Turning Water On In A Foreclosed Home

Primespec Consulting Services

Phoenix Foreclosed Home Water Damage

This last week I had two vacant houses to inspect that had the water turned off.  In one of the houses the clothes washer had been removed and the hot and cold water valves were open.  The water company turned on the water to the house and did not notice the meter was running indicating a water valve or line was open.  Within a short period of time the 1st floor was flooded and the inspection had to be postponed a few days until the house was dried out.

The other house had been winterized by the bank.  When winterizing a house  the water is removed from all the water lines to prevent the lines from freezing during the winter months.  I know it sounds funny that houses in the Phoenix area might freeze, but some banks follow a national procedure for foreclosed homes.  The bottom drain valve at the water heater was opened to drain the water heater.  Debris from the tank  become stuck in the valve preventing the valve from fully closing.  Water from this partially opened valve had damaged the water heater platform.

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