There seems like an endless number of things to consider when buying a new home. The location, layout and price are all important, but there’s often an overlooked aspect that many miss: the plumbing system.
Homebuyers can save a boatload of money, and a massive headache when inspecting the plumbing of a potential home in Connecticut. You don’t just want to wander around a potential new home staring at the sinks and bathtubs.
Ideally you should call a plumber in Connecticut that can thoroughly inspect the plumbing system, but if you can’t arrange for this, we’ve put together a thorough checklist, so you have a better idea of what to look out for when inspecting your new home.
1. Check The Water Pressure
Your faucets, sinks, and showers are all important parts of your daily life, so make sure your new ones have proper pressure. Low water pressure results in trickling showerheads and faucets, but high water pressure can damage your plumbing system.
Testing water pressure is fairly easy! Homes typically have dedicated gauges hooked up somewhere in the water line so homeowners can check the water pressure quickly and easily with just a glance. If not you can use a simple and inexpensive pressure gauge. For more info check out this article!
2. Inspect the Pipes
The size of a home’s pipes can make the difference between a enjoyable shower and one that is unpleasurable because of a lack of water pressure. Carefully note the size of the pipes!
In most cases, the main pipeline from the street to your home is either 3/4 or 1 inch in diameter, supply branches use 3/4-inch-diameter pipe, and pipes for individual components are 1/2 inch.
Beware of Lead
Lead pipes can still be found in a number of homes in the United States. They can contribute to the health problems that the one in six children that have elevated lead levels could experience, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
If the home still has lead pipes, we’d have to say pass on it!
3. Check the Water Heater
It’s especially important to make sure the water heater in proper working order. Check for corrosion and ask the current homeowners when it was last serviced.
Water heaters should be checked every 4-6 months, and should be fully flushed every year to prevent sediment from building up. The average water heater has a lifespan of 8-12 years, so if it’s older than that you should ask to have it replaced.
For more information about water heater maintenance check out our: How Can You Increase the Life of Your Water Heater?
4. Inspect the Toilets
According to the EPA, the average house leaks or waste about 10,000 gallons of water a year. Based on what homeowners pay in CT. that’s about $200.00 a year!
Luckily, identifying a leaky toilet base is fairly simple:
- Look for discoloration or warping around the toilet base.
- With your foot, check if the floor moves or feels soft at the base.
- Check to see if the toilet bowl will rock from side to side. If it does, it signals that the seal is bad, the toilet isn’t properly secured to the flange, or the flange itself isn’t secured.
For more directions on how to properly inspect a toilet, check out this link!
If you’ve noticed a potential problem in your future home’s pipes, or just want a professional plumber to inspect any issues to make sure everything is working, do not hesitate to contact A-Team Plumbing & Drain!
We offer 24 hours services, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year! Our plumbers are the best in Connecticut!