The Inspection Most Homeowners Forgot To Do

Save Yourself the Trouble

Purchasing a new home is probably one of the biggest steps you will make in your life and it needs to be treated as such.

Often times, homebuyers rush and jump at the first home they see, without taking the correct precautionary steps.

Several problems can arise when purchasing a home and many of them cannot be seen by the untrained eye.

To avoid purchasing a home and later finding out there are several, expensive issues you need to fix, it is best to have the necessary inspections conducted before purchasing any home.

Before any paperwork is signed, it is important to have a plumbing inspector conduct a thorough inspection of your home. A professional, plumbing inspector will know exactly what to look for and will point out any problems that lie within in the home.

The plumbing inspector will even be able to differentiate a problem that can be fixed by the seller or if the issues are too severe, will suggest you to continue looking.

What Could Happen…

One homeowner purchased her house without inspecting her plumbing. Two weeks after moving in, the boiler pump went out and water started to shoot up the drain when she went to do laundry.

Expecting a clog of some sort, the homeowner tried snaking the clog out but that did not fix the issue. After calling a plumber, the homeowner found out the pipes were broken and had been for quite awhile.

Her worries did stop there, the plumber also noticed that the main drain had been capped off, something that should have never been done. It was not disclosed by the sellers that the pipes had been broken and without an inspection, the homeowner had no idea there was even an issue.

The cost to fix the issue ended up costing her $1500 in repairs, which was a lot more than have a plumbing inspector look at the house beforehand.

Before you get an inspector involved, there are a few things you can look for yourself when looking at potential homes:

Discolored Water

If you turn on the faucet at a showing and you see discolored water, you will wonder if it’s safe to drink and what is the problem causing it. Depending on the color, it could be a couple of things:

• Red, yellow or orange water – this can mean that there is rust in the water. The water turns these colors due to oxidation from the rust. Rust in the water should not be a health issue.

• Greenish-blue water – this can be caused by the copper plumbing or brass fittings. This can be a health issue if there are large quantities of copper in the water.

• Cloudy-milky water – this can be caused by tiny air bubbles that are suspended in the water. This usually clears on its own as it is caused when colder water is warming in the water heater.

• Brownish-yellow water – if you notice the cold water is clear but the hot water is brownish-yellow then there is a problem with the water heater. The seller should find out the problem and have it fixed.

• when turning on the faucet, if it shoots out a spurt of brown or yellow water then it clears up, this could be due to the wearing of the galvanized pipe and its zinc coating.

• Black water – black water is usually a sign of mold and the seller should have this fixed immediately

• Pure green water – this is a sign that algae is in the house’s water supply. Again, this indicates that the seller should have this fixed immediately.

Shut-Off Valve

Check to make sure that the shut-off valve for the property’s water supply is working properly. Although the shut-off valve is replaceable, it is better to make sure in advance that it is working correctly.

You can find the shut-off valve by looking near the water meter or by finding out where the water is flowing into the home. You should be able to turn off the water supply completely when shutting off the valve.

After the valve has been shut off, check the faucets to see if any water is still coming out, this will indicate if it needs to be replaced or not.

Hot Water Heater

Make sure the water heater is in good working condition. If it is an old water heater, this is an expense you will need to consider including when making an offer on the home. Water heaters are expensive to replace, so you want to make sure it will last awhile after you buy your new home.

Pipe Pressure

It’s a personal preference but most people prefer to have good water pressure, especially when taking a shower. One thing you can look at is how large the pipes are in the home.

If you see pipes at the main source that measure about .75″ to 1″ and other pipes that are .5″ or larger, you should be fine. You don’t want pipes that are any smaller than that because they will restrict your water flow and typically are expensive to replace.

Toilets and Sewer

Make sure to flush every toilet and watch to make sure they empty and refill correctly. You also need to find out what type of sewage system you are dealing with. Especially if there is a septic tank involved.

If you do have a septic tank, you need to find out where it is located, if it’s a single or double, when it was last serviced and where the opening is and the where the lines run.

Also, check around these areas to see if there is standing water or any sign of sewage seeping out of the ground. These are some very costly problems to have, so if they need to be fixed, make sure the seller takes care of them before signing over the home.

If you are doing a house walk through and notice leaky faucets, don’t assume it’s a small issue; it could be a sign of a larger problem. Make sure to check around sinks and look around for leaks or drips.

Even if everything looks fine, do not purchase the home before having an inspection done of the house’s plumbing. Contact company name, company phone number in company city for professional plumbing inspection services. Remember, it’s better to spend the money on an inspection than have more expensive repairs from an old and broken plumbing system down the road.

If you are doing a house walk through and notice leaky faucets, don’t assume it’s a small issue, it could be a sign of a major problem. Make sure to check around the sinks and look around for leaks or drips. Even if everything looks fine, do not purchase the home before having an inspection done of the house’s plumbing.

For a plumbing inspection, in your Little Rock, AR area, call the professionals at Arrow Plumbing at (501) 753-3838.