You might be looking for a home, and it’s exciting! While we are often swept away by the excitement of this type change (buying new furniture and planning the landscaping – all part of the fun of moving into a new home), it is important to do your research before purchasing a new house. Properly inspecting and maintaining your home is key to being a responsible homeowner. You may not know that residential plumbing is something a responsible homeowner should inspect. Your home’s residential plumbing includes fixtures such as drains and toilets. Your sump pump, water heater, and all other water lines are part of the plumbing system in your home. To ensure water flows freely through your home, all these components must be in harmony. It can lead to many other problems that could cost you thousands down the line. Avoiding hidden fees and headaches by inspecting your home before moving in is the best way to prevent surprises.
What is included in a home inspection?
A home inspector will generally assess the structure of the house you are considering buying. Are the walls supporting the home? Is the roof safe? Are the windows, doors, and flooring adequately insulated? The inspector will inspect heating and cooling systems to ensure safety and avoid fire hazards. A home inspection checklist is quite extensive and covers most of the necessary information to assess your home’s health.
The following checklist is based on the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors’ National Standards of Practice.
- Structural systems (foundation, framing etc.)
- Exterior systems (garage, front doors, porches, decks etc.)
- Roof systems
- Plumbing systems
- Electric systems
- Heating systems
- Fireplaces and solid-fuel burning appliances
- Air conditioners
- Interior systems (walls, ceilings, floors, railings etc.)
- Insulation and vapour barriers
- Natural and mechanical ventilation systems
What is NOT included in a Home Inspection?
A regular home inspection in edmonton ab includes a comprehensive inspection of the plumbing system. Here is the tricky part: most home inspectors won’t do a thorough plumbing inspection to assess risk in your new house. The inspector might find a leaky toilet in your floorboards but may not see that the sewer is failing, or that the water was not properly installed. If you buy a home with plumbing problems, it will be much more expensive and you may not have any recourse. Home inspectors don’t usually dig into the sewer lines. This is a huge problem. It’s difficult to estimate the cost of repairs if your sewer lines become clogged up. It all depends on whether the backup can easily be cleared or if the entire front yard needs to be excavated in order to reach the pipes. The costs associated with a sewer inspection are negligible compared to the time and money they will save you. They will cost you money to repair them. These things are only possible to be seen by a professional plumber who has the right tools.
It’s not that home inspectors don’t have the necessary qualifications and knowledge to assess the health of your home. However, just as you would prefer a cardiologist to perform your open heart procedure, a specialist should inspect the intricate nature of your plumbing.
Important Information to Keep in Mind About Your Home’s Pipeline
Your plumbing is more than the toilets and faucets. There are many hidden components in walls, basements and underground. Each element is important because it affects the smooth flow of water in your home.
Did you know that plumbers can inspect your sewer with a camera? It’s like a gastroscopy for your house. The plumber will run a rod through your sewer to inspect the pipes inside. It is not unusual for homes to be sold due to sewer problems. This is why it is important to inspect your new home before selling. Either a minor issue can be identified that the seller can fix quickly before the sale proceeds, or the sewer may show that there are no problems at all. It is highly valuable in providing peace of mind.
You should be aware that sewer problems can lead to backflow, sometimes called sewage. Drainage back into your home usually onto your basement floor.
It is possible to negotiate a deal with the seller if a sewer problem is found in a house you are interested in buying. It is possible to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with the seller. You could negotiate a price reduction or a fix at the current price. The seller would then replace or repair the sewer at your expense.
Broken Water Lines
Broken water lines may not always be immediately visible. These are small pipes that supply water to your home. Sometimes they crack or leak. Leakage can cause serious damage. Leakage of water can cause damage to your home’s wood structure, drywall, and floors. A plumber can see problems that the untrained eye might miss and assess your water pipes’ condition for you.
Many types of water lines are available for homes, depending on their age. Some materials are more effective than others, and some are not suitable for everyone. You should immediately replace galvanized water lines if you’re looking at a house with them. You should budget for replacement if the home has Poly-B water lines (grey or dark plastic).
Regular Inspection
Regular inspection is necessary for your water heater. To reduce sediment buildup, you need to drain your water heater every six to twelve months. You may have to take cold showers if you move into a house with a poorly maintained water heater. This can be a sign that you have room to negotiate the price of your home if you notice it before you move in. Any water leaks around your water heater sign that the heater is in its final days.
Sump pumps are the most important device to prevent flooding in your home. The sump pump has a floating device that tells it when to turn off and drain the water from your home. If your sump pump stops working and goes untreated, it will flood your basement. You should always be on the lookout for your sump pump during spring thawing or heavy rain. Ask your plumber about what to look for.
