Bathroom Plumbing

So, you are buying a home. As you tick off items from your checklist to ensure the health of your prospective home, you’ve reached the bathrooms.

Sound plumbing is a basic requirement in any house. Start by inspecting the bathroom beneath the floor to check the plumbing. If the plumbing is located in the basement or the crawlspace, it could be easier to look at. What you need to watch out for is water stains under the floor and on floor joists. Make a note of the corrosion and leaks as you following the route the plumbing takes. Look carefully at the spots where water runs down the outside of water supply and where drainpipes leave damp around the holes in floor and joists. Sometimes the plumbing is hidden behind the ceiling or the walls. This is where you must look for water stains then.

Make sure that the floor of the vanity is dry because the wood or cardboard here is prone to damp. Faucet leaks from valve bases are another concern.



Check pipes to identify corrosion and damage. If there are galvanized pipes, they get easy corroded. If the house has been vacant for several months, you might sometimes find rust colored water coming through the galvanized iron pipes. Copper pipes can be soldered. If there are polybutylene pipes, check the couplings, because they have a history in coupling failure! If there is a badly corroded drainpipe, it will probably crumble in your hand while checking. It is not uncommon to see really weird replacement pieces and repair materials like auto parts, wire or plastic wraps while plumbing. Any non-genuine plumbing spares that are used can very well mean accidents in the long run, not to mention unforeseen expenditure.

Interior Home Checking: Plumbing Drains and Leaking Defects

A major problem to watch out for is the condition of the plumbing drain. This must be vented. Otherwise, sewer gases enter the house. The vent usually goes up to the roof and prevents build up of sewer gas.

The shower area tiles must be checked for signs of leaking. If it is a leaky shower pan, it could be expensive to repair. So, it is better to check for leaks around the pipes and fixtures in the bathroom. The water pressure must be checked in the faucets – this can be done by turning on more than one faucet at a time. Do not forget to try the hot water taps as well for pressure.

The walls around the shower area must be checked for damage from plumbing defects.