Monday, November 30, 2009

Winterization and De-Winterization

Winter is here, and so are the vacant houses. If you are in the home buying market during the next few months you may notice a sign similar to the following:



This means that the home has been winterized. The winterization process is designed to protect the plumbing system against broken, cracked or burst pipes due to freezing water in the line.

A properly performed winterization includes, but is not limited to the following:

- Turn off and lock the main water valve
- Flush all water out of the plumbing system with compressed air
- Flush and Drain all water appliances
- Close all fixtures and valves
- Protect drain system with antifreeze
- Set central heating system to 55 degrees or higher
- Post notification of Winterization

One of the first clues that a property has not been Winterized is water in the plumbing system. If you are being told that a home was Winterized and there is still water in the plumbing system, most likely the service was not properly performed by a certified or licensed individual.

Once a property has been winterized the plumbing system must never be recharged until a proper De-Winterization has been performed. One of the most common problems I encounter when inspecting previously winterized homes is cracked or leaking valves. This happens when a person decides to attempt to De-Winterize a property themselves without a certification or license in plumbing. The most common misconception is that De-Winterizing a property means to just turn the water on. This may work 70 percent of the time. The other 30 percent of the time, valves, pipes or fixtures get cracked or damaged in the process.

So what should you expect to take place during a De-Winterization? The following is the minimum required procedure of a De-Winterization:

- Open all fixures and close any valves that do not have fixures attached
- Repressurize plumbing system with water
- Close fixtures
- Fill and run all water appliances
- Check system for leaks
- Flush all drains of antifreeze

One of the first clues that a property has not been De-Winterized is air in the plumbing system. If you are being told that a home was De-Winterized and there is still air in the plumbing system, most likely the service was not properly performed by a certified or licensed individual.

Need your home Winterized or De-Winterized?
Call Inspector Catch-it® today at (661) 948-3375!

Need a home inspection?
Visit the website of Inspector Catch-it® for a quote!

Is it November Already?

Wow, it's been busy over here!  I can't believe its been over a month since I have posted here! I am so sorry everyone, I will write another article today.