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View Full Version : Main water line and meter in crawl space



mathew stouffer
06-25-2009, 11:56 AM
Do you report on this type of installation. The whole thing looked like something I would do after a few shots and a six pack.

Rick Cantrell
06-25-2009, 12:04 PM
Yes, you should report what you see.
Also, The shutoff valves look like they may be "Gas" valves, if so, they are not allowed.

Jerry Peck
06-25-2009, 01:18 PM
I think the valves are just 1/4 turn ball valves for water use.

Yes, I would also write it up, not just its location either, looks to be many things wrong.

Let a plumber come out and say it has been permitted, inspected, and is okay (it might be, but I would doubt it).

mathew stouffer
06-25-2009, 01:44 PM
That's why I was asking. Their "plumber" said it is fine

Raymond Wand
06-25-2009, 01:48 PM
Was his name Bubba? :D

Jerry Peck
06-25-2009, 01:49 PM
That's why I was asking. Their "plumber" said it is fine

That's when you call the local building department and ask them if having the water meter hidden in the crawlspace is okay with them, was a permit issued for this installation and was it inspected, then give them the address.

You are not doing anything 'down and dirty' to the sellers, all you are doing is CONFIRMING the information THEY provided you. If it turns out that it was not permitted, then THEY can contact their plumber and tell their plumber to straighten it out with the building department. :D

Rick Hurst
06-25-2009, 01:49 PM
That exposed copper is going to freeze up big time.:eek:

Utah, its get a bit cold there doesn't it?

rick

Jerry Peck
06-25-2009, 01:53 PM
That exposed copper is going to freeze up big time.:eek:

Utah, its get a bit cold there doesn't it?

rick

Rick,

Do you write exposed plumbing lines up?

Are you north of I-10?

I-10 is approximately the freeze line in the codes and north of the freeze line it is required to have ALL (DWV too) lines which are outside the thermal envelope protected from freezing by insulation, heat tape or both.

I keep posting that information, but I doubt many write it up. Those crawlspaces with exposed plumbing, including DWV? Yep, those too. Insulated from within the thermal envelope down to the frost depth, below that is okay.

Rick Hurst
06-25-2009, 02:18 PM
Yes, I do.

And I think just about all of us are above I-10.

Utah sure appears to be.:D

Jerry Peck
06-25-2009, 03:06 PM
Yes, I do.

Very good to hear.

I know some do not because ... get this ... it would not do any good, the building department accepts it (let's see, the building departments also accepted no sediment traps, and some HIs kept questioning that and that is changing - gee, I've been through that before, so that "the building department accepts it" is not an acceptable excuse).


And I think just about all of us are above I-10.

Including a few people who live in Florida ... VERY FEW live north of I-10 (compared to the population of Florida), but some do.


Utah sure appears to be.:D

Kinda looks that way, doesn't it? :D

Rick Hurst
06-25-2009, 04:03 PM
Jerry,

I grew up in a pier and beam house that I can remember my dad crawling under every winter to replace some copper line that had froze and burst.

Thats the educational experience I have to recommend the lines be insulated.:D

rick

Jerry Peck
06-25-2009, 05:50 PM
Rick,

The first house I over owned was in Gainesville, Florida, basically 40 SOUTH of the freeze line, and the piping in the crawlspace (galvanized) froze every single night when it was real cold, even with us leaving the water trickling all night.

Later in my construction days I had the good fortune to make repairs to many many apartments where the pipes were run through the attic and would burst every time there was a real cold spell.

Such as in 1983 when we had 43 below freezing weather and 1984 when we had 44 hours below freezing weather. Mucho money, but no one ever learned. It was "But the code DOES NOT REQUIRE ... " Yeah, yada, yada, yada, the pipes are still going to freeze and burst, but pay no attention to me, I'm just here taking your money again to fix it AGAIN.

And we were BELOW the freeze line.

John Kogel
06-25-2009, 06:04 PM
Yeah but did you ever pedal papers in the snow on a one-speed bike with coaster brakes?.......:)

Yes I would describe that as amateur workmanship, leaks can develop at any time.

Jerry Peck
06-25-2009, 06:24 PM
Yeah but did you ever pedal papers in the snow on one-speed bike with coaster brakes?.......:)


Nope. :D

By that age we had moved from the frozen tundra of 40 miles south of Buffalo, New York to sunny (and sometimes quite windy ;) ) Florida.

Besides, where I lived in that frozen tundra, NO ONE was out pedaling a bicycle at that time of year. It was all cars and trucks could do to make it through the snow. Our *average* annual snowfall was 240" ... 20 FEET "AVERAGE".

Tom Rees
06-26-2009, 05:53 AM
Do all of you write up polybutylene piping? :D

Lee Nettnin
06-27-2009, 06:53 AM
Nope. :D

By that age we had moved from the frozen tundra of 40 miles south of Buffalo, New York to sunny (and sometimes quite windy ;) ) Florida.

