Be One Step Ahead of Your Home Inspector
A Detailed Pre-listing Home Inspection Checklist
Are you looking to sell your house? If so, you should expect prospective buyers to hire professional inspectors to conduct a thorough home inspection inside and outside your home.
The plumbing system is one of the major systems that run throughout your house. A small fault such as a plumbing leak can wreak havoc into the entire home and cost you a lot of money in repairs. If your home inspector unearths such mistakes, they can make your home unappealing to potential buyers. Be a step ahead of the inspectors and organize a pre-listing inspection to better your chances of selling.
Inspect the Drains
The drains help prevent the house from flooding wherever you have running water. The bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and garage have drains that direct water out of the house and into the sewerage system. They can clog and in turn, slow water drainage and lead to bad odour.
Should you suspect that your drains have issues, for any drain repair, you should ask a reputable plumbing company to help you restore proper function.
Check the Toilets
A working toilet flushes quickly and shouldn’t keep running for an extended period. If you notice that your toilet is too slow, runs continuously, or is blocked, call an experienced plumber to help root out the problem and to fix it.
A toilet that fails to function correctly is a turn-off not only to the home inspectors but also to your prospective buyers.
Look for Signs of Leaks
According to government research, households in Canada use approximately 320 litres per person every day. The amount of water used can go even higher when there is a plumbing leak in the home, and this can significantly increase the water bill.
The basement, outdoor plumbing, and p-traps are areas most likely to experience leaks. So how do you check for signs of leaks? Look out for the following:
- Unusual musty smell in the room
- Your walls and floors appear damaged or stained
- There are wet spots in the house
- Mould and mildew start growing on a surface that’s supposed to be dry
If you notice any of these, there may be a leak. Leaks can cause costly water damage to the building and fixtures, and this can significantly lower the market value of the home. Fix them immediately to maintain the value of your house.
Check the Sewerage System
The sewerage system is tasked with the job of collecting wastewater from your home to the main sewer line outside. A sewer line may collapse due to old age. Its functions may also be compromised by tree roots, corrosion, and clogs.
A damaged sewer line can release septic waste into your yard and present health problems. The Government of Canada warns that sewage can contaminate surface water and drinking water sources. Ask your inspector to check the sewer line and the septic tank if you have one. If there are any problems, contact a professional plumber to fix them and restore the system.
Check the Sump Pump
A sump pump is a gadget often installed in the basement. Its purpose is to collect water and keep the house from flooding. A sump pump comes in handy during heavy rain or in the event of a hurricane. It prevents basement flooding, a situation that can lead to foundation cracks. Repairing foundations can cost up to over $4,000 according to Home Advisor. Thus, ask your inspector to check whether the sump pump is working correctly.
If yours is an electric sump pump, make sure that the outlet and cords are in superb working condition during your inspection. For battery-operated sump pumps, check to see if the batteries need replacing.
Check the Hot Water System
The hot water system is designed to work continuously for days on end. There’s a high chance that it may suffer malfunctions that cause it to break down. Check for corrosion around the base of the water heater. Listen for noise, inspect the colour of the water, and look out for steam coming out from cracks on the pipes. A sound hot water tank doesn’t have rust. It’s not noisy, it produces clear water and the pipes are intact.
Before you decide to sell your home, conduct thorough maintenance and repairs wherever there are defects. The inspection accelerates the selling process, which should be your end goal. Contact us at New Canadian Drain & Plumbing for professional plumbing inspection and repairs!