My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a foreclosure. It is only our second house. We knew there was burst pipes when we started the process, but realized the extent of the damage during the inspection. In the unfinished basement we saw 8 burst pipes alone, and another on a heat exchange in the first floor 1/2 bath.
We are almost 100% certain that there are further bursts in the walls above. I have done plumbing work in the past with my father, so I feel as though I am capable of taking it on as a DIY, but am nervous about the boiler and water heater (although I know that the wh is not that difficult to change out either). We have a young family, and are looking to save money as we move into our new future dream home.
About the house: 2114 sq ft, well water, city sewer, 2 1/2 baths, baseboard hydronic heat, all copper piping that I would repair with more copper.
My father is going to travel from 4 hours away to help me move into the house and get it up and running again, it has been vacant for over 2 years.
The two questions I have are (and I might be short-sighted, so please help me open my eyes to secondary issues):
1) Initially my plan is to install ball valves in the basement before I even attempt to turn the water on (obviously). I want to isolate one of the full bathrooms and direct water only to that bathroom while I work on the rest of the house. Then I can live there while working on the house while my wife and three very young sons (6, 2, and 6 mos) can live at my in-laws. Then as I get sections of the pipe fixed, I'll bring them slowly back online.
2) Before I tear open walls to try and locate leaks on the upper floors, I thought I would cut the runs that go up into the walls, install ball valves, and do an air pressure test on the line. Then depending on the results of that test, I would either rip open the walls, or I would leave the ball valve in and reconnect the pipe.
Looking for professional advice please.
We are almost 100% certain that there are further bursts in the walls above. I have done plumbing work in the past with my father, so I feel as though I am capable of taking it on as a DIY, but am nervous about the boiler and water heater (although I know that the wh is not that difficult to change out either). We have a young family, and are looking to save money as we move into our new future dream home.
About the house: 2114 sq ft, well water, city sewer, 2 1/2 baths, baseboard hydronic heat, all copper piping that I would repair with more copper.
My father is going to travel from 4 hours away to help me move into the house and get it up and running again, it has been vacant for over 2 years.
The two questions I have are (and I might be short-sighted, so please help me open my eyes to secondary issues):
1) Initially my plan is to install ball valves in the basement before I even attempt to turn the water on (obviously). I want to isolate one of the full bathrooms and direct water only to that bathroom while I work on the rest of the house. Then I can live there while working on the house while my wife and three very young sons (6, 2, and 6 mos) can live at my in-laws. Then as I get sections of the pipe fixed, I'll bring them slowly back online.
2) Before I tear open walls to try and locate leaks on the upper floors, I thought I would cut the runs that go up into the walls, install ball valves, and do an air pressure test on the line. Then depending on the results of that test, I would either rip open the walls, or I would leave the ball valve in and reconnect the pipe.
Looking for professional advice please.
