If you are in the middle of buying a house, you know that the home inspection is something you should never forego. You need to know before you close if there are any issues with the home so that you can negotiate with the seller to get at least the major ones addressed. One component of this inspection involves a plumbing inspection. In order to avoid an unexpected plumbing upgrade or repair, here is the plumber checklist that should be followed:
1. Toilets – Each toilet should be flushed to make sure all the components in the appliance are functioning properly and that the drains to the septic or sewer system are moving smoothly.
2. Pressure – The overall water pressure should be tested, generally by turning everything on and seeing if there is still sufficient water pressure throughout. If there isn’t, this can be a sign of the wrong size pipes or a potential leak.
3. Leak inspection – Any visible pipes, including in crawl spaces or basements, will be inspected for leaks or inadequate repairs. Although not usually part of a plumber checklist, if the pipes are under slab, you may be able to pay the extra fee for slab leak detection if you want total peace of mind.
4. Water heater – The water heater should be checked for corrosion and other problems. The age will be noted so that you have an idea when it will need to be replaced. If the unit is more than 10 years old, you may be able to get the seller to replace it as part of your negotiations.
5. Piping type – The plumber should note what type of piping is in the home. It is highly recommended that you do not purchase a home with lead piping. If the home has lead piping, you should either walk away or negotiate for whole house repiping.