Either way, these valves cannot be winterized properly and are vulnerable to freezing, popping and leaking.

They need to be swapped out for proper valves.  In this area hose bibs should be made ready for winter.

My recommendation:  a home inspector would see something like this and consider it basic.  When you are buying a flipped or remodeled house, often the "professionals" doing the work are not familiar with all the basics.  Did this work have a permit?  Was it closed?  Who knows, but now, at least, my client will get a proper installation.  And can be ready for winter!

 

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments(10)

James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Would have never seen or thought of something like that Jay.  But that is why you do what you do.

Aug 06, 2014 08:55 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

A common owner mistake when winterizing homes. 

I've seen extensive water damage from frozen pipes when the owner does nothing. 

Too early now but this is something I remember to do each year.

Aug 06, 2014 09:48 PM
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

Good morning Jay,

I learned this the hard way when remodeling my very first home; trying to save a few bucks. Needless to say it had to be redone.

Make yourself a great day.

Aug 06, 2014 10:37 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Check them in your house James, and I bet you will find yours to have bleeder valves!

Plumbers around here count on people not winterizing their pipes Lenn!

Life experience is a cruel, yet effective teacher Raymond.

Aug 06, 2014 11:36 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I have a feeling this is the same Do-It-Yourself remodeler that was just playing in the electrical panel.

Aug 08, 2014 04:00 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

You see into the envelope before you open it Chris Ann?

 

;> )

Aug 08, 2014 04:35 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jay, Every spring brings a new leak. I found that even with the proper valve installed most do not drain their lines.

Aug 09, 2014 12:18 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I take my bleeder valves off each fall and put them on top of my water heater all winter, Don.

Aug 09, 2014 12:28 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

I don't see that approach to preventing freezing on houses post 60's.  Most of the time it is done with frost free type valves--and certainly all the time in new construction.  Not sure why anyone would go to all that extra work when one valve will do the trick.

Aug 09, 2014 11:46 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

You might not, but I see the "frost-free valves" freeze all the time Charlie!  My neighbor replaced his valves with frost free and one froze up and popped.  And we aren't the coldest area of the country.  We have our share of zero degree weeks however.

But if the valve is water free it simply cannot pop.

Aug 10, 2014 02:34 AM