When it comes to buying a new home, there are so many things you need to consider. The critical things to consider are the health of the HVAC system, plumbing, foundation, and roof. A general home inspection is a great thing to invest in because it will bring to light any glaring problems. While home inspections are good to have, home inspectors themselves are not plumbing experts. A home inspector understands a wide array of construction-related things, but they’re not professionally trained plumbers. It’s critical to get a plumbing inspection before buying a house to catch any problems before they become a nightmare. Let’s dive in and take a look at why it’s important to get a plumbing inspection.
Pipe Or Connection Leaks
Pipe leaks are one of the most common issues every homeowner encounters at one point or another. It’s a matter of catching these small leaks or drips before they become a serious problem. A general home inspector may not catch a slow drip leak. The slow leaks are the ones that waste water over the course of weeks, months, or even years. Hundreds of gallons will leak without you even knowing. That’s why it’s important to call a plumber. When a professional plumber inspects your pipes, they’re able to catch slow leaks, small leaks, and connection failures with specialized leak detection equipment. Life happens, so don’t be caught off guard when a small leak turns into a big problem—stay ahead of it.
Toilet Problems
Not all toilet issues are created equal. If you’re in the process of buying a new home, look at the flooring around the base of the toilet. Is it discolored? Often, a professional plumbing inspection reveals toilet leaks around the base of a toilet. The flooring around the toilet may cover a serious problem below that needs to be caught before it’s too late.
Sewer Line Blockages Or Leaks
During a normal home inspection, sewer blockages and leaks are sometimes overlooked. Professional plumbing inspectors have equipment, tools, and expertise that traditional home inspectors don’t. To test for a blockage, inspectors will run water in one sink to listen for gurgling or sputtering. Sometimes, plumbers will put small cameras in the pipes to see the inside condition of the pipes. These cameras will show whether or not there’s a leak or clog, and you’ll catch them before they’re a big problem.
Know What You’re Getting Into
At the end of the day, the main reason to get a professional plumber to inspect a potential home is so that you can weigh your options. If a home just has a few minor leaks or clogs, it’s no big deal. But, if you find out the home has a totally busted sewer line out in the yard, or it needs a new septic tank—that’s a whole other story. A lot of those kinds of issues are affordable to fix or DIY. The plumber will give you an official write-up of all the work that should or needs to be done and how much it would cost to do repairs. Once you have all this information, you’ll be able to decide if you want to move forward with the purchase or make an offer.
Give Us A Call
At Autry Plumbing, we’re here for you. If you want to get a plumbing inspection before buying a house, call us. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
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