Plumbing Defects

A  plumbing system is designed to carry water to and from a structure. Most importantly, the plumbing systems must stay in a good state of repair. All leaks require repairs right away to avoid water damage and mold. While conducting your inspection, look for signs of broken and leaking pipes as  well as rusted and corroding angle stops and water supply lines. 

The waste pipe you see is designed to carry waste to the sewer and if you look very closely at the bottom center section of the pipe, you will see water leaking from the pipe into the crawlspace.

At this point, it appears that the sewer pipe has been leaking for quite some time because of the amount of  wastewater accumulated in the crawlspace.

Remember water found leaking into the crawlspace is not allowed and must be repaired right away.

It is imperative to make a note of this discrepancy and reported it to the seller or agent to ensure proper corrections.

A disconnected drain pipe has waterpouring into the crawlspace. In addition, you can see the soil is saturated from water going into the crawlspace. This is an environment for soil settlement which will result in major structural deficiency over time if not corrected.

The trash should also be removed.

A 2" drain pipe has failed. It is premitting water to leak into the crawlspace while in uses. Replacement is necessary.

Galvanized piping

Galvanized piping is known to cause restrictions in water flow.  Under normal soil and water conditions however, galvanized iron pipes should last about 40 years.

     Overtime galvanized pipes will eventually corrode from the outside and start to leak.  As these pipes increase in age, rust deposits will cause buildup on the inside resulting in the restriction of water flow. This will eventually lead to repiping the entire structure which can be very costly.

     When inspecting galvanized pipes, look for the obvious signs of external rusting and leaky pipes at the joints, as well as corroded and rusted water valves. Turn on the water from the inside and the outside. If you see the water is not clear but of a brownish color, this means that the pipes are rusting internally and showing signs of wearing.  Make a note of your findings.

                        This is what galvanized pipes look like. It is showing signs of failing.

Water heater's

When inspecting a gas water heater, pay particular attention to water leaking from the tank, the pressure relief valve, the drain valve, and the hot and cold water supply lines, in addition to any severely rusted components.

If water is found to be leaking from the tank, replacement of the water heater is necessary. If you find a significant case of rusted components such as the interior lining, main burner compartment, and the exterior casing, this unit should be replaced as well.

The age of the unit is another important factor for replacement. Whenever the water-heating unit exceeds its life expectancy, it is recommended to replaced the unit.

       Important note: It would not be in your best interests to hold on to the water heater unit as long as possible after reaching its life expectancy. For example: if the water heaters ANSI label says 1984 and it is now 2006, that makes the water heater approximately 22 years old.  The water heater should have been replaced 12 years prior.

       The life expectancy of the water heater is anywhere between 6 to10 years. It would be in your best interest to replace the water heater because the water heater will eventually fail and could cause significant water damage especially if the water heater is located inside of the structure.

     The seismic support straps are designed to hold the water-heating unit in place during seismic activity to avoid  displacement. If you find that there are no straps on the water heater, the installation of the straps must be completed.

 

Here are  water heater's with seismic support straps.

Here is a water heater without seismic support straps.The installation of straps is required.

My friends, I hope that this little bit of information was helpful to you. May your home purchasing experience be a great one.