Buying a home is one of the biggest purchasing decisions you will ever make, so you want to make sure everything is fine with the home before buying. You will not want to deal with pesky plumbing problems – and the accompanying bill – immediately after purchasing your new home.
Plumbing problems are extremely easy to hide when selling a home, so it is up to you to find any potential issues. These are the five most common plumbing problems found in the homes for sale so you can be on the look out!
No Hot Water
No hot water may be the most common plumbing problem in homes for sale, but it is also the easiest to detect. You should always take a few seconds to make sure the sinks work. If no hot water comes out of the faucet, then you know there is a big problem. The homeowner should be able to easily fix the problem before any potential sale.
Clogged Drains
Clogged drains can easily go undetected during a home inspection. Since the kitchen sink sees the most use, it is the most likely to get clogged. During your home inspection, run the water for about 2-3 minutes just to check. While you’re at it, check the garbage disposal as well. Depending on the problem, this could be a simple fix or a major issue.
Leaking Pipes
Leaking pipes can cause major problems to the floor and walls, and lead to mold from water damage if not take care of. You could incur a huge repair bill if you purchase a home with leaking pipes. The most visible signs of leaking pipes are standing water in the basement and warm spots on the floor. Since leaking pipes are hard to detect, you need a trained professional checking out the home before purchasing.
Running Toilets
Running toilets are easy to hide when selling a home because most people do not ask to use the bathroom while visiting an open house. Ask the homeowner if there have been any problems in the past, and be sure to have this checked out during your home inspection. You should be able to know if the home has running toilets that need to be repaired before the sale.
Low Water Pressure
A lot of people also fail to check the shower when examining a home. You are going to be taking a shower every day, so you do not want to be stuck with low water pressure. It only takes a few seconds to turn on the shower to check the water pressure!
Undergoing a major plumbing renovation project is the last thing you want to happen after spending a large sum of money to purchase a home. If you take the time to look for these five plumbing problems, then you will be able to buy a home with confidence. Even if you do find problems, it’s important to know what it will take to get it fixed.
This guest post was written by Anita Ginsburg. Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO and often writes about home, family, real estate and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family when she isn’t writing. Informational credit to Midwestern Plumbing Service Inc.
