Who Checks the Pipes?
Vern sat down that evening and wrote one page.
Picture two neighbors named Vern, 74, and Tom, 76. Vern spends January to April in a town abroad and leaves the house, which is paid off and worth about US$500,000, behind him. Tom lives next door, has a key, and said he would look in “now and then.”
Vern’s yearly plan for the house included utilities kept on and a security check. That line came to US$2,400, or US$200 a month (2,400 divided by 12). It was a small line next to the rest.
In February there was a cold week. Tom let himself in and heard a hiss from the kitchen. A pipe under the sink had split. Water was running across the floor toward the hall rug.
Tom did not know where the main water shutoff was. He phoned Vern, who answered on the fourth try.
“Where is the shutoff, Vern?”
“Behind the water heater. There is a blue handle.”
“Which way do I turn it?”
“Until it stops.”
Tom turned it until it stopped. The hissing ended. The rug was ruined and a corner of the kitchen floor had to be replaced. The rest of the house stayed dry. Both men agreed afterward that it could have gone another way if Vern had not picked up.
Vern sat down that evening and wrote one page. It listed the shutoff, the plumber and the electrician, the insurer’s phone number and who else had a key.
| Who checks | What they do well | What it asks of them or of you |
|---|---|---|
| A neighbor | Lives close, knows the street | A key, and a phone that is answered |
| A paid checker | Visits on a schedule | A yearly fee, which varies; ask what a visit covers |
| A relative | Cares about the house | May live far away, so the visits may be rare |
Whoever checks, a one-page list helps. A person who finds water on the floor needs three answers: where to turn it off, who to call, and who else knows.
You could…
- Write one page with the shutoff locations, the plumber’s and electrician’s names, the insurer’s number and who holds a key.
- Name a second person in case the first is away or unwell.
- Ask a plumber whether to shut off the main water and drain the lines for the months you are away.
Who checks on your house, and do they know where the blue handle is? Leave your answer in the comments. A reader who has not yet written the page for their own helper could start from yours.
Figures are estimates for planning, based on public data.
Tell us in the comments