Are you ready to buy a new home in Gainesville, Florida? If you are, make sure to thoroughly examine the plumbing system. Leaking, old and ill-maintained plumbing systems are expensive repairs waiting to happen and could cause you unexpected expenses right after you move into your new home.
1. THE FAUCETS, SHOWERS, AND BATHS
Always visit the home you intend to buy and walk through it. As you walk through it, make sure to turn on the faucets, showers, and bathtubs. Make sure the water flows and is not discolored. Also, remember to check for stains around the sink, shower and bathtub drains.
2. THE HOME’S WATER PRESSURE
To check the home’s water pressure, turn on every tap at once. You only have to leave them running long enough to determine if every tap is flowing at the desired rate. If they start slowing down as you increase the load, you’ll know the home has water pressure issues and potentially more than one leak in the water supply system.
3. WATER DAMAGE IN THE BASEMENT OR CRAWL SPACE
If the home has a basement, look for signs of plumbing problems in the exposed pipes. Are there any puddles of water? Do you see rust? Is there condensation on the walls of the basement near the pipes? If the home has a crawl space instead of a basement, you’ll want to take a trip under the house to look for similar problems.
4. THE TOILETS
When inspecting the bathrooms, flush every toilet. Does it flush as expected? Does it run too long? Is there water around the base of the toilet or behind it? If you notice problems with the toilet, especially water around the base or in the back, you may have major problems lurking. A leaking toilet can rot the subfloor in the bathroom.
5. DRAIN LINES AND SEWER LINE
In order to determine if the home’s drain lines and sewer line are in good condition, you’ll likely have to call a professional plumber, like the ones at J.W. Freeman Plumbing in Gainesville, FL. A licensed plumber can perform a camera inspection of the sewer and drain lines to tell you how old the pipes are and if they are in good condition. They can also give you a report on the condition of the home’s plumbing system.
To get a plumbing inspection for a home you intend to buy in Gainesville, give us a call at 352-646-3890.
