No homeowner wants to spend time and money on frequent plumbing repairs. That’s why potential buyers should carefully inspect a house’s pipes before making their purchase. The next time you stroll through a home you’ve got your eye on, perform the following tasks.

5 Ways to Inspect Your Potential Home’s Plumbing System

1. Flush Every Toilet

Flush all toilets in the home to ensure none of them leak, have a weak flush, run too long, gurgle, or show any other signs of trouble. If any of the toilets turn out to be problematic, don’t abandon a home that you otherwise adore; instead, replace a toilet with major issues, and call for plumbing repairs for a toilet with minor ones.

2. Check Pipes

Low water pressure can drastically decrease a home’s livability. To examine the water pressure, check the size of the system’s pipes. For ideal water pressure, pipes in the home should be at least one-half-inch in diameter, while pipes leading from the water source to the home should be at least three-quarters of an inch wide. 

3. Test Showers, Sinks & Faucets

Confirm the home has nice water pressure by turning on all showers, sinks, and faucets—both indoor and outdoor. You should also check for efficient flow and look for clogs. If you notice any issues, have them examined by a plumber before you purchase the home.

4. Inspect the Water Heater

Check the water heater for rust, corrosion, leaks, or buildups. Any of these issues may signal that it’s time for a replacement. Also, ensure the water heater has been serviced in the last four to six months and that it’s no older than 12 years. If it is near the end of its life span, upgrade it before moving in.

5. Examine the Basement & Crawl Space

Carefully inspect the basement and crawl space for leaking pipes, water damage, or repairs that weren’t completed by professional plumbers. Although many homebuyers aren’t too concerned with these hidden areas, basements and crawl spaces can be the source of major leaks and other problems when they’re not regularly inspected.

After performing your initial inspection of the plumbing system, call Fast Flow Plumbing & Drain in New Braunfels, TX, to confirm that it’s time to call the house your home. Serving the greater San Antonio area, these passionate plumbers will thoroughly inspect your potential home’s plumbing system with the help of state-of-the-art cameras to catch hard-to-see issues such as sunken pipes. They also provide 24/7 emergency plumbing repairs so you and your family can always count on convenience. Explore their services and reviews on their website. Call (830) 312-8822 to schedule an appointment today.