Why You Should Get a Plumbing Inspection
You’re excited that you’ve been approved for financing for a new home, and all you can think about is how you’re going to decorate each room, how lovely the backyard is, how beautiful the home is, and how you can’t wait to move in.
You’ve already ordered an inspector to check the home before you purchasing it, but have you hired a plumber to check the plumbing in the home as well?
It’s likely that you may not have thought of getting a plumber to do an inspection because it’s one of those things that people tend to forget when they are purchasing a new home.
The house itself may be sound and ready for move-in, but the plumbing is important to check as well, especially since you’ll need regular use of the plumbing, and plumbing repairs can be costly.
Make sure to hire a plumber that has knowledge about plumbing inspections, and have the plumber inspect the plumbing throughout the entire home as well as the plumbing around the house before you ever choose to purchase the home.
What To Look For In The Water Heater
The water heater in a home is one of the most important things to check, especially since water heaters are very costly to replace and are supposed to last for about a decade.
If you are going to move into a home that has a water heater with a lot of problems, then you’re going to need to know if the heater needs replacement or if repair is possible. Here are the things to check when examining the water heater:
- Leaks
- Cracks
- Any Damage
- Functionality
Leaks- Any leaks coming from a water heater is a bad sign, and there may be different things that have caused the leak, including physical damage to the unit or aging of the unit. Usually, if a water heater has a leak or several leaks, a plumber would request that you change out the water heater because it’s likely to continue leaking, even if it’s patched temporarily.
Leaking can occur in any part of the water heater, but seeing a puddle of water around the base of the heater is a clear sign that the heater is leaking from someplace.
Cracks- It’s possible for a water heater to have a crack but still not leak, but assume that the crack can eventually lead to a leak. Cracks can be caused by damage to the unit that was inflicted by a person or natural events, such as if there was an earthquake, and the unit was not secured.
It’s also possible that rust has accumulated inside the water heater, causing a crack in some locations, especially if the damage was inflicted to a weak spot on the unit.
Any Damage- If any of the pipes or valves on the unit are damaged, then this can determine if the unit will function properly at all. The entire water heater should be inspected for any damage to make sure the water heater will last while it’s being used in the home.
Functionality- A water heater is supposed to warm up the water that’s in the tank and distribute it throughout the home. Tankless water heaters can warm up the water on demand to distribute it throughout the home.
If the water heater isn’t functioning properly, then it may be because of an outed pilot, a malfunctioning pipe, or the water heater itself may no longer be working correctly.
Check The Toilets
Although toilets are one of the most affordable fixtures that are put into a home, you’ll still want to make sure the toilet works properly and is securely in place before moving into a home, especially when there are several toilets in the home. Each toilet should be checked for:
- Leaking
- Mold Or Mildew
- The Flapper
- Worn Wax Ring
Leaking- A toilets can be leaking in a couple of places, so check for each kind of leaking. Dropping some food coloring into the tank of the toilet will allow the coloring to show up in the toilet bowl, which is the sign of one type of leak. Finding any mold or mildew or discolored water at the base of the toilet is a sign of another kind of leak.
Mold/Mildew- Water that leaks from the bottom of the toilet and sits there for a while will eventually mold, which means that the toilet base will need to be fixed and secured again. It’s possible that if the mold is significant enough, a replacement of the flooring that’s directly underneath the toilet may be necessary.
The Flapper- The flapper in the toilet tank is what keeps the water in the tank until you’re ready to flush it, so make sure the flapper is not leaking, which can waste a lot of water.
Worn Wax Ring- The wax ring that helps the hold the toilet in place can be worn after the toilet has been used for years, which means the toilet may shake and shift, and there may be leaking at the bottom of the toilet.
Ensure that the wax ring isn’t worn as well as making sure the bolts holding the toilet in place don’t need replacement.
Is The Water Discolored?
Your plumber is going to have to check for discolored water, and if discolored water is discovered, then there may be several reasons why the water may not be coming out clear.
The plumber will have to narrow down the exact cause of the discolored water, and it may be necessary for the plumber to unearth pipes if they are not able to find the exact reason for the discolored water. Older plumbing can become rusty, which can also be a cause of discolored water, so replacement of the pipes may be necessary.
Your plumbing needs can easily be cared for by Falcon Plumbing when you call (305)-251-7333 in Miami, FL for plumbing inspections and more.
