Skip to main content

Inspect A Home's Plumbing Before Purchasing

Buying a new home is exciting, but it is important to know exactly what you are buying before signing any papers. Having any plumbing repairs or having to add new appliances can quickly add up, especially if they are needed shortly after moving into the new home. If you do find any problems ahead of time, ask that the previous owner drop the overall cost of the home so these repairs can be fixed. Here are some tips on what you should be looking for to know what plumbing features you should be inspecting before buying a new home.


Water Supply and Toilets

Older homes can be easily identified by the type of pipes they have. Steel and lead piping are materials that were very common 30-40 years ago but are currently not being used in modern day home plumbing. If an older house has updated copper or plastic piping, it's safe to say that the original pipes have been replaced over the years. If a home has the original steel or lead pipes, be prepared for possible plumbing repairs or plumbing replacements shortly down the road. 

Working toilets are essential when moving in, so be on the lookout for any issues with these immediately. Checking for any leaks or poor drainage, because both can lead to expensive toilet repairs or toilet replacements. Be sure to flush every toilet in the home when you do the walk through to make sure all the water drains properly and that there are no obvious clogs or back ups.

Main Home Sewer Line

This almost always requires the help of a professional plumber, but is worth your while. Sewer repairs can cost a home owner thousands of dollars, so avoid any headaches right off the bat by having a licensed plumber conduct a sewer line camera inspection. This can show if there are tree roots growing into the main plumbing line or if there is broken concrete laying on or across the drain line. Again, any issues you find like this should be presented to the original seller of the home so you can ask for repairs in advance or a price reduction on the home before purchase.

Hot Water Heater Tank

If you are deciding on purchasing an old home, the water heater should be one of the main things you check. On average, water heaters only last for an average of 10-15 years. If the current water tank is nearing 15 years old, be prepared to replace it relatively soon. To find the age of the water heater tank, check the brand and model and the serial number. An expert plumber can help you determine the age of the tank based on this information or even a quick Google search if need be.

Even in new homes, be sure to inspect the hot water heater tank for any leaks or strange noises or rust anywhere around the tank. You should be safe rather than sorry.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SIGNS YOU HAVE TREE ROOTS IN YOUR SEWER PIPES

  Out of all the problems you can have with your sewer pipes, roots growing into them is one of the most frustrating. After all, if caught on time, the problem is relatively easy to solve. Yet it can be hard to attribute the issues you are having to such a unique predicament, so it is hard to take timely action. The only possible way to avoid spending a lot more money than necessary is to possess the required knowledge. To that end, we have prepared a list of signs you have tree roots in your sewer pipes! WEAK WATER PRESSURE The first of the signs you have tree roots in your sewer pipes is the weakening in your water pressure. Now, this will not happen suddenly. It will not be a cut-off where one day everything is fine, and the next, your water is barely trickling out of the faucet. It will be a gradual weakening over what could be weeks or even months, depending on the speed of root growth. If you notice such a thing happening to you, it is best to look into a  plumbing cost ...

Suspicious Sewer Odors

It is common for sewer odor to reside within sewer systems. However, when a sewer pipe becomes full or the sewer changes its underground elevation, it can aggravate waste water. This aggravated waste water allows sewer odors to build up so heavily that it can escape to the outside world. Sewer odors can escape through several different places. Some of these places include, but are not limited to: Vents Floor drains Utility Sinks Connection points Openings in pipeline Maintenance covers Sewer odors do not typically enter homes because plumbing traps create a tight water seal at several points of entry. Sewer odors and gases are also exhausted outdoors through plumbing system vents. Sewer odors become a problem when the water that resides in your trap has evaporated. One trap that commonly dries out in homes is a floor drain. This occurs more often when the floor drain is located near a hot water heater or heating system. What are Sewer Odors? It comes as no surprise that sewer gases s...

Emergency Plumbing

When you need an  emergency service , you want to be sure that the  emergency plumber  you are calling can handle the job. We know how to handle a  plumbing emergency  because we have years of experience taking care of our customers that are in trouble. We know how to diagnose a problem quickly and efficiently. We have all of the tools and experience needed to make us your one stop shop. A plumbing emergency does not mean a quick fix that will need more repair work later. We know that the last thing you want to do after we leave is make another appointment to finish your  emergency plumbing  job. That is why we make sure that every certified plumber we send out is equipped with the parts he will need to get the job done. If we do need to order a part, we get it fast and put a temporary solution in place that will prevent further damage to your home. In an emergency, you do not need to talk to a plumbing company that prioritizes jobs based on close prox...