If you are currently looking to buy your next home, congrats! It’s an exciting step regardless of whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced one. We know how this can be an exciting and stressful time at the same time. There are definitely a good number of factors to consider and steps to go through before finding the home that is right for you. To help with the search process, it’s important to know what to look for in a plumbing system as you tour prospective homes.
Unexpected plumbing surprises can blindside you and knock you off your feet, especially right after moving in. So, it is important to know exactly what you’re getting into before making your final decision. Fortunately, Westerville Plumbing & Drain has created a list of five red flags every homebuyer can watch out for when viewing potential homes.
1. DID YOU CHECK THE WATER HEATER?
Most house listings will contain this information, but if the house you’re viewing doesn’t, you can ask about its age during your visit, and if that doesn’t get you the answer, then inspect the water heater yourself during your tour. A quick once-over can help to roughly estimate its age and condition. Don’t worry. You don’t have to have a trained eye. For example, you are looking for things like excessive dust buildup, corrosion, or puddles around the base. These signs could mean that the water heater has not been well maintained, it’s a significantly older unit, or there is an underlying issue with the unit.
A good thing to keep in mind is that an older water heater isn’t necessarily a deal break, but most water heaters last between 8-12 years if they are well maintained. So, if the unit is older, you may need to replace it soon after moving in. Ultimately, this could be a great negotiating point should you fall in love with the house and opt to pursue purchasing it.
2. DID YOU CHECK THE WATER PRESSURE?
During a house tour, the water pressure is often overlooked. Low water pressure can be a hassle to deal with later, as well as expensive. Therefore, it’s recommended to check every faucet and shower during your walk-through by turning on the faucets and showers and letting the water run for a minute to see if the pressure is suitable.
3. DID YOU CHECK THE DRAINS AND WATER LINES?
While you are letting the water run to check the pressure, you can use this time accordingly and check the drains and water lines. Perform this step by looking down each drain and looking for any signs of rust buildup. Although this is usually rare, if you find any, it could be problematic to fix. In addition, it’s recommended to inspect all water lines that are visible such as those under the kitchen or bathroom sinks. You want to check for any leaks or indications of discoloration or dripping water under the sinks.
4. DID YOU CHECK FOR SIGNS OF WATER DAMAGE?
Our fourth point is water damage. It can come in various forms, and it can be helpful to know how to identify them. Here are some useful tips:
- Look up at the ceilings throughout the house for brown spots, which may be caused by previous leaks from a pipe or the roof.
- Inspect the basement and crawlspaces if possible. Be sure to keep an eye out for water stains or any signs of a leak.
- Make sure to examine the bases of all toilets in the house for pooling or puddles. If you see any, it may indicate that there’s a leak in the toilet, and there may be water damage surrounding the area.
5. DID YOU ASK FOR THE PLUMBING MAINTENANCE & REPAIR RECORDS?
Don’t feel like it’s a bother to ask questions about the plumbing system of a home you’re considering moving into. It’s important to know the condition of the plumbing work. On top of that, if you decide to pursue a particular home, it’s not a bad idea to request the home’s plumbing history, including maintenance and repair records. This information could be beneficial in the future, and a lack of maintenance records or excessive repairs to a particular plumbing space may be considered another red flag of which you should be aware.
HOW IS A PLUMBING INSPECTION BENEFICIAL?
We understand the necessity of peace of mind when buying a house. To help provide you with that extra assurance, we offer a plumbing inspection service. So, if you decide to proceed with purchasing the house, this service can usually be negotiated into the terms and arranged by the homeowner. Our licensed plumbers will perform a thorough evaluation and detailed inspection of the plumbing equipment, pipes, and drainage systems. Additionally, they will review multiple important plumbing sections and examine all plumbing-related equipment to confirm proper functionality. This thorough inspection can give you the added assurance you require to decide whether or not this home is right for your family – or perhaps, based on the results, even offer you an ideal way out of a negative situation. On the plus side, it can also serve as a bargaining tool to negotiate and benefit you.
We want to note that you don’t need to be a professional plumber to identify the red flags we’ve mentioned in this blog. Moreover, we hope this information has proven helpful to you as you search for your dream home. Lastly, we want to stress again that while these issues are not ultimate deal breakers as only you can decide what is best for you and your family. But think of them as important points to be aware of so as to avoid any surprises later.
Are you looking for a reliable plumbing company that you can call in case of a plumbing emergency? We’ll take care of all your plumbing needs. Call Westerville Plumbing & Drain today at (614) 540-3437, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!