When buying a new home, there are a lot of things to consider. The least of which is the plumbing in your new home. Forgetting to inspect the pipes, water pressure, and water heater in your potential new home could spell problems down the road.
USE THE FOLLOWING CHECKLIST:
Before you purchase a new home, use the following checklist to ensure that you won’t be spending hundreds or thousands of dollars down the road on plumbing repair and replacement.
Check for:
- Toilet flush pressure
- Water pressure in sinks and showers
- Water heater maintenance
- Water damage in crawl space or basement
- Lead pipes
FLUSH THE TOILETS
Before buying a home, remember to flush every toilet in the home. Watch for low toilet flush pressure, which can indicate low water pressure in the home. Also, listen for gurgling noises and ensure the toilet doesn’t run for too long, which can indicate additional plumbing problems.
TURN ON THE SINKS AND SHOWERS
Ensure that you turn on the sinks and showers in the bathrooms and kitchen in a potential new home. Check for low water pressure, which may indicate problems with the home’s piping. Also, check for normal water color and smell. An odd color or smell to the water may indicate a problem with hard water.
ASK ABOUT WATER HEATER MAINTENANCE
During the initial walk-through or during later communication with the realtor, ask about the history of maintenance on the water heater. Check for regular maintenance or recent repairs. Make sure to ask about the age of the water heater as well.
Also, be sure to check the size of the water heater. If the unit is too small, there may be problems with hot water in the home. Likewise, a unit that is too large can also spell problems.
LOOK FOR WATER DAMAGE
Many potential home-buyers neglect to check the home for water damage. This is especially important in the crawl space and basement. Signs of water damage in the crawl space or basement can be signs of larger problems in the home.
AVOID HOMES WITH LEAD PIPES
Lead pipes may seem like a thing of the past, but in many parts of the country, lead pipes are still very common. Replacing lead pipes can be time consuming and expensive. Avoid hefty plumbing fees and ensure your new home is safe for you and your family by selecting a home without lead pipes.
CONSULT A PLUMBER
If you’re unsure what to look for, ask for an inspection of the home by a professional plumber. Call First Class HVAC at (302) 804-1309 for a new home plumbing inspection before you invest.
Our plumbers will check for common plumbing issues around old and new homes during an inspection. They will also check for uncommon and rare plumbing problems that may cause expensive repairs down the road.