Avoiding a new home plumbing disaster

While shopping for homes, it’s often easy to tell just by looking if a prospective house needs entirely new carpet, tile or flooring; updated appliances; fresh paint or new kitchen cabinets. But it’s not always so easy to tell if a home needs major plumbing upgrades.

And the absolute last thing a homebuyer wants is to discover a newly purchased home has thousands of dollars of unforseen plumbing problems. So how do you protect yourself from buying a home with plumbing problems?

One of the steps you should take is to hire a home inspector, who will then check out the condition of the plumbing along with the condition of the rest of the home. Be aware, however, that a home inspector’s duty is to get a general idea of the overall condition of the home and are trained to spot major problems, but not all inspectors are plumbing specialists.

While any quality home inspector will make note of a leaky pipe wrapped in duct tape or water damage to the floor, a bent pipe that causes constant clogs may go unnoticed, as may a water pressure problem in a bathroom far from the main water line.

You can also do your part to protect yourself by being an informed home shopper. Be on the lookout for the following plumbing problems when looking through the home:

1. Leaky pipes

2. Corrosion on pipes

3. Slow water drainage in sinks, bathtubs, etc.

4. Excessively low or high water pressure

5. Water damage such as warping or discoloring on floors, carpets, walls, ceilings, etc.

6. Brittle water hoses

Be sure, too, to do your research when it comes to plumbing issues unique to your region. A Denver plumber can tell you about heaters going out in the winter and causing pipes to damage or break. On the other hand a plumber in Atlanta can tell you about the pressure severe storms and drought can have on your home's system.

Each region is different, so know what warning signs you're looking for when you're in the market for a new home and avoid being the one who has to make the plumbing call.

For more information check out this Plumbing Checklist for Homebuyers infographic that tells you what to look for when new home shopping, from the water heater to the size of the pipes.