Dangerous Conditions & Utility Turn-On Policy
Effective Date: July 31, 2026
Entity Name: Chester County Home Inspections
Corporate Address: 1357 Elbow Ln, Chester Springs, PA 19425
Official Contact: +14842121600
1. Mandate for Operational Utilities
To accurately test major residential infrastructure—including water distribution networks, electrical service panels, water heating equipment, and HVAC systems—all utilities must be fully active at the time of the scheduled appointment. Chester County Home Inspections requires that electricity, water, and gas services be turned on and operational prior to our arrival at any property across Chester, Berks, Montgomery, and Delaware counties.
If the main utilities are shut off, winterized, or locked by a utility provider, those associated structural and mechanical components cannot be evaluated. They will be marked as “Uninspected / Utilities Deactivated” in your interactive digital report.
2. Strict Refusal to De-Winterize or De-Isolate Systems
For liability and safety reasons, inspectors with Chester County Home Inspections are strictly prohibited from acting as public utility technicians or plumbing contractors. Our core rules regarding deactivated systems include:
- No Activating Main Valuation Valves: If the main water valve to a vacant or flipped house is turned off, our inspectors will not turn it on. Activating a deactivated water main poses an immediate threat of catastrophic flooding if open plumbing lines, frozen pipe ruptures, or missing fixtures exist out of the inspector’s line of sight.
- No Resetting Main Electrical Breakers: Inspectors will not engage main circuit breakers that have been padlocked, tagged out, or switched off by utility providers or code enforcement officers, due to the risk of active electrical fires or hidden short-circuits.
- No Lighted Pilots or Open Gas Infrastructure: If the gas supply line to a furnace, boiler, or water heater is shut off, our inspectors will not open the line or manually light standing gas pilots. De-isolating gas systems must be managed exclusively by the listing homeowner, an authorized asset management company, or a utility provider like PECO or UGI.
3. Dangerous Property Conditions and Right of Refusal
The safety of our property analysts is absolute. Chester County Home Inspections retains an un-compromised right to refuse entry into any section of a home or structural space deemed structurally compromised, biologically toxic, or physically hazardous. Environmental and structural exclusions include:
| Hazardous Scenario | Inspection Protocol & Operational Directive |
|---|---|
| Standing Water & Electrical Hazards | Inspectors will not wade through flooded basements or enter subterranean areas where active standing water is in close proximity to main electrical panels, outlets, or appliances. |
| Severe Mold & Biological Infestation | Spaces heavily contaminated with open toxic mold growth, active raw sewage leakage, dead animal carcasses, or excessive pest infestation (e.g., nesting wasps or structural hornets) will not be entered until professionally remediated. |
| Structural Contraction or Collapse | Unstable flooring, rotted attic joists showing severe deflections, and unstable structural drop-downs will be visually logged from a distance but not stepped on or traversed. |
4. Return Trip Fees for Utility Rescheduling
It is the primary responsibility of the home buyer and their real estate agent to verify with the seller or listing brokerage that all utilities are turned on prior to the inspection window. If an inspector arrives and must skip testing the plumbing, electrical system, or HVAC due to deactivated utilities, a re-inspection can be arranged.
Once the utilities have been safely restored by the property owner, Chester County Home Inspections will schedule a return trip to inspect the skipped components. A standard flat-rate return trip fee will apply to cover the specialized scheduling window and vehicle operational expenses.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will the home inspector turn on the water if it’s just turned off at the main valve?
No. To prevent major property damage, our policy strictly prohibits inspectors from turning on main water valves that have been shut off. If the water is off, it often indicates the property has been winterized or has known leaks. The listing agent must have the seller activate the plumbing lines before we can safely inspect them.
What happens if a house is winterized?
If a home is winterized, the plumbing lines are typically blown out with air and filled with anti-freeze, and the water heater is drained. We cannot test the water supply, drainage, or operational functionality of appliances in a winterized state. Testing requires the seller to have the home formally de-winterized by a licensed plumber prior to our inspection appointment.
6. Safety and Utility Compliance Office
For explicit questions regarding utility access, property readiness checklists, or structural hazard guidelines, please reach our administrative operations team directly:
Chester County Home Inspections
1357 Elbow Ln,
Chester Springs, PA 19425
Phone: +14842121600
Web: chestercountyhomeinspections.com