New Home Plumbing Inspections in Boston
There is probably no item in your home that can cause more hidden damage than your pipes. Often, plumbing damage can go unchecked for years.
Which is why, if you are purchasing a new home or condo, your home inspection should include a thorough plumbing inspection as part of the routine.
The last thing you need is to buy a home that has plumbing issues. The costs can quickly jump into the thousands. And, it’s not just the financial costs. Bad plumbing can be down right dangerous.
Here are 5 areas you need to check on your next property inspection. Whether you are purchasing a new home, or just making sure your existing one is up to par.
If you are ever unsure, you should call a property inspection professional. But, it is actually quite straight forward. You just have to remember to check toilets, sinks, bathtubs/showers, water heaters and a few other miscellaneous plumbing areas.
First, check the toilets. You want to verify that all of the lines running into the toilet are in good shape. And make sure that there is a functioning shutoff valve at the wall. Look for leaks and other signs of damage. And then perform a flush test to make sure everything is functioning as expected.
Next, crawl under the cabinets and take a look at the sink. Similar to the toilet, verify the supply lines and shut off valves appear to be in good shape, without any leaks. Make sure that there is a trap installed on the drain, and it doesn’t drip. And make sure the drain speed is adequate. A slow drain could indicate clogging or it could indicate missing, clogged or inadequate ventilation.
Showers and Bathtubs do not have shutoffs or visible supply lines and your probably do not have access to the trap. But, you can verify that water drains adequately and there are no leaks in the faucet. Check around the base for obvious water damage.
A bad water heater can be very dangerous, so it is best to have it inspected by a professional. But, you can verify that there are shutoff valves running to and from the water heater, and there are no obvious leaks. Check to make sure there is no obvious corrosion. Once again, if anything looks worn or damaged have a professional check the gas lines, pilot assembly and electrical connections.
Finally, verify the miscellaneous plumbing connections around the house using similar criteria. Some of these areas are washers, dishwashers, ice makers, etc.
When you are buying a new home or condo, you do not want to be taking on a new batch of problems. The first step in avoiding these problems is a home inspection. One of the most important parts of this inspection is the plumbing.
If a problem is small, you can have the owner or builder fix the issue. Some buildings are made of concrete, water problems are easily taken care of by fixing the source. In lumber construction, plumbing issues can cause all types of structural damage in a very short period of time.
But once you know about them, you can make a decision on how to deal with them.
Make sure you always do a home inspection, including plumbing, any time you are about to buy a new home or condo. It is a good idea to do them periodically in your own home as well.
By doing a plumbing and property inspection, you can be sure your new home is going to be the dream home you want it to be.
