By NoWater - 21/09/2017 13:56 - United States - Milwaukee

Today, the city finally turned the water on to my new home after waiting for 2 months. This is how I found out that someone had stolen the copper water pipes from under my house. FML
I agree, your life sucks 4 426
You deserved it 242

Chelsea Schattner tells us more.

My first published fml! Hey everyone a little back story. The copper pipes where in the crawl space under the house. Easily accessible to everyone. The house sat empty for 9 years and was built in the 1940's with very little updates. I am remodeling it and thankfully there is home owners insurance on it. I am still out a chunk of money but not as much. The water was only on for a few minutes. The city turned it on and I opened the sink valve to no water. I could hear it but had no water. I crawled under the house and found the main cut off flush to the ground and all the copper gone. We turned off the water and called the cops and insurance. Damage total: $3,500.00

Comments

Two months ago… "Oh, did you hear? The water won't be turned on for a couple months, new neighbor." "I didn't know. Thanks for the heads up!" "No problem. So don't even worry about the lack of water from your faucets and other fixtures." "Okay, I won't. See you lat—" "Seriously, /really/ don't worry. It's not like somebody stole your copper piping. Hahaha. Ha."

Little Richard 11

But you took the time to write this out...?

You must have been flooded with emotions.

really_dad? 14

Well we-yet the chances of that happening?

really_dad? 14
Lobby_Bee 17

Lost some copper pipe, but you gained a huge swimming pool. I say that's a win!

Donut_Wizard 23

Only to discover all too late that you are in fact the Wicked Witch, just as the water sprays you and begins to make you melt.

It says you're posting from Wisconsin. One of the coldest states in the USA. Why are you using exposed copper for the entire house, muchless under the house to the elements? Either you bought a trailer, or if its a house you built your contractor has some explaining to do. Frozen pipes burst. Sounds like you were loosing the pipes one way or another.

House was built in the 1940's. I am remodeling it and finding the dumb shit people did. Pipes where most likely insulated until they where stolen.

Pipes under a house in a crawl space usually are copper. the heat from the house keeps the pipes warm enough so they don't freeze. The heater is usually in the crawl space too also providing additional heat.

yes and no. Most homes will have insulated pipes and or the warmth from the house will keep the pipes from freezing. However trailer homes do not have that luxury or the heat keeping the pipes from freezing. I had a trailer home and the previous Tennent removed the insulation from the pipes and the heat tape. I ended up with a burst pipe and major damage. I rerouted the pipes into the main living area of the house so the furnace kept the pipes heated since I could not get enough heat tape for the job and didn't have the money to order all of it. Seriously my plumber bill was almost a grand.

Try not being a know it all...you obviously have no knowledge of how this works...

My first published fml! Hey everyone a little back story. The copper pipes where in the crawl space under the house. Easily accessible to everyone. The house sat empty for 9 years and was built in the 1940's with very little updates. I am remodeling it and thankfully there is home owners insurance on it. I am still out a chunk of money but not as much. The water was only on for a few minutes. The city turned it on and I opened the sink valve to no water. I could hear it but had no water. I crawled under the house and found the main cut off flush to the ground and all the copper gone. We turned off the water and called the cops and insurance. Damage total: $3,500.00

Holy crap that's a lot of cash. I hope insurance is kind to you!

samomaha 17

So sorry, OP. What a frustration! You might consider closing off the crawlspace to the outside, and creating an entrance from inside the house. I had a home from about the same era and the only access to the crawlspace under the home was through the floor of the main closet. Most of the closet floor was a lift up hinged door. Good luck with the rest of your renovations!