Buying a home ranks as one of the most stressful and confusing propositions in a lifetime. There is so much to consider and so many facets to a home in terms of upkeep it can make your mind swirl. One of the essential items, often overlooked, is plumbing. There are numerous reasons to get a plumbing inspection, the two top ones being safety and money.

In our experience at Barner Murphy, Inc., we know that not all mortgage companies require a plumbing inspection before escrow closes. Don’t skip it. If significant plumbing issues affect the house’s value, you have a bargaining point for negotiation. Additionally, you don’t want to get into the house only to have the settling-in process disrupted by plumbing problems, big or small.

Primary Plumbing Problems

There are five key points a home plumbing inspection covers:

Main Sewer Line: Any part of a sewer line could have clogs that remained hidden. Our inspection goes from the house to the main sewer line. What might we find? Tree roots breaking your pipes! Above and beyond the cost to clear and repair the line, some towns require a sump pump, too. These are not minor “fixes,” and you don’t want to worry about them down the road.

Pipes: Pipe leaks lead to damages, be it walls, paint, floors, or rugs. You may find lead pipes or pipe corrosion, mold, and mildew when you look further into pipe problems. Mold turns into a health risk, as does the lead-in the lines. We can provide a quote on the necessary repairs when you encounter this. You can use this as a tool to lower the buying price. Better still, we can provide you with external connections (faucets, etc.) suitable to your new home’s style as you repair.

Toilets: Look around the base of the toilets. Do you see discoloration? That can mean the toilet is leaking or not adequately secured. And what lies below can be an absolute nightmare. This is another situation where you can get our estimate, including how you’d like the bathroom to look when you’re done. While a seller might not lower the price in total, you don’t have to get a secondary price for the other adaptations.

Water: You want safe, clean house water. Odd coloring in the water results from various things, including old pipes that need replacement. Our licensed, certified staff can figure out the cause so you can make informed decisions.

Water Heater: Older water heaters lead to increased energy usage. Replacing them is costly. Our plumbers will look for evidence of leaks or other damage.

And that’s not all! Barner Murphy’s plumbing inspections in Bucks County, PA include checking drains for clogs, water pressure, sink foundations, ceilings for signs of water stains, etc.

The Take-Away

Think about how you buy other costly things. You take your car for a test drive and have a mechanic give it a once over, for example. Similarly, your plumbing report looks under the proverbial “hood” of your potential new home. The results won’t necessarily become a deal-breaker, but you want to know the entire situation before signing on the bottom line. Undiscovered plumbing issues can end up as a huge liability.

Remain aware of tips and trends in plumbing (knowledge is power). Contact the experienced professionals at Barner Murphy Plumbing Company for home inspections or any of your plumbing needs going forward. We’re in Levittown, PA. Phone: 215-945-8560