How and Why You Should Check Plumbing Before a Home Purchase

When you are planning to buy a new home, there is so much you need to consider. Once you find a home you are interested in, do at least a cursory inspection of the plumbing. Plumbing problems are complicated and difficult to resolve without the help of plumbing services in Vaughan. If it’s the home of your dreams, it may be worthwhile to spend a little extra to get it in shape, but if not, you may want to keep looking. Unless you’re an expert, you probably won’t be able to diagnose most major problems, but you may be able to see some subtle signs that something may not be quite right with the home’s plumbing. Here are some specific things to look at.

Pipes

If you are looking at an older home, one of the first things you should do is inspect the pipes. Depending on the age of the home, they may be made out of lead or galvanized steel. Lead is a soft metal that was used to make pipes for centuries until people figured out that it was toxic to humans. Galvanized pipes were introduced as an alternative to lead. They are made of steel with a coating of zinc on the inside and outside. The zinc coating was supposed to prevent corrosion, but exposure to water wears it down and eats away at it until the steel is exposed. The iron in the steel alloy reacts with water to form rust.

If there are either galvanized or lead pipes in the house, they will have to be replaced. There are a couple of things you can do to determine if either is present without waiting for the home inspector or altering the pipes. First, look at the colour. Lead pipes are dull gray and galvanized pipes are shiny silver-gray. Bring a strong magnet with you to the showing; it will stick to galvanized pipes but not lead pipes. If you suspect either, ask questions of the seller to be sure.

Regardless of what the pipes are made of, you should also check for any signs of leaking or corrosion.

Water Heater

When it comes to the water heater in a home you are thinking about buying, the first thing you should do is check its capacity to make sure it is sufficient to meet your household’s needs. If your family consists of five or more people, you should have a large water heater. You should also ask about the water heater’s age and check for signs of corrosion.

Toilets, Sinks, and Faucets

If the home you are looking at has been vacant for a while, the main water line may be turned off. If the house impresses you enough on your first viewing, you may ask for a second viewing with the water turned on. If water is available, always look for the following in a house you are thinking about buying:

• Toilets that flush completely

• Faucets that have adequate water pressure

• Sinks that drain properly

You should also check for leaks in and around any of these fixtures. For example, you should check the base of the toilet for seepage.

Don’t forget to check the faucet handles for the washing machine. See if they leak when you shut them off. This occurs because these faucets are typically always open, which leads to the disintegration of the washer inside.If you look critically for the more obvious signs of plumbing problems, you may be able to eliminate homes from your list that are more than you bargained for. Also, pay attention to the seller’s disclosure; the party selling the house is supposed to inform potential buyers of any known problems. If you find you need a plumber near me after purchasing your house, contact Handyman Connection for an estimate.