The Importance of a Full Home Plumbing Inspection

Emptying of a tank full with sewage by vacuum truck

No potential buyer should purchase a home without first inspecting many different elements of the home. After all, this is a huge investment and one that you may be stuck with for the rest of your life. A few examples of inspections you should consider are roof inspections, electrical inspections, insulation inspections, general inspections, and plumbing inspections. Of all those inspection types, a plumbing inspection should be at the top of the list.

Plumbing problems are often overlooked during superficial inspections. If you were to walk through the house and inspect it yourself, then everything might seem perfectly fine. Two weeks after buying the home you start experiencing leaks and floods in the bathroom. A serious and expensive problem that could have been avoided with a plumbing inspection.

The more your home costs, the more important it is that you have a properly inspected plumbing system. Unfortunately, homes in Florida are the exact opposite of cheap. So it’s the last place in the country where you want to get stuck with a home in need of serious repairs.

And just because an inspection reveals some sort of problem with the plumbing system doesn’t mean you have to turn down the chance to buy the home. Depending on the nature of the problem, you may be comfortable having in fixed. In that case, it may help you secure a lower price for the property.

The purpose of the inspection is to provide you with knowledge. You could use that knowledge to avoid making a bad purchase, to save money on the home, or to simply prepare yourself for what is ahead.

Make Sure It’s Separate.

Few people would argue the importance of a general home inspection prior to purchasing a home. Yet, many of those same people would neglect a more in-depth Orlando plumbing inspection. Why? They often believe that initial inspection is enough to tell them what they need to know. This is simply not the case. There are also some times when the buyer invests in a full plumbing inspection after buying the house.

You should always get a plumbing inspection before buying a new home in Florida, but if you’ve already made the purchase it isn’t too late. If you are past the buying phase, then scheduling an inspection as soon as possible is still a good idea. It’s better to identify potential plumbing problems as soon as possible.

Waiting until after the purchase will have its consequences. For example, it is now the buyer’s responsibility to pay for the plumbing repairs. However, had they invested in an inspection prior to the purchase, it would have been up to the seller to make any needed repairs if they wanted to receive full value for the home.

In either case, it is always the buyer’s responsibility to pay for the plumbing inspection itself. A plumbing inspection is a rather small investment compared to the cost of repairing serious plumbing problems. There are some factors that will influence the cost of the inspection, such as the depth, the tools used, and the company handling the job.

Basic Components Of Inspection.

Different companies might throw in their own incentives or extras, but there are some basic components that should always be examined with a full home plumbing inspection. A few of these basics will be covered below.

One of the first and most obvious steps is checking for leaks. Albeit, this is a step that even the homeowner could likely perform, it is still necessary. Leaks are sometimes so small that they are nearly impossible to detect at first glance. An Orlando plumber may perform a simple visual check or use special tools designed for locating leaks. Leaks can also be spotted by looking for certain signs, such as damp areas on the floor or ceiling.

Even the smallest of leaks is a big problem that needs to be addressed. A small leak can lead to potentially dangerous mold growth. It can also damage surrounding building materials. And, in time, a small leak can turn into a really big leak. In any case, a leak is often the symptom of a bigger problem.

Outside of the home must be checked for leaks as well. Sewer pipe leaks are a nasty mess that you don’t want to deal with. These can usually be identified by lawn indention or damp areas of grass even though it hasn’t rained recently.

Next, they can inspect the condition of the pipes. Looking for any signs of corrosion on the pipes is important. It can warn of any potential leaks that may show up in the future. The water heater should also be inspected for any possible signs of corrosion. Replacing a water heater can be a lengthy and costly procedure.

If the water pressure is too low, it may be a sign of internal corrosion that needs to be addressed. Water pressure that is too high isn’t a good sign either. It can lead to spontaneous holes and leaks in your pipe.

What’s Next?

These are just the basic procedures and certainly, don’t include all of the duties included in a routine plumbing inspection. At the end of the inspection, the contractor should provide you with a detailed report as well as some helpful advice. You may even use the same contractor to address these problems should you decide to buy the home. At any rate, you’re now armed with helpful information you can use to your advantage and that could save you a lot of wasted money.

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