The following picture shows what can happen when the heat in a home is shut off during the Winter and water in the plumbing pipes is not drained out. In this case, the main water shut off valve had been closed for the Winter, but the water inside the pipes expanded when it froze causing the soldiered joints to open up. When the water was turned on in the Spring for the home inspection this was the result.

Photo taken by Joe Gregor of Hands On Home Inspections, Indianapolis, IN.