Home Winterization

[Frank Vetter]

Is anyone doing home winterizations? Seems like a natural compliment to our business. Any info you can share, I.E. proceedures, forms, etc. would be appreciated.

Thanks

[John Adrian Sopher]

Hmmm no, but that sounds like it could be a good money making idea!!!!  What kind of idea's do you have?  Is this something you see other inspectors doing in your area?  Is this a winterization for an occupied home (covering hose bibs etc) or unoccupied (draining plumbing lines)?

[Frank Vetter]

Unoccupied - forclosures/bank owned. It would involve draining & blowing out plumbing lines with an air compressor and using an antifreeeze product in drain lines, toilet tanks & bowls. I do see a few other inspectors offering it.

[Dominic Maricic]

I've seen a few guys offering it as well. I'd make sure your insurance covers you somehow as if done wrong it can have expensive consequences!

[John Adrian Sopher]

I may look into it a little more!!!

[Jay Markanich]

My insurance does not cover winterizing.  I have done a bunch of de-winterizations this spring and summer though.  I charge an extra $100 - plumbers here charge $150, so I become a bargain.  I station people around the house (after we turn off all the valves) to make sure there are no water explosions when I open the main.  I NEVER turn on the valve to the house at the street... only the one inside the house.

[Gregory Scheer]

Wow!  Jay, I hadn't even thought of that!  Would you mind sharing your procedures?  After all my time in a cockpit, you gotta know I'm checklist-oriented.  

[Jay Markanich]

Find the main valve.  Check.
Engage the system by explaining how the valve works.  Check.
Rev the engine by telling them they are going to help you.  Check.
Increase thrust with a pep talk about how they are going to help insure the safety of the house.  Check.
File a flight plan for each client - sending them to different plumbing destinations.  Check.
If there are not enough people to land at each location, file plans for them to go to and land in the highest elevations.  Check.
They are to radio back upon landing, after making sure all the valves are off at each airport.  Check.
As excitement velocity increases during your talk, lift occurs and everyone scatters about the higher altitudes of the house to where all the plumbing fixtures are.  Check.
As they arrive at their destinations, they need to turn off all valves and radio back.  Check.
Turn on the main valve.  Check.
Listen for any anomaly.  Check.
Should a leak occur at any fixture destination, they are to radio back immediately.  Check.
If so, turn off the valve and investigate.  If not, and all the fixture locations are not manned, you run to each to make sure there are no leaks.  Check.
If there are no leaks, you can then proceed with the plumbing inspection, and test appliances.  Check.
Do not light the pilot light under the water heater.  Check.
Explain why.  Check.
Note that fact on your report.  Check.
If the water heater is electric, and you have sizable cajones, make sure it fills up completely before you turn on the circuit breaker (which ideally had been turned off for the winterization...!).  Check.
Make sure the water heater is making hot water.  Check.
I like to leave the house the way I encountered it.  (Note that on the report.)  So I turn off the WH breaker and the main valve when we leave.  Extend your flaps, lower the landing gear, leave the house.  Check.
Collect your check.  Check.

[Dominic Maricic]

HAHAHA. Nice flight plan! One question, where do you find and the people to fly around the house? Putting your daughter to work?

[Jay Markanich]

Clients, if there are enough of them.

If not, me!

[William R. DeVries]

If your not already giving the client a paper on maintenance and seasonal things to do you may want to consider it.
I have this already in my report for the clients

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/63218.pdf

I print them off and included it in the report binder.
solves the problem and the client has all the info they need.
Full service gets more refferals

[Jay Markanich]

Sure thing - good point.  I have 4 pages of seasonal chores.  Each item has a number sending them into my book to tell them how to do it.  Of course, the number on the page matches the number on the same item in my report, so the report, book and lists all match up.

Full service is the only way to go...