Hey guys!
I had a quick question regarding inspections in below freezing weather!
I have a couple of inspections scheduled for tomorrow and the outside temp is supposed to be in the single digits…
My question is if I should leave all the sinks/faucets dripping, in order to prevent them from freezing? The house is vacant, I’m just worried about closing the faucets and causing future pipe damage.
Thanks for your opinions! We don’t usually deal with weather this cold, where I’m from!
Leave it like you found it.
As you leave take a picture of the thermostat setting.
Thank you for the timely response!
Dress appropriately!!
BEFORE you use any fixtures… verify if the plumbing system has been winterized or not. If it has, DO NOT attempt using any fixtures!!
Great tip! Thank you!!
And yes, we’ll definitely be layered up tomorrow!!
You have me beat, here in Oklahoma were expecting a crazy weekend of snow lol
Not used to that down here!
Whatever you do - make sure the heat is fully operational when you leave and that all breakers are on as you found them. Don’t want an unpleasant call down the road that you left the heat emergency switch off and the house has frozen.
Extended Forecast for
Click here for hazard details and duration
Winter Weather Advisory
Chance Snow
Low: 2 °F
Snow Likely
High: 12 °F
Snow
Low: -6 °F
Snow Likely
then Slight
Chance Snow
High: 5 °F
Mostly Cloudy
Low: -11 °F
Mostly Sunny
High: 26 °F
Mostly Cloudy
Low: 11 °F
Slight Chance
Snow
High: 41 °F
Slight Chance
Snow then
Mostly Cloudy
Low: 16 °F
Yep, it’s balmy here too. LOL
Cue the Florida Inspectors bragging about wearing shorts to inspections in 3,2,1…
I love the 4 seasons, let it snow, sucks for work though, O well, enjoy. 
Leave everything as you found it.
Add the following to your pre-inspection questions if the house is unoccupied and it is winter in areas with temperatures below 30 degrees: BEFORE the inspection tell client it would be an incomplete inspection if the house was winterized and you couldn’t inspect everything. Tell them it is imperative they get seller to ensure that everything has been turned on for the inspection, to include water, sewage, gas, heat, electric, etc. And as others have said, note the condition when you walk in with pictures, and then note the condition with pictures after the inspection of everything as you depart, so you can prove how you left it. If things are not turned on at the supply, don’t just assume it will be ok to turn them on for the inspection and then turn them off later. Not a good idea…if pipes are already cracked and burst…but not visible…you could be adding to or causing all kinds of damage that may or may not be immediately visible. So avoid turning supply lines on if they are off. And drain lines might have RV anti-freeze in them so if you pour water down the drains you’ll flush that anti-freeze away, so it would need to be replaced. Just be careful with those types of inspections, risk of you creating or causing damage is high if you are not careful about what you do and how you do it.
