Plumbing Questions and Things To Know

Plumbing Inspection

Almost everyone who buys a new house has it inspected as part of the buying process. While an inspector can give you some general information about the status of the plumbing system in a home, they can’t give you the details like a plumber can.

Sure, it costs a little more to have a plumber come inspect the sewer lines and how the water flows, but this can save you tens of thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs if you buy a home where the plumbing system has not been properly cared for.

One of the most important things that a plumber will do when they inspect your home is send a camera through the sewer lines. This can give you all sorts of information, like whether the lines are blocked, whether tree roots have grown into the lines or are putting pressure on them anywhere, and what material the pipes are made from.

Running a camera through the sewer will also help your plumber to know what it would cost to fix any problems that are found. This can aid you in deciding whether you want to buy the house and take on the cost of repairs or if the repairs simply make the home too expensive.

Beyond sending a camera down the lines, plumbers will also do things like inspect the water heater and make sure it is functioning well and is up to code. They can examine the flow of water and see if it diminishes when more than one faucet is used or when you flush the toilet while a faucet is running. Finally, they can look at the plumbing fixtures in the home, checking to see if these are out of date, leaking, or have sustained damage.

If you’re buying a home and would like to have a plumbing inspection done, Wimpy’s Plumbing would be happy to help you. Give us a call at (941) 322-1911 and let us know what you need, or schedule an appointment online. Let us make sure your new home isn’t a money pit!

Plumbing Questions to Ask When Buying a New Home

If you’re not quite to the point of ordering a plumbing inspection on a potential new home, you can ask some questions to get a feel for how the system works and whether you even want to make an offer on the house. Here is a list to get you started:

  1. Is the house on a well? If so, how old is the pressure tank? What about the pump?

  2. Have there ever been flooding issues in the basement? Does the home have a sump pump? Is there any sort of battery back-up installed?

  3. Have there ever been issues with pipes freezing in the winter? If so, which pipes and what happened?

  4. How old is the water heater? Is it the original heater that came with the house, or has it been replaced?

  5. How hard is the water? If so, has it ever caused any plumbing problems? Is there a water softener installed?

  6. Has the sewer line or the incoming water line ever been replaced? If so, what was the problem and when did the replacement happen?

  7. What is the incoming water pressure? If needed, has a pressure reducing valve been installed?

  8. How old is the garbage disposal? Is it used regularly? Does it work well?

These questions can go far towards giving you a good feel for how the plumbing is working in a home you are looking at buying. If you have any more questions after asking the ones listed above, give us a call. At Wimpy’s Plumbing, we are happy to help you figure out what might be going wrong in your potential new home and what it would cost to fix. Schedule an appointment through the form on our website or by calling us at (941) 322-1911.

Examining the Plumbing When Buying a House

After you ask your questions, you can also examine a few parts of the plumbing system when you are thinking about buying a new house. While it’s alway good to get a professional plumber’s opinion, too, looking at these things will help you decide if the home is worth pursuing.

  1. Turn on one faucet. Check the water pressure. Then turn on several more and check the pressure at the original faucet again. If it has gone down significantly, this can indicate problems with the main water line.

  2. Look at where the water heater is installed. If something were to go wrong with it, would it cause major damage? If it is close to carpet, nice flooring, or load-bearing walls, a simple leak could end up being a major problem.

  3. Check whether the water heater is the right size for the house. If you like to take long showers or baths, you many need a larger one than the previous owners did. Similarly, if you know that several people will want to shower at once, factor this into the size of water heater you want for your home.

  4. Look at the base of the toilet. If it is discolored, squishes, or the toilet rocks a little, you will need to have work done. Without removing the toilet it’s impossible to know whether there is a leak, the seal needs replacing, or the flange has a problem. However, these signs tell you that something needs to be done.

  5. Examine the cabinets under sinks. If they are wet or foul smelling, there’s a good chance something is leaking or malfunctioning. It may be an easy fix, but it’s one you’d want to take care of before you move in.

Whether you decide to pursue buying the home or not, it’s good to have a sense of how the plumbing is working before you make the decision. Examining these things will help you feel informed and confident, no matter what you decide.

If you see something and you’re not sure what it means, we’d be happy to come take a look at it before you decide. Call Wimpy’s Plumbing at (941) 322-1911 or schedule an appointment via the form on this website, and we’ll come help you get the information you need to make a good decision about a new home.

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