Besides, where I lived in that frozen tundra, NO ONE was out pedaling a bicycle at that time of year. It was all cars and trucks could do to make it through the snow. Our *average* annual snowfall was 240" ... 20 FEET "AVERAGE".

C'mon JP, it's not that cold ;). Lived here all my life, and yes I used to deliver papers on my bike in the winter. The old lake snow machine does turn on from time to time, but it's not as bad as it was when I was a kid....maybe the snow drifts just looked bigger when I was shorter:). At any rate, I have visited Florida and it is just too hot for me, I can put on extra clothing, but there is just so much you can take off. Oh well to each his own.

Jerry Peck
06-27-2009, 07:08 AM
C'mon JP, it's not that cold ;). Lived here all my life, and yes I used to deliver papers on my bike in the winter.

Where is Hamlin, New York?

I found a North Hamlin not far from Rochester.

That would be on the wrong side of Buffalo to have the full lake effect.


The old lake snow machine does turn on from time to time, but it's not as bad as it was when I was a kid....maybe the snow drifts just looked bigger when I was shorter:).

"from time to time" ... as in "every year" where I lived. The LEAST snowfall on record the last time I checked (which was 15 years ago or so) was 150 inches or almost 13 FEET ... THE LEAST was almost 13 FEET.

The photo show what was a common winter sight in my hometown. I used to ride in the snow plow when my dad was plowing snow for the village and when the snow plow would get stuck and could not push any further, I would wait in the truck while he hiked back to the last house to call for a back up car to come get us. Then he would go back the next day with a dozer behind him and they would push the snow plow from the back with the dozer until the truck could make it on its own again.

Lee Nettnin
06-27-2009, 01:22 PM
Where is Hamlin, New York?

I found a North Hamlin not far from Rochester.

That would be on the wrong side of Buffalo to have the full lake effect.





Hamlin is in NY, about 20-25 miles northwest of Rochester. TOO far from buffalo yes, but right on the shore of Lake Ontario. Yes, we DO get FULL lake effect.

Jerry Peck
06-27-2009, 02:50 PM
Hamlin is in NY, about 20-25 miles northwest of Rochester. TOO far from buffalo yes, but right on the shore of Lake Ontario. Yes, we DO get FULL lake effect.

Right about where the map shows North Hamlin.

What is your average snow fall?

What is your minimum snow fall on record?

Just curious.

Lee Nettnin
06-28-2009, 06:01 AM
Right about where the map shows North Hamlin.

What is your average snow fall?

What is your minimum snow fall on record?

Just curious.
We have an average of 55" a year, heck I can remember when I was a kid getting that in 1 snowstorm that lasted a week, oh well those were the days. Buffalo has an average of 95" a year. I don't know what the min. was, some years it seems to snow every day:(.
I don't know why your map is showing North Hamlin, kinda weird, no such town.
Well anyway, enjoy your sunshine.

Jerry Peck
06-28-2009, 07:15 AM
I don't know why your map is showing North Hamlin, kinda weird, no such town.

That's MS Streets and Trips for you. :(

Mayville is on what is called a snow ridge and blocks/catches the snow that would otherwise make it to Jamestown and other places.

mathew stouffer
06-28-2009, 09:43 AM
Kiddies play, 250 inches:)

Alta Ski Area Welcomes You (http://www.alta.com/pages/snowhistory.php)

Jerry Peck
06-28-2009, 10:07 AM
Kiddies play, 250 inches:)

Alta Ski Area Welcomes You (http://www.alta.com/pages/snowhistory.php)


2009 Cumulative Snow 696.0"

Yikes! That's 58 FEET!

How do you guys get around up there in 58 FEET of snow?

Jerry Peck
06-28-2009, 10:25 AM
I did some research and I doubt that a home inspection business doing new construction inspections could survive in Mayville, New York: :D

Single-family new house construction building permits:

1996: 4 buildings, average cost: $108,000
1997: 4 buildings, average cost: $108,000
1998: 4 buildings, average cost: $108,000
1999: 4 buildings, average cost: $108,000
2000: 4 buildings, average cost: $108,000
2001: 4 buildings, average cost: $108,000
2002: 2 buildings, average cost: $107,000
2003: 4 buildings, average cost: $197,800
2004: 2 buildings, average cost: $175,000
2005: 2 buildings, average cost: $147,500
2006: 2 buildings, average cost: $147,500
2007: 1 building, cost: $225,000

mathew stouffer
06-28-2009, 10:31 AM
That's just up in a canyon ski resort town, but they get pounded by snow. Lake effect from the great salt lake. Park City only average about 350 in the town and 500 up high. Alta had over 800 inches this year, they stop recording in april, but we had lots of snow in may. Great for skiing