Get A Plumbing Inspection Before You Purchase A New Home

Avoid Costly Problems

When I bought my first home, I forgot to hire a plumber to inspect the water pipes, water heater, and fixtures. After moving in, I learned that there were problems with some of the faucets having leaks around the bases, and I had to pay for an expensive repair. Within a few months, there were also problems with the water pipes in the basement during the winter because the devices were not covered with insulating tape.

If I had contacted a plumber before buying my home, then I could have had the faucets repaired and the water pipes insulated before moving in. Instead, I had to call a plumbing company in the middle of winter to make a repair at an inconvenient time.

How to Choose a Plumber for a New Home Inspection

Here are a few do-it-yourself tips for finding a plumber to complete a home inspection before making an offer.

• Get recommendations from relatives, neighbors or friends
• Check your state’s licensing board to verify that the plumber is trained
• Determine if a plumber has complaints from previous customers

Arrange a time when the plumber can make an inspection of a property by talking to the real estate agent or current homeowner. If the plumber finds a problem, then you can negotiate with the homeowner to have these things repaired at their expense or make a lower offer on a home to offset the cost of the repairs. Make sure a plumber checks for a variety of problems, including the things on this list.

One: A Water Heater Inspection

A water heater lasts for many years, but this is an important item to have inspected by a plumber. Water heaters are expensive, and it takes several hours for a plumber to remove the old appliance and to install a new device.

A large water heater that begins to degrade can spill several gallons of water on a floor in only a few minutes, leading to significant property damage.

In addition, the tank of a water heater might contain sediments that will reduce the amount of hot water that is available each day. If a plumber notices that a water heater in a home is old, then replacing it with a new energy-efficient model can save money on monthly utility bills.

Two: Verify That Toilets Are Working

The toilets in a home are the most used fixture, and it is essential to determine if the devices are working properly. If the home that you are considering buying is empty, then the water is likely turned off, making it impossible to verify that a toilet flushes without overflowing.

Before an inspection, a plumber can request to have the water turned back on in order to make sure that toilets flush correctly without backing up. A plumber will look inside the tank to determine if any of the toilet’s mechanisms are degrading.

If the toilets in a home are in bad condition, then you can offer a reduced price on a property. Anyone selling a home understands that if an old toilet requires a replacement, then the new owner may need to refurbish an entire bathroom.

Three: Is a Home’s Water Discolored?

If the plumber you hire notices that the water flowing from faucets is discolored or has an odd odor, then this indicates that the pipes, connectors, and valves are degrading rapidly. You do not want to live in a home with bad water pipes that are rusting internally, leaving debris in the drinking water.

When the water pipes inside a home are in terrible condition, a plumbing company must tear away drywall and ceilings to replace all of the pipes. This process is expensive and requires several days or weeks of work, and during that time, you have to live somewhere else.

Four: Look for Water Drips and Stains

The plumber you choose to inspect a home’s plumbing fixtures should complete an inspection throughout the interior and exterior of the home. The inspection should include using a flashlight to look for water stains and drips near the pipes, underneath kitchen sinks or on the walls near toilets, sinks, and bathtubs.

A plumber should also inspect outside a home by checking the faucets that are located near a building’s foundation. In addition, an inspection of a home’s lawn is necessary to determine if there is standing water or sewage that indicates a sewer line is cracked.

Obtain a Written List of Plumbing Problems

After the inspection is completed by the plumber, you should receive a written list of any problems, along with an estimate concerning the cost of the repairs to pipes and fixtures. With this information, you can decide if the home is a good investment in its present condition or if discussing a lower offer for the property is a good idea.

For more information about plumbing inspections in Evansville, IN, give Bud's Plumbing & Repair Service a call at (812) 618-9638.