Buying a Home: Get a Plumbing Inspection First!

Have you seen The Money Pit? Probably a perfect movie for first-time home buyers to watch, Tom Hanks and Shelley Long portray the roles of a young couple buying their first home. When they first go look at the home, it seems like the perfect home - and it is an absolute steal. However, when they take possession of the home and its previous owner's things are removed, they discover a hopelessly dilapidated money pit. Sadly, this happens much too often in real life, but the good news is that a professional plumbing inspection during the negotiation phase can help you avoid the slippery slope into a money pit of your own.

If you have found your dream home, we want to urge you to do a plumbing inspection before signing on the dotted line in order to avoid disappointment later on.

In most cases, homeowners have no idea of the condition of their pipes and plumbing system, and they will be more than happy to allow you to check things before you buy.

Anta Plumbing has some of the best master plumbers Toronto has to offer, and when you call them to do a plumbing inspection before you buy the house, they will look at the following:

1. Main Sewer Line

We will use our video sewer inspection equipment to check the line running from your home to the municipal drain. In most cases, this line is only inspected when there's a problem, and many times, tree roots enter small cracks in the sewer where they cause major clogs.

By checking the main sewer before you buy the new home, we will be able to anticipate potential problems that could be repaired before it causes costly issues.

2. Water Heaters

Water heaters are made to last for approximately 10 years, depending on the installation, the quality of your water, how you use the heater, and whether you perform regular maintenance. Combination hot water heaters and central heating tend to have a shorter lifespan.

When inspecting the water heater consider the placement, and how failure would affect the rest of the home. The last thing you want is for it to damage your hard wood floors or carpet underneath. Consider other types of property damage and what you can do to prevent it. Water heaters that are hidden in closets are out of sight, and probably out of mind, so it is important to consider whether you will see a problem before it is too late.

We will determine the age of the hot water heater and whether it is big enough to cater for your family's needs.

3. Toilets

Leaks at the base of a toilet can seem like a small, almost insignificant problem, but leaks can cause the subfloor to rot. If someone who doesn't know what they are doing, tries to seal the problem, it can make it much worse.

Look for the following problems with regards to toilets:

Warping or discoloration around the toilet base;

Softness or movement in the floor;

Loose bowl that rocks side to side.

If you notice any of the above problems, it is important to have it checked out by a professional.

Most importantly, you must remember that a house is a big investment and you should know exactly what you're letting yourself in for. The best way to determine that is to at least ensure that the plumbing system is in order by getting a professional plumbing inspection before you buy the house.