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 Mobile ViewPLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES AIR INLET VALVE, WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS, WATER TANK ANTI-SCALD VALVES APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM MOLD BATHROOM VENTILATION BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS Bisphenol-A, BPA BLEVE EXPLOSIONS BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS BOILERS, HEATING CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE in WATER, HOW TO TEST FOR CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DRAIN a WATER HEATER TANK FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING Key Winterizing Topics How to Winterize a Building Winterize - Heat On Procedure Thermostat Settings Turn Water Off ? Winterize Water Softener & Treatment Equip. Find & Fix Water Pipe Freeze-Up Points Heat tapes, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up Freeze Protect Drains Winterize- Heat Off Procedure De-Winterized a Building Thawing Frozen Pipes Repairing Burst Leaky Pipes Turning on Heating Restoring Drains Turning on Water Water Supply/Drain Pipe Leak Types Restoring Water Softener & Treatment Equip FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB GAS PIPING HEAT TAPE USAGE GUIDE HOT WATER HEATERS INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST OUTHOUSES & LATRINES OIL FIRED WATER HEATERS OIL TANKS PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types AGE OF PIPING AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES BRASS WATER PIPES CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR CHECK VALVES CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMPRESSION FITTINGS COPPER PIPING in buildings CLEANOUTS, PLUMBING DRAIN CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, HOT WATER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DIAELECTRIC PIPE FITTINGS DRAIN & SEWER PIPING DRAIN NOISES FLARE FITTINGS FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS FREEZE-PROOF PIPES GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS GALVANIZED STEEL WATER PIPING LEAD PIPES in buildings LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEAK TYPES, Water Supply/Drain Pipe OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS PLASTIC PIPING PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES PLUMBING DRAIN CLEANOUTS PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST PLUMBING NOISE CONTROL PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & TYPES PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES REPAIR BURST LEAKY PIPES SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING SUPPLY PIPING Transite Pipe Water Supply Piping TRAPS on DRAINS VALVES, PLUMBING VENT PIPING WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE WATER PIPES, Clogs Leaks Types Water pipe clog diagnosis Water pipe clog repair guide WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR PLUMBING FIXTURES, KITCHEN, BATH AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES FAUCETS & CONTROLS, KITCHEN & BATH FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS PLUMBING FIXTURE TRAPS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST PLUMBING NOISE CONTROL SCALD PROTECTION SHOWERS, TUBS SINKS, FIXTURES SPAS, WHIRLPOOLS, SOAK/JETTED TUBS SPAS, WHIRLPOOLS, INSTALLATION TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TISSUE CHOICES TOILET TISSUE TEST TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES TUBS & TUB REPLACEMENTS or RELINERS RANGE BOILERS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL TANKLESS COILS TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES WATER HEATERS AGE of WATER HEATERS ALTERNATIVE HOT WATER SOURCES ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS HOT WATER PRESSURE EXPANSION RATE HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT INDIRECT FIRED WATER HEATERS WATER HEATER PROPERTIES WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER PUMPS & TANKS WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY WATER PUMP SAFETY WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP & WATER TANK REPAIRS WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE, WELL PUMP WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING CLEANOUTS, PLUMBING DRAIN CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES Basement Wells CHECK VALVES CISTERNS DEPTH of a WELL, HOW TO MEASURE Drilled Wells - steel casings Driven Point Wells How Much Water is In the Well? How to Test Well Water Quantity How to Get More Water From a Well Hand Dug Wells Hand Dug Well Procedure Jetted Wells OLD WELL - RETURN TO SERVICE Springs as Water Supply Wash Wells Well Pits WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE WATER PIPES, Clogs Leaks Types WATER PRESSURE LOSS WATER PUMP SAFETY WATER TANK SAFETY WATER TANK TYPES WELL CHLORINATION SHOCKING PROCEDURE WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES WELL DEPTH, HOW TO MEASURE WELL FLOW RATE WELL LIFE EXPECTANCY WELL PIPING CHECK VALVES WELL PIPING FOOT VALVES WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS WELL PIPING TAIL PIECE WELL PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY WELL PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE WELL PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
