HOT WATER HEATER PIPE BURST

[Mona C.]

hired a local contractor to install new Rheem hot water heater. Plumber started the job and broke a pipe. Water flooded the dining area, living room, kitchen, laundry room of my ground floor condo. Tenants were forced to vacate. There is no Water Main inside the condo. Cops came. Somehow the plumber capped the pipe after 45minutes. The water main is in the front lawn manhole! A hot water heater installation became a nightmare. What winter clause Can I put in the lease so tenants shut off water main, gas main and electrical main on their vacation?

[Mike McCarthy]

Regardless of what happened, I would have a plumber in and add a main shutoff valve in the house. For the $100-200 this might cost, it would be way less aggravating than something like this happening again.