Paul Tooley
07-24-2007, 07:20 PM
Actually, while going through the garage and describing the water heater to my client, I pointed out the wet and stained plywood deck the water heater was setting on, the fungus and moisture staining below the pipe extension for the TPRV, the rust line stain on the little pressure tank above the water heater, and strangely enough, the water staining and fungus on the ceiling above the pressure tank. I explained further that the staining on the tank was indicative of a possible leak. Because I could not see the area in question, even with my mirror, I carefully slid my hand along the top of the tank and brushed off the rust wart that was holding everything in. Old faithful erupted with a small but powerful jet that, again strangely enough, hit in the same area of the ceiling as the stains and fungus. I shut off the water to the water heater, shut off the main house supply in the hall closet, explained what had happened to the client and also told her how simply replacing the tank (available at the local home depot) would fix the old faithful issue.
I told the buyer's agent that she needed to call the listing agent and explain what had happened and what I did as a result. I also left a note for the owner with my cell number to contact me with any questions (this was my biggest fear, but the client had no problem with it).
Before I had left the house, I informed the client and agent that I would gladly return to finish the inspection of the plumbing when the leak was fixed, gratis. I left a note to the owner explaining what I did /found and that the water had been turned off. I also had to explain to the buyer's daughter, a paint contractor and two HVAC contractors what had happened. I also had to convnce the HVAC guys not to try any "caulk or duct tape" repairs. Oh yeah, I placed my hand-towel on the tank to stop the spray and turn it into a stream, and I rummaged around and found a beach pail to catch the water (emptied twice before I finally left).
Half an hour after I left, I get a voicemail saying " my name is blah blah, you inspected my house, call me at..." After several traded voicemails (his phone is set up to go straight to VM) I managed to chat with him. He jumped in with both feet and said that his neighbor called him and told him that "the inspector boke your water heater and left the water running in the garage so that there was water running out the garage door. I had to turn it off". When I tried to expain my bafflement at this, He told me that if his water heater was broken and he couldn't take a shower when he got home, he was gonna call the cops on me. I politely informed him that he should first contact his agent because he/she had been informed at least two hours prior about the situation. He said a few beligerant things and hung up.
when he got home (yeah he was yelling at me without seeing anything yet) he called again and asked If I was going to send someone over to fix his pressure tank (suddenly the water heater wasn't broken), I said No, I am not, he asked if my name was the same one as the one on the note I left for him, I said yes, and he hung up again.
A few hours later, the buyer's agent called and said that things had calmed a bunch. She said that the neighbor may have caused some additional problems after they left. The neighbor had come over and tried to "fix" things while the agent and the buyer were still there. He came over when he saw the agent emptying the bucket for the third time. Evidently, after the agent and buyer left, he went in, saw my note to the owner, called him and told him that I left things out of control and that HE had to turn the water off.
Besides the seller acting the role fo the village idiot, I cannot figure out why the pressure tank did not stop spewing after I shut the main off. In this area, there is a main shutoff in or under the house, in addition to the one at the meter (which we never touch :}) I checked all the faucets throughout the house and had no pressure, but water still streamed from the pinhole in the tank. Near as I can tell, either the water heater was fed pre-shutoff or the bladder in the tank was expanding and would eventually stop spewing.
Dayyyyuuuuummmm, what a day
I told the buyer's agent that she needed to call the listing agent and explain what had happened and what I did as a result. I also left a note for the owner with my cell number to contact me with any questions (this was my biggest fear, but the client had no problem with it).
Before I had left the house, I informed the client and agent that I would gladly return to finish the inspection of the plumbing when the leak was fixed, gratis. I left a note to the owner explaining what I did /found and that the water had been turned off. I also had to explain to the buyer's daughter, a paint contractor and two HVAC contractors what had happened. I also had to convnce the HVAC guys not to try any "caulk or duct tape" repairs. Oh yeah, I placed my hand-towel on the tank to stop the spray and turn it into a stream, and I rummaged around and found a beach pail to catch the water (emptied twice before I finally left).
Half an hour after I left, I get a voicemail saying " my name is blah blah, you inspected my house, call me at..." After several traded voicemails (his phone is set up to go straight to VM) I managed to chat with him. He jumped in with both feet and said that his neighbor called him and told him that "the inspector boke your water heater and left the water running in the garage so that there was water running out the garage door. I had to turn it off". When I tried to expain my bafflement at this, He told me that if his water heater was broken and he couldn't take a shower when he got home, he was gonna call the cops on me. I politely informed him that he should first contact his agent because he/she had been informed at least two hours prior about the situation. He said a few beligerant things and hung up.
when he got home (yeah he was yelling at me without seeing anything yet) he called again and asked If I was going to send someone over to fix his pressure tank (suddenly the water heater wasn't broken), I said No, I am not, he asked if my name was the same one as the one on the note I left for him, I said yes, and he hung up again.
A few hours later, the buyer's agent called and said that things had calmed a bunch. She said that the neighbor may have caused some additional problems after they left. The neighbor had come over and tried to "fix" things while the agent and the buyer were still there. He came over when he saw the agent emptying the bucket for the third time. Evidently, after the agent and buyer left, he went in, saw my note to the owner, called him and told him that I left things out of control and that HE had to turn the water off.
Besides the seller acting the role fo the village idiot, I cannot figure out why the pressure tank did not stop spewing after I shut the main off. In this area, there is a main shutoff in or under the house, in addition to the one at the meter (which we never touch :}) I checked all the faucets throughout the house and had no pressure, but water still streamed from the pinhole in the tank. Near as I can tell, either the water heater was fed pre-shutoff or the bladder in the tank was expanding and would eventually stop spewing.
Dayyyyuuuuummmm, what a day