Plumbing Features and Issues to Check Before Buying a House

Published On November 20, 2020 | By Sabrina Barstow | Home Improvement

Buying a new house is an exciting part of our lives, and you don’t want to ruin it by moving to your new property and find out there is no water and the toilet is not working properly. That’s why when you’re buying a property, it’s always best to thoroughly check it and its features, specifically the plumbing.

You can always do an inspection of your own when you’re checking out homes. However, it takes a professional to know issues that may be hiding from plain sight.

Hiring a Professional Plumber

If you’re moving to South Hurstville, you can find a local plumber South Hurstville that can do a thorough inspection of your prospective property.

However, more often than not, you can only hire a professional plumber to inspect a property when it’s already purchased. As much as possible, you’ll have to do the initial inspection yourself, so you must be armed with the knowledge to check some major plumbing problems a house might have. After passing the initial stage with you, you can then hire a professional plumber for a more in-depth look.

While it can be frustrating sometimes that you can only check properties thoroughly after purchasing them, it’s better than moving in and finding it does have major plumbing issues.

However, if you can have a home inspected by a professional before buying it, make sure that you do. Here are the features and issues that you and your plumber will have to check before making the transaction.

Main Sewer

Always make it a habit to ask about the property’s sewer system when you’re checking prospective houses. It should be something you should always consider. Find out whether the house has a septic tank, how big it is, its location, and when its last maintenance is.

After locating the tank, make sure you check around it to see if there are any signs of a sewage leak. Signs include bad odour around the place and puddles of muddy water.

You must also insist on doing a sewer inspection with a local plumber in South Hurstville helping you. Make sure the plumber has an advanced sewer camera that they can use to thoroughly inspect the sewer lines and find out whether the pipes are still in good condition or there is anything that requires changing or repairing.

The most frequent issue with sewer lines is blockages, which could happen when it hasn’t been maintained for a long time. Through sewer cameras, plumbers can check whether something is blocking the lines, including tree roots.

Pipes

Besides sewer pipelines, you also should inspect all the pipelines in the house, including plumbing that carries water in and out of the house, and if possible, a gas line.

Pipes can get corroded or punctured in a matter of years, especially when it’s not properly maintained. Your worst nightmare is a house that has years of water damage from pipe leaks–or even an accident with a punctured gas line.

You can inspect whether there’s a water leakage anywhere by closing all the valves in the property and then checking if the water meter is turning. If it is, it’s a tell-tale sign of a leak. Still, it’s best to have the pipes checked by a plumber to see if they will need immediate repairs or replacement.

Water Heater

Another common fixture in Australian houses is water heaters. There are two main types: a gas-type and an electric heater. The latter has become more popular these days since it’s easier to install. However, older homes might have a tank-type gas heater–and if that’s the case, you’ll want to check the water tank storage.

Tanks can get corroded due to age and loose elements. It might be leaking or close to getting one.

Water heaters typically have a lifespan of 10 years. Make sure you ask the current homeowner or the real estate agent how long the water heater has been installed and whether there are any recent maintenance or repairs you need to know. Plumbers can also check the age of a water heater based on its model and serial number.

Check the water and see if there’s hot water coming out of the tap. If there’s nothing, the water heater will definitely require some repairing or replacing.

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