Are you currently looking to buy a home or halfway through the purchasing process? Whether you’re a first-time buyer or you’re relocating, the plumbing system must be professionally inspected before you finalize a purchase. For this reason, our team has put together an essential plumbing checklist for a home buyer to use as a point of reference before making the final decision to purchase a home.
Check the Showers
Water pressure can be the difference between a powerful shower and a miserable trickle of water. The best way to gauge the water in a property is to turn the showers on to full capacity and let them run for a minute or two. While you’re undertaking this inspection, check all the faucets in the bathrooms and kitchen. This will help to verify that the appliances are in good working order.
Flush the Toilets
Flushing toilets accounts for 25% of the 400 gallons of water an average family uses each day. Before purchasing a new property, flush any toilets in the building to check for weak flushing, gurgling sounds, or toilets that continue to run on for a long time after each flush. Faulty toilets waste water and can indicate serious problems with the drainage and plumbing systems in a building.
Inspect Pipe Sizes
Low water pressure can be a huge inconvenience and is often related to pipe sizes. For this reason, you should have a professional check the water pipes before you buy a home. Pipes need to be a minimum of ¾ inches from the water source to the property. Furthermore, they should be a minimum of ⅓ inches to the faucet.
Check all Basements and Crawl Spaces
Thoroughly inspecting all basement and crawl space areas can help to reveal crucial information regarding the condition of plumbing within a building. Crawl spaces tend to be a sticking point when it comes to homes passing a pre-sale inspection, because even the most vigilant homeowners can neglect this seldom-used space. For a checklist of red flags to watch out for in a crawl space, watch this quick slideshow video:
Again, we recommend hiring a professional to help with your crawl space inspection so that they can be identified and fixed before purchase.
Inspect the Water Heater
Ask your real estate agent if you can look at the water heater. A visual inspection will help to spot signs of buildup or corrosion. Ask for documentation proving the year or replacement for the tank, and the last time it received a professional service.
To learn more, or for leaking pipe repairs in Springfield, PA, drain cleaning services in Drexel Hill, PA, or any other service, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!