6 Plumbing Repair Tips for Home Buyers

Plumbing Repairs To Look For When Buying a Home

The purchase of a home is a huge decision and a tremendous investment. This new (to you) space will keep your family safe and comfortable while making all those important memories. Therefore, your decision must include some research; you need to know more than “location, location, location,” and you need to look past the “skin” of surfaces.

Home inspections will catch many obvious problems and are an important investigative tool. However, a home inspection might not uncover every plumbing repair issue that is important to your decision and there are a few problem spots that might be visible to you and not to the inspector.

1. The Number of Bathrooms. There are some general principles concerning the number of bathrooms in a home: the average home will have 2 bathrooms for every 3 bedrooms. Since families might have specific placement needs—a location on a given floor or near another space—now is the time to determine whether the home meets all the conditions or requirements. Adding or remodeling requires careful planning.
2. Condition of Bathroom and Kitchens. Observe the condition of the fixtures and accessories in the kitchen and bathrooms. These two spaces are the most frequent targets for total remodeling since the fixtures are often out of date. Make these observations before purchasing the home. Will this remodel be desired or required? Will a coat of paint and new faucets be sufficient to update the space?
3. Evidence of Water Leaks. The home inspection should locate any telltale stains on drywall that indicate a water leak. Another indication might be a ceiling or wall painted a different color or a recently painted strip. There might be other reasons for a poorly painted wall, but it does bear further notice. The cover-up might hide deeper problems, such as mold; be sure and investigate the problem before making a purchase.
4. Water Pressure Problems. If the water supply is turned on, open a faucet at various locations to notice either low or high water pressure. The water pressure upstairs should be as strong as the pressure downstairs. Water pressure problems are often difficult and expensive problems to fix, and the problem will persist until they are fixed. It is not an impossible problem to fix, but you should know about it ahead of time.
5. Observe the Water Heater. Mechanical systems, including water heaters, have a limited lifespan. The average water heater lasts around 15 years. Even if the exterior appears well-maintained, entering the make and model number in an internet search will yield the manufacture date. This will suggest how soon the water heater will need to be replaced. The same technique works for a water softener or other plumbing accessories.
6. Standing Water. The inspection should have uncovered any obvious leaks indoors, but another set of eyes will not hurt. Be sure to observe basements, crawlspaces, and mechanical closets. Walk the perimeter and observe any pools of water. It could be poor drainage, but it could also be a leaking sewer line. This is a relatively easy problem to fix, but it is a problem you should know about ahead of time.

Remember all those wonderful memories you want to make? A wise home purchase can provide the perfect place but look carefully to avoid hard-to-resolve issues.

Buying a home? Let Doctor Cool provide a plumbing repair inspection on your new home.

Let Doctor Cool inspect your new home to identify plumbing repair issues. Call Doctor Cool & Professor Heat today at 281-338-8751 or email Doctor Cool and let our professional Residential Plumber Contractors assist with all of your plumbing repair needs.