On new construction everything needs to be looked at.
Even after the house has "passed" all the County inspections and is ready to be turned over to the buyer.
This is the water main servicing this house.
Above it is the pressure-reduction valve and the two pipes that will service the outdoor hose bibs.
Anything missing?
In the winter it is important to turn off the water supplying the outdoor hose bibs.
Those shut-off valves are indoors.
Turning them off inside, opening the hose bibs outside, and loosening the air-bleeder valve, will eliminate the water in the pipes.
That way the plumbing can freeze, but without water pressure it will not expand and break, leaking when the thaw comes.
In new construction, typically, these shut-off valves are near the water main. They can be elsewhere too, but typically you would see them on the tubing above that supporting 2x4.
Searching elsewhere they were not found.
Many home buyers, especially first-time home buyers, do not know about winterizing pipes and would not think to look for these valves.
As I said, on new construction everything needs to be inspected.
And investigate it all carefully, even if the building supervisor has been looking at things for many weeks and the County has signed off on the system!
My recommendation: an independent home inspection, another set of eyes, is essential on new construction! And look everywhere! You never know what might be missing!
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
Great catch. Sometimes people just check what is there and don't even realize that something is missing. This is one of the many reasons that it is important to have a professional home inspector, even on new construction.
Nice share. You can never be too careful and take that second and their check to be sure everything is there and that it is safe and properly installed. Its only right!
Thanks Debbie, and that is all true!
Rosemary - and thank you too. All those things are important, and checking even more so.
Jay * I'm getting a lot of newER construction townhouses in my management portfolio as HOMEowners are now moving and can not sell them since there are BRAND new homes in the area...I'm not seeing this - just sloppy "finish" work that BUYERS are not catching
A word to the wise...from a homeowner now wiser...just because it says "frost proof"....doesn't mean it is...urgh.
Sloppy finish work is one thing and pretty common Wallace. Utterly missing stuff that should be there is something else. NewER usually means those things that were missed have been remedied.
S&D - that is true! I don't trust those here and it's colder there!
Morning Jay even if it were there I would not know what to do with it. I have two outside faucets and put a covering on them when it gets cold.
James - that may be enough where you are, but not where it gets real cold.
Excellent catch! I love these posts because they are so good at illustrating the value of a good home inspector.
Kathryn - when you see the same thing over and over and then once it isn't the same, it's noticeable!
Home inspections on new construction are very important..
Hi Jay,
Looking at the set up, I ask why? There are simpler ways of doing things. Is this a "round house" for all the cutting corners? Or is this a simple fix?
Have a great day and get a home inspection on any new construction.
Have a really good week in Bristow, Virginia.
Best, Clint Mckie
Jay,
Once again, an inexpensive fix during installation. A bit more costly now, but absolutely required in our weather zone.
Rich
Jay, what does it take to put in a couple of shut-off valves? Ours are conveniently located in the utility closet above the hot water heater.
Totally agree with you on the additional eyes comment. In all honesty...the builder most likely hires a plumber...who who most likely hires an employee...who actually does the install. So the property should already have 3 sets of eyes on the work before the county or city inspector...but lets face it...they are looking for leaks...not whether or not someone forgot a shutoff....so yes a home inspection on a new property is a very wise investment!
This is another great example why people need to obtain a home inspection whether new or existing home
Good morning and good call Jay. Here in Michigan we know what winterizing pipes is all about and always look to see how and where to drain lines. I have had agents say to just "cut a line". lol. Worse yet is when it is winterized in February. Sorry guys, damage is already done. I always recommend a pre drywall inspection.
Jay, don't they use frost free hose bibs in your area?
Wow...it makes one wonder who to trust now a days...Supervision failed, work is shoddy...owner alert here...good one Jay
ALWAYS use a home inspector, no matter what the seller, builder or listing agent says. Things happen!
New construction is no different than an existing home when it comes to the need for an inspector! The builder I represent as part of my real estate business welcomes buyers to have an inspection! He gets a third pair of eyes in the house and can get any repairs done before closing, which cuts down on the need for call back repairs after closing. It's a win-win for builders if they will just see it that way.
