From the Archive: House Hunting
Plumbing Checklist for Home Buyers
The home inspector covers a lot, but plumbing has a few hidden costs worth knowing about before you sign.
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The headline
Identify the pipe materials, the age of the water heater and its ownership, the condition of the sewer lateral, and whether the basement has ever flooded. Those four items account for the largest surprises.
Walk-through checklist
- Supply pipes. Look near the water heater and primary shut-off. Grey plastic marked PB2110 is Poly-B. Grey steel with threaded joints is galvanized. See Poly-B and galvanized.
- Service line. Check the pipe before the meter for lead in homes built before the mid-1950s. Read lead service lines.
- Water heater. Note the age from the label and look for a rental sticker. A rental contract may transfer with the house.
- Drains. Run several taps and flush toilets at once. Listen for gurgling. Check the basement floor drain.
- Sewer lateral. In older homes with large trees, order a camera inspection.
- Basement. Look for water stains, efflorescence, a sump pit and a backwater valve.
- Fixtures. Rock each toilet, check under sinks for stains, and test the shower for temperature swings.
Ask the sellers directly about past flooding, sewer backups and insurance claims. The answer affects your insurance as well as your repair budget.
Keep this kit by the main shut-off
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Bucket and old towels
- Adjustable wrench and slip-joint pliers
- Flange plunger for toilets, cup plunger for sinks
- Label on the main valve so anyone can find it
Common oversights
- Assuming a renovated kitchen means renovated plumbing behind it.
- Missing a rental agreement on the water heater or softener.
- Skipping the lateral inspection on an older house.
Stop and phone a plumber when
- 1A ceiling or wall starts dripping
- 2More than one drain backs up at once
- 3You smell gas or sewage indoors
- 4A valve will not turn or drips when touched
When to bring in a plumber
A specific plumbing visit before your conditions expire is useful when the house is older, the inspector flagged plumbing, or you plan a renovation. We can give a plain account of what you are looking at.
Straight answers to common calls
Can a plumber inspect before I buy?
Yes, with the seller's permission. Book it within your condition period.
Do water heater rentals transfer with a house?
Often they do. Ask for the contract details before closing.
Keep reading
- Sewer Camera Inspection in Oakville
Guessing at a buried pipe wastes money; the camera ends the guessing.
- How to Identify Poly-B Pipes
A grey plastic pipe, flexible and once popular.
- Lead Water Service Lines: What to Know
Most Oakville homes never had a lead pipe.
- Rented Water Heaters: Keep, Buy Out or Replace
Many Ontario homes have a water heater they do not own.
Ready when you are
One call books the visit. Tell us what you are seeing and we will tell you straight what it likely is.