Plumbing Checks Before You Buy

The entry in brief

Before closing, look at how old the tank is, what the supply pipe is made of, the main shut-off, signs of past leaks and the condition of the sewer lateral. For older houses or any home with large trees, a sewer camera inspection is one of the best investments you can make before buying. It reveals problems a regular inspection cannot see.

What is going on

A home inspector does a visual review. They run taps, flush toilets and look for stains, but they do not usually scope the sewer line or open walls. In Mississauga, houses built before the 1970s may have clay or cast iron sewer laterals, galvanized supply pipes or even a lead service line. Some homes from the late 1970s through the 1990s may contain grey polybutylene pipe. Each of these can mean a significant expense after you move in. Newer homes are not exempt either. Construction debris left in a lateral, a sag where backfill settled, or a basement bathroom roughed in without a proper vent can all show up in the first year. A few hours of checking before closing gives you facts to plan around rather than guesses.

In order

1. Look at the water heater. Find the date on the label and ask whether it is owned or rented. A rental contract usually transfers with the house.
2. Identify the pipes. Check near the water heater and main valve for copper, PEX, Poly-B, galvanized or lead.
3. Find the main shut-off. Confirm it exists, is reachable and appears to work.
4. Look for evidence. Water stains on ceilings, new paint patches, a musty smell or efflorescence on basement walls.
5. Run every fixture. Fill the tub, flush toilets together, run the kitchen tap. Listen for gurgling.
6. Ask about history. Has the basement flooded? Is there a sump pump or backwater valve?
7. Book a sewer camera. Especially for older homes and lots with mature trees.

Slips to avoid

• Waiving inspection conditions to win a bidding war without understanding the risk.
• Relying on the seller's word that the sewer is fine.
• Forgetting to ask whether the water heater or softener is rented.
• Overlooking an older finished basement bathroom with no permit history.
• Missing a shower that swings hot and cold, which can point to an old valve.

When the ledger says phone

Book a plumber for a sewer camera inspection within your conditional period, or for a second opinion on anything the home inspector flagged. If an older shower scalds or swings in temperature, see shower valve replacement. For pipe questions, read Poly-B explained and lead pipes in Ontario. After you move in, our garbage disposal dos and don'ts help keep a new kitchen running well.