The purchase of a home is usually the largest investment of a person’s life. As such, the prudent potential homeowner will have the house inspected. One of the most important inspections involves a plumbing inspection. Not only can the system fail itself, it can fail catastrophically and damage or ruin many other features of the house. It is imperative that a pre-sale plumbing inspection of the plumbing, heating and air conditioning system be done.

A thorough heating, air conditioning and plumbing inspection will ordinarily consist of the following items:

• All plumbing fixtures including toilets, showers and faucets to ensure proper operation. This task also checks the water pressure of the home.
• Dishwasher, washing machine and food disposal connections. This does not guarantee that the appliance work, just that the connections won’t leak.
• Hot water heater inspection. A very important function as water heaters are only designed for a certain lifespan and are relatively expensive to replace.
• Heating and air conditioning system inspection. Clearly no one wants to buy a home only to find out that the heat or ac isn’t working since it can be very expensive to repair or replace these problems.
• Sump pump inspections, if applicable. Basements can gain a lot of water from various natural processes including seepage and condensation. It is essential to have a properly functioning sump pump to keep the space dry.
• Identification and inspection of the main water shutoff. Another important piece of information for the homeowner to have in case of emergencies.
• Optional tasks can include inspections of the main drain line, pool pump and filters as well as lawn sprinkler systems.

The cost of a plumbing inspection is well worth the piece of mind and can avoid substantial problems in the future. In addition, the cost of any repairs can be negotiated with the seller and possibly cost the new homeowner next to nothing. Be sure to use a licensed professional plumbing company when undertaking this important task.