Buying a home is an exciting time, whether it is your first home, a second home or an investment property. When you decide to purchase a home, it is extremely important to carry out all the necessary inspections prior to committing to the purchase. One of the main inspections that should be completed is a plumbing inspection. If there are major problems with the plumbing it could end up costing you a great deal of money to make the necessary repairs. You can take care of the inspection yourself, but it is a really great idea to get in touch with an experienced professional plumber to carry out a careful and thorough inspection on your behalf.

Image from Refined Plumbing Sunshine Coast

Here are several of the things that should be examined and inspected:

• Age of Material of Pipes – be sure to ask how old the water lines are and specifically what type of pipes are installed whether they are plastic, copper or galvanized. It is a fact that galvanized pipes will need to be replaced after approximately 30 years.

• Examine Water Heater – physically inspect the heater to see if there are leaks, buildups or corrosion. Find out the age of the water heater and if it has been serviced. Most water heaters last around 10 years.

• Check the Water Shut off Valves – Ensure that all water shut off valves are operating correctly. If you encounter a plumbing emergency you want to be able to turn off the main water source and prevent damage, particularly if there is a leak somewhere.

• Flush all the Toilets – inspect every bathroom that has a toilet and flush all of the toilets. This will let you see if the toilet has any leaks, a weak flush or if it runs too long.

• Turn on Faucets – particularly in showers, tubs and sinks. This will let you see if the flow is strong or weak and will let you know if there is wrought to do on the water lines and pipes that feed the fixtures.

• Examine areas that are not visible including basements and crawl spaces. These areas are often not looked at during a house tour. Water damage could be present, and you want to ensure that there is no damage, leaking pipes or repairs needed for pipes that have not been professionally installed. If any “quick fixes” have been completed and you identify those, you should find out the extent of the possible damage because it could be an expensive fix.

• Check outside hose bibs for proper operation. If these hose bibs are leaking it has the potential to cause a lot of damage on your property.

• Check the Downspouts and drainage. Debris and leaves from your roof can create a blockage in the drainage which can back up the drains and downspouts. The ground settling and pipes that are not thick enough along with roots growing into the pipes can cause blockages in your home’s discharge lines. If the rain drain system is not functioning correctly then rainwater can start to leak into your basement or crawl space which will cause damage to the interior of your home and will become an open invitation for a rodent infestation.

• Have Sewer Lines Inspected with Video. While this is not your standard inspection procedure, it is definitely something that you should consider doing. A camera in the sewer line will identify beaks, root intrusions and blockages in your lines that you are not able to see just from examining the lines with a cursory inspection.

These are some of the most common plumbing inspection items that are generally carried out. If you are unsure about how to do some or all of these, it is a great idea to have a professional plumber take care of these items for you so that you can have peace of mind knowing that all the plumbing parts and systems have been carefully inspected by a professional. Plumbers understand what needs to be inspected for a full plumbing inspection and they will carefully examine all the necessary areas of your home that need to be examined. Spending the money on a thorough plumbing inspection before your purchase your home will end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.

Read more about plumbing inspections of your new home