Good catch! This would be a disaster for folks like myself living in Colorado.
Always good taking a second look at things to make a 100% guarantee on the situation.
Jay -- you mean you don't think the buyers want to be without running water for several months? And now someone will have to drain the system to put in the shut offs that should have been put there originally.
Hi Jay, Great advice. Inspections for new construction are just as important as for older homes !
I agree Edward, and do a lot of them!
Clint - I don't think it's a round house! I have a pretty mean round house in karate! A couple of valves is all it needs.
Yes it is Rich. Every year, almost, we have those snaps with the 0 - 5 degree range!
Mike - these typically would be right above! Easy to do, but not done!
Mike - it might just be that the "employee" hired to do the work was picked up at 7-11 that day.
Harry - it is what it is. And inspections are essential.
Randy - I think they are essential, having learned so much over the years. Around here we winterize in November or so. You all much earlier than that.
Not on new construction Frost Free Shadow. I see them on retro-fits, but have also seen them fail.
Richie - they were going to get to it after lunch that day, but got transferred to another house!
Yeah, that's it...
They do Donald. I have seen the bumper stickers.
Mary Ann - I find so much stuff you would think the builders would be grateful!
Charlie - when do you all winterize - August? ;>)
Kevin - often I am the LAST look! And an important one, I think.
Steven - plenty of time to come back to it later, but no time to do it right the first time.
I think so too Bill. I have learned a lot doing them, especially about their necessity.
Jay, we winterize around Christmas and dewinterize around New Years :)
Seriously though, I don't think I have ever seen an interior shut off additional to a frost free type faucet. I certainly never installed any in Syracuse NY where it gets to 30 below at times. Of course leaving hoses on is a problem anywhere :)
Jay, I never see interior shut-offs for hose bibbs here. We use frost free bibbs. So as long as you remove the hose you should be good to go ;)
Ooops I see Mr B said the same thing we must be posting about the same time.
Don you big copy cat :)
I see stiff, frozen hoses, full of water, wrapped around azaleas all the time Charlie.
Too cold here for that. Those frost frees are retrofits here Don. Thinking alike, and in the same state. Something is following something here...
He cayn't hep it! He wuz bourn wid a seelver pauw een his maut!
(That's perfect southern Virginian English - iff'n you can call it English)
New construction inspections are just as important as those for resale homes. There are thousands of items that go into a house and a trained set of eyes can pick up an important missed item that buyers and contractors can overlook.
Hi Jay, Excellent advise. IMHO, If I were a legislator, I would think that beside the builder, the county or city inspectors that so carelessly pass on new constructions, these inspectors should be held at least partially liable for any damage and repairs. I think they might in the future be a bit tougher in insuring that things are built to code and they would be held responsible to see that is. Otherwise why are they needed and on the city or county payroll.
All inspections are critical....but....I will say that you do need them even for....new construction. Good advice!!!
And I do it all the time Athina. Thanks!
William - that was the subject of the first builder's code! This is the first paragraph from a blog on my website:
"Building codes have been around for a long time. Sometime in the 1700’s BC, in Babylonia, Hammurabi’s Code stipulated that a builder be slain if he built a house that fell on and killed somebody. During the Dark Ages, London planners tried to reduce fires by stipulating a fire stop between row houses. And in 1791, Mr. Washington put forth legislation for the first United States building code."
http://www.jaymarinspect.com/home-inspector-codes-one-of-four.html
Larry - it is amazing sometimes what I come up with on new construction inspections!
I'm with the Washington boys, with a correctly installed frost free spigot, there should be no need for a shut off. I also agree about the hoses, I had a frozen, cracked frost free spigot earlier this year from a hose left on the spigot.
Leaving the hose attached is a common problem Jim. And NOT inclining the tube so water drains out...
Hmmmm. I live in a more temperate climate, so this is not really an issue I have to contend with. But, as always Jay, I find your posts very informative. I learned something new all the time, and this will be handy to know when I eventually get my mountain cabin.
Get it Gary! How fun! And when you do I will personally come and show you how to winterize your hose bibs, and maybe stay a couple of days!