It is important to have isolation and shut-off valves in your home. The location of isolation valves should be at the end every water line that connects to fixtures. This applies to all toilets and hot and cold lines that connect to faucets. These valves can turn off water at the valve, without affecting other water lines in your home. Every home has a main water shutoff valve at the water line that comes into it. Your home must have a working main water shut off valve. Your main water valve may not work if your water line bursts, or your water heater leaks. It should be regularly tested and cycled to ensure that the valve doesn’t leak.
Another thing worth looking at is the drain lines in your home. It’s easy to overlook drain pipes hidden within walls and floors. They don’t do their job well. It is a good idea to check the flow of every drain. Fill both the kitchen sinks with water, then turn off the taps. Are they quick to drain with a whirlpool? Or do they glug and chug while the water moves through them? If they drain slowly, it may just be a matter of cleaning the drain or if there are other issues under the basement floor that need attention.
It’s terrible to purchase a house and then find out that the basement needs to be poured to repair the drain pipe below the floor. This is a common occurrence in cast iron drain pipes homes.
Why use a plumbing service?
You might be surprised at the plumbing horror stories. Strange things have been found in pipes. There are everything from toys for children to dentures! You don’t know what the previous owner would have done to the toilet or kitchen sink. Although it is scary to think that your home might be clogged with strange things, this is more common than you may realize. Smaller animals can get stuck on the roofs of homes’ plumbing vents and don’t always make it back out. This caused blockages that eventually led to very unpleasant stenchs. We’ve seen homes turn brown from the inside due to leakages. There were no obvious warning signs for the naked eye. Many parts work together to ensure that your plumbing is working properly. You should inspect your home regularly as a responsible homeowner. This is particularly important when you purchase a home you are unfamiliar with. Why not trust your home to a licensed plumber?
Only licensed plumbers can do the job right. It is important to check the plumbing system of a new house before you buy it. This should be included in your contract if you have the funds. It will be a great decision. You’ll feel secure knowing that the largest (and most likely) financial investment in your life, your house, is safe and sound. A home with thousands of dollars worth of hidden repairs is worse than a lemon car. Do not wait for your basement flood to discover the underlying plumbing problems.
A plumbing inspection will give you peace of mind regarding the plumbing condition in your home before you purchase. Plumbing is a skill that only qualified plumbers are proficient in. They are so familiar with plumbing that they will guarantee their work for your safety. This is the time in your life when you want to feel confident that all you have to do is unpack. One less thing to worry about is a plumbing inspection. A licensed plumber can ensure you don’t get any unexpected plumbing costs.
Many plumbing companies have many years of experience. Our skilled plumbers at Mr. Rooter have seen it all. Because of their extensive training and experience, they are able to spot red flags in your home within minutes. It may take a plumber who isn’t as familiar with plumbing issues days or even months to find the root cause of the problem.
Simply put, don’t take chances with your home. It is too risky to invest in your home. A licensed plumber can inspect your home and make sure it is complete.
A plumbing inspection is beneficial for all property types
You may consider the property you are interested as a home or a place to start your own business. Remember that commercial plumbing needs as much care as your home. No matter what type of property you’re transferring to there are many benefits to having a plumber inspect it before moving your family or business to a new location.
Residential
- You can fill in any gaps your home inspector missed – uninspected sewer lines can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs! Get an inspection to protect yourself
- Make sure your home is safe for your family.
- Do not be afraid to return from vacation to a home that is flooded.
- You can save thousands by catching problems before they cause water damage.
Commercial
- Protect your valuable assets against unexpected plumbing emergencies
- Your business will save money over the long-term
- Do not allow yourself to be entangled in repairs that a routine plumbing inspection could have prevented.
- Your business should not be shut down. Repairs can be costly and could also take several weeks depending on the extent and severity of the damage. Avoid the unexpected expense and revenue loss caused by a hidden plumbing problem.
You may not have had a thorough plumbing inspection done when you purchased your property. Should you encounter any plumbing emergencies, do not risk furthering the damage by trying to repair it on your own or hiring a “jack-of-all-trades”. While this might be possible at times, it is not the best way to eliminate the root cause of your plumbing emergency. It will prevent future problems and help you properly maintain your plumbing. It’s never too late to get a plumbing inspection. Get your plumbing checked if you own a home.
We often forget that plumbing is a modern-day miracle. All you need to do to access the water supply in your home is turn the faucet handle and voila! For a home to have functioning pipes and plumbing systems, many parts must work together. The whole system could be at risk if one component is not working properly. You can’t put the entire burden on your shoulders as a homeowner, especially if you are a first-timer. Your home will be a burden on top of your already hectic schedule. Experts should inspect your home’s plumbing. You are taking care not only of your home, but also of yourself by having a plumbing inspection. An inspection of the plumbing is essential for your peace of mind.
