Buying a new home is the most expensive purchase most people will make in their lifetimes, so anything that one can do to mitigate the financial risk (not to mention the stress) ahead of time would be wise to do. Here we’re going to focus on some of the things we see most often in homes, that are often left unaddressed by sellers who haven’t maintained their homes. Some plumbing issues (even if they appear bad) are actually easily fixed and shouldn’t deter a purchase but some seemingly innocuous plumbing problems can actually be a nightmare and a huge expense. Being informed and knowledgeable is the first step in assessing your potential purchase.
As a plumbing company that has decades of experience under our belt here are our top five red flags you should be looking for when buying a home in and around Langley, BC.
Poorly Installed Water Pipes
Poorly installed water pipes, or even worse, degraded and broken piping can lead to an extraordinary amount of damage to the home. In addition many homes in the Lower Mainland, particularly those built between the early 70s and early 90s used poly piping which is notorious for failing (many renovators have used this over the years as well). Make sure any home you’re looking at has good quality pipes that are not corroded or leaking anywhere. Also, you’ll want an inspector to ensure that the pipes in place are actually big enough – otherwise, water pressure could become an issue. Lastly, ensure any pipes that run close to an outside wall are well-insulated.
Clogged Drains
Every homeowner has dealt with clogged drains at some point in their lives, the reason we list it here is that if you run into a clogged drain in a house for sale you have to determine whether it’s just a simple clog that can be snakes out or is it indicative of a more serious underlying plumbing issue? The only real way to tell is by having a plumber have a look.
Old or damaged Sewer System
An outdated or compromised sewer system should disqualify a house from consideration. The risks are simply too high (unless you are financially prepared for a full sewer line replacement). Over time, debris can cause the sewer pipes to become clogged, roots can grow into the pipes and completely obstruct them, or the pipes can simply crack and break under their own weight. Before a complete failure, the sewer can back up into the house – which if it’s ever happened to you can make the house uninhabitable.
The best way to determine the overall health of the sewage system is to have a plumber run a video line inspection with a camera into the mainline and check it out – I would make this a priority if you see any signs of seepage, water leakage, or detect any unpleasant smells coming from any of the drains.
Water Heaters Over 10 Years Old
Hot water heaters are expected to last about 10 years. A water heater that is much past this date can make it difficult to get homeowners insurance, and you are at risk of a flood due to the water tank failing. This can result in significant flooding in the home, so we recommend replacing the heater preventatively.
Early warning signs of impending trouble are moisture in the drip tray or any kind of leakage around the main water inlet. Look for any signs of corrosion or rust – and be aware that the performance is off, if you notice hot water running out sooner than usual then it’s probably time to get a new tank (or consider a tankless on-demand hot water system).
Leaky Toilet
We saved the most important thing to look for until last, We say important because a leaky toilet is one of the easiest things to see and it can indicate some of the most serious plumbing problems. Our advice is to flush every toilet in the house several times (yes, the realtor might look at you strangely) to see if everything is operating as it should. If the water keeps running after the bowl drains and refills then you might have issues with the toilets themselves (not a big deal), but if the toilets are not draining properly in the first place then it’s a possible warning sign of more serious problems and should be inspected by a licensed Langley plumber.
A leaky toilet can cause all sorts of problems, and can even damage the foundation of the house, not to mention structural damage to the floors and ceilings.
