Plumbing Checklist When Buying A New Home

Now that you have found your dream home and are looking around at the yard and other areas, you may be overlooking some very important aspects, one of which is the plumbing system. Time after time, new home buyers purchase a home, only to discover they will be spending thousands of dollars to correct numerous plumbing problems. Before you sign on the dotted line, here are some common plumbing problems after buying a house.

Water Heaters If you turn on a sink and get hot water, you may think everything is fine. However, the home you are thinking about buying may have a water heater that has seen better days. To find out, start by finding out its age. If it's more than 15 years old, it will likely need to be replaced. Also, look for signs of rust or corrosion on the tank, listen for strange noises coming from the tank, and check to see if any of its valves are leaking.

Faucets and Toilets Should you buy a new home and not bother to check if its faucets and toilets are in good shape, you are almost certainly setting yourself up to have plumbing problems after buying a house. To avoid this, always turn on all faucets in the home to see if the water pressure is good, and also to make sure the water that comes out of the tap is clear and not rust-colored since this can signal problems with the home's pipes or water heater, especially in older homes. When checking toilets, flush them to make sure the tank drains and fills up properly, and also look around the toilet's base to see if there is any rust or leakage.

Check the Water Meter When people buy a new home, most rarely think to check the water meter. If you are one of the rare buyers who do check the meter, you may find out your detective skills came in handy by discovering hidden plumbing problems. Once you've gone around and turned off all the home's faucets, take a look at the water meter. If all is well, it will have stopped. However, if it's still running, your new home's plumbing system has a leak somewhere that will be costing you money every day until it's fixed.

Sewer Drain Unfortunately, you won't be able to see the sewer drain, since it's located underground. However, if you get a plumber to do a sewer camera inspection of the line, they may find tree roots growing in the line, or that the line is already in disrepair due to collapsed concrete. If this is the case, you'll have options before buying the home. Most of the time, potential buyers request the homeowner either make the necessary repairs or instead knock a few thousand dollars off their asking price.

How Do I Know if Plumbing is Bad? Before you buy a home, always have a game plan for knowing what needs to be checked regarding the plumbing system. While you can check many things yourself, it's always best to have a licensed plumber conduct an inspection before buying. If you agree and want a Los Angeles plumber who is licensed, professional, and can detect the slightest plumbing problems in a home you're wanting to buy, call Boss Plumbing today.