This article explains how to turn the water back on in a building that has been previously winterized or shut down. We include warnings about possible surprise leaks and what to do about them to prevent building damage. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.The articles at this website will answer most questions about freeze protection for piping and other building plumbing and heating system components: how to winterize a building to avoid frozen pipes, and how to thaw frozen water supply & drain piping, wells, & water tanks. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Staged Steps in Turning on Water Supply System to Minimize Water Leak Damage in buildingsThis article describes a staged step by step approach to turning on water in a building where the water supply has been shut down over a winter or during a period of absence. The staged approach lets us check each building area and fixture one by one, minimizing the chances of extensive water damage even if a leak has occurred while the building was unattended. Even for buildings located in areas not subject to freezing and burst pipes, a staged water turn-on approach is useful. A pipe may have been damaged or cut by building activities, a trap may have corroded through, or other plumbing damage may be present even if no freezing conditions occurred.. Step 1: Repair any supply piping or drain leaks found by visual inspection
The photos above show two visually obvious water supply pipe leaks that need to be repaired before hot water heating (above left) or water supply (above right) can be turned on in this building. Don't turn on the water supply before any known cut or broken pipes have been repaired. Well this is not exactly true. You may think that all cut or broken pipes have been repaired and then try turning on the building water supply. Step 2: Repair any drain piping leaks found by visual inspection. Replace any open or damaged plumbing traps.
Step 3: CLOSE all faucets indoors and outside. Turn OFF hot water. Turn OFF other water supply shutoff valves.Closing every faucet makes sure that you can open and check each fixture individually without being flooded by leaks in one area of a building while you're checking somewhere else. Don't forget to close outside hose faucets as well as all indoor faucets. If the building was winterized and pipes drained, chances are that all faucets and valves were left "open". Don't turn on the water supply before closing all supply piping drains that were left open.
Close building plumbing supply pipe area shutoff valves: First, if the building has additional water supply control valves that shut off water to various building areas, let's close each of them so that we can later open them one by one. If the building was winterized in a freezing climate it is likely that all of these valves were left open to drain piping earlier. If you cannot close an old corroded water shutoff valve, don't force it as you may break it and cause a worse problem. Just add this valve to your list of necessary plumbing repairs. Step 4: Turn ON the building water supply at the main valve.
Make sure any valve between water pump and water pressure tank inlet is in the open position: But some systems include an additional shutoff between the water pump and the inlet to the water tank. If this valve is shut and the pump turns on, depending on just where the pump pressure control switch is installed, the pump may short cycle on and off rapidly or it could even be damaged or burst a part or pipe - a dangerous condition. Make sure that any valves between the water pump itself and the water tank inlet from the water pump or well are in the open position.
Stop, look, and listen for leaks at the water main valve or water pump and water tank. Also look and listen for leaks in the supply piping nearby. If there were no other shutoff valves to individual areas of the building, look and listen for leaks in supply piping throughout the building before continuing to check individual plumbing fixtures (Step 6-below). Of course if you detect a leak in the water supply equipment, tanks, or piping system turn the water supply off immediately and remove any spills before starting the leak repair. Step 5: Open water shutoff valves that supply water to each individual building area, one by one
Step 6: Turn on and test individual plumbing fixtures - brief test
Stop, look, and listen for leaks. Do not leave after turning water on at a previously winterized or shut-down building before you have spent some time looking and listening for leaks, including the hiss, spurt, or just drip of a water supply pipe that may have burst hidden in a wall or ceiling cavity. Step 7: Drain leak test: full water test at each plumbing fixtureOnce we have seen that the sink and tub traps are not leaking, go ahead and use the plumbing fixtures normally. When several gallons or more of water have been run into a fixture drain, check for visible leaks or sounds of dripping from the building drain piping. Some slow leaks in supply piping or drain piping are harder to detect - we describe these at Water Supply/Drain Pipe Leak Types. Stop, look, and listen for leaks. Do not leave after turning water on at a previously winterized or shut-down building before you have spent some time looking and listening for leaks, including the hiss, spurt, or just drip of a water supply pipe that may have burst hidden in a wall or ceiling cavity. Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about how to de-winterized a building that has been shut-down: procedures to avoid water damage and leaks Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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If multiple water valves were turned off during building shut-down, open them one at at time, checking for leaks in each individual individual building area before continuing.
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