Did You Get a Plumbing Inspection For Your New Home
Better Safe than Sorry!
If you’re a home buyer, then you’re searching for that perfect home. The process can be extremely exciting, but it’s important to never lose sight of your goals. As a home buyer, you should never let your excitement get in the way of your common sense.
There are many homes for sale that look great on the surface, but when you dig a little bit deeper, you might find a variety of problems. The plumbing system is an important part of every home, and since it’s designed to be hidden, it’s commonly overlooked during home inspections. If you’re planning to purchase a new home, you need to get a plumbing inspection along with your home inspection
It’s true that all aspects of the home should be carefully considered, but since repairs can cost thousands of dollars, the plumbing components are especially important. Before you close the deal on a new home, several parts of the plumbing should be examined.
Performing the Inspection
The best course of action would be to have the inspection performed by a professional, but as a home buyer, there are certain components that you can examine alone. Before the inspection, it’s a good idea to put on some clothes that you don’t really care about.
You might even want to bring a flashlight. During the sales process, many home buyers feel like they’re under a lot of pressure, so they don’t put enough effort into the inspection, which can result in missed problems. For the best results, you’ll want to check several aspects of the plumbing system.
Look At the Water Meter
The first step of the inspection might involve locating the water meter. Once the meter has been found, the shutoff valve should be tested. The valve is easy to test. Once the valve has been shut off, none of the water faucets in the home will work.
If the faucets work while the water is shut off, then there could be a problem. Depending on the home, the valve might be located under the kitchen sink, but it is commonly installed under the home or inside of a basement.
Check for Lead Pipes
There is a wealth of research on lead pipes, and it shows that lead is an environmental hazard. If the home was built before 1986, then there is a good chance that its plumbing system still uses lead pipes.
The presence of lead pipes could be a good reason to pull out if you have kids. Lead is an environmental toxin, and it’s especially dangerous when consumed by children.
Check the Pipe Size
It’s a good idea to check the size of the water pipes inside and outside of the home. The size of the pipes makes it easy to find out how much water pressure you’ll have access to.
For an adequate amount of pressure, the water pipes should be at least 3/4th of an inch. For adequate flow, it’s important that the pipes have a diameter of ½ of an inch.
Inspect the Water Heater
The water heater is an important part of any home, and it should be examined for damage. You want to make sure that it’s capable of delivering enough hot water for your whole family. The best way to find out is to check the size of the water heater.
If your family contains four members, then the tank should be able to hold at least 40 gallons. Once you’ve checked the size, you might also want to check the age. The location of the water heater is also important because it shouldn’t be located near expensive wood flooring or carpeting.
If it’s in a bad location, it could begin leaking and cause thousands of dollars in damages. The bottom of the tank should be inspected for mineral deposits. An accumulation of deposits can reduce the tank’s capacity and prevent it from holding enough water for your family.
Another problem to check for is corrosion, which is a common problem for older appliances. If the tank is suffering from significant corrosion, then you’ll want to consider asking the owner to have it replaced.
Inspecting the Toilets and Fixtures
The next part of the plumbing inspection involves checking the toilets and fixtures. Since the toilets are used several times per day, it’s important that they’re working properly. It’s important to make sure the toilets are working before you purchase the house, or you’ll get stuck paying for the repairs.
You can perform a basic inspection of the toilet and check for leaks. In most cases, leaks develop at the base of the toilet. However, they can also develop in the back.
It’s even possible for a toilet to leak into the subfloor, but you would need a professional to diagnose a subfloor leak.
When flushed, the toilets shouldn’t take too long to refill, and it’s easy to listen for leaks. The next step involves checking the plumbing fixtures for leaks. The faucets in the kitchen and bathroom are hot spots.
Discolored Water
Although it’s common sense, many home buyers don’t bother to turn on the faucets and observe the color of the water coming out of them. The water should be clear. If the water is discolored, there could be a problem with the pipes, or there might even be corrosion inside of the water heater.
Depending on the cause of the discoloration, the home might require minor or extensive repairs. The best way to check the severity of the problem is to have it looked at by a professional.
Home buyers can perform a mini inspection, but for the greatest peace of mind, you should always have a home’s plumbing system inspected by a professional plumber.
It’s one of the best investments that you can make as a potential homeowner. Many plumbing components are impossible to check without help from a professional, so the decision to hire a professional should be an easy one.
For high-quality services in your Apple Valley, MN home, call Apple Valley Plumbing at (612) 387-1207.