Homebuyer’s Plumbing Checklist

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments that you will make. While it’s standard practice to hire a home inspector, most people don’t think to have a licensed contractor perform a plumbing inspection. Below are several important reasons why you shouldn’t skip this step and to add it to your homebuyer’s plumbing checklist.

Sewer Line

It’s easy to ignore and forget about the things that we can’t see. Most of us don’t even give our sewer lines any thought at all. We flush the toilet and we’re done! However, sewer lines are susceptible to root intrusion, corrosion, crack, clogs, as well as other issues. Repairing a sewer line can potentially cost more than replacing a roof or even buying a new car making a camera inspection worth every penny!

Water Heater

Hot water is another luxury that we take for granted, but did you know that a water heater only has a lifespan of 10 years? Check the age of the water heater and request maintenance records. Flush tanked water heaters annually and descale tankless water heaters annually.

Toilets, Sinks, Showers

Turning on the faucets and flushing the toilets are a good start when you are considering a house. Also check:

• Water Color: Rust in an occupied home indicates corrosion
• Hot Water: Check that all sinks and showers have hot water
• Water Pressure: Check that all sinks and showers have adequate pressure
• Fixture Sealing: All fixtures for leaks around the sealing
• Toilets: Make sure the toilets do not rock and the bases aren’t warped or discolored

Pipes

Make sure to check the type of pipes that your potential house has.

• Copper: Most ideal material
• Plastic: PVC is not approved for indoor use. Polybutylene should be replaced.
• Steel: Prone to corrosion and indicate that the pipes are old
• Lead: Need to be replaced

Want Peace-of-Mind?

Peace-of-mind is very important. Hiring a professional to check the plumbing can give you peace-of-mind when making a major investment so don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us here at 1-800-anytyme. We would be happy to help you out! Contact us via our contact form or call (760) 477-0072 to speak with a member of our team today!