Some plumbing issues may be obvious, while others may not. Home inspectors have been trained to find both. While you may be aware of obvious problems such as a clogged toilet, other serious plumbing issues, such as illegal pipes, may not even be on your radar and could result in you being written up or cited for plumbing violations.
When the inspector comes into your home, they will look for some of the common issues found when it comes to plumbing.
Leakage Issues
Typically, the inspector will look around a home for signs of mildew, fungus and mold related to water leaking from broken pipes and cracks in the ceiling or floor. Oftentimes, they will also look for signs of water leakage by checking wood panels and pieces located under or near pipes for dark, circular stains and/or rotting wood, since those are typical signs of a water leak.
Cross-Connection Issues
Cross-connection is another plumbing issue the inspector look for while inspecting a house. A cross-connection occurs when water meant for household use becomes contaminated by another water source or vice versa. A cross-connection can occur when a city water main pipe breaks lower then the pipe used to filter water into the house. When this occurs, water can be sucked back up the pipe through a shower head or similar item lying in a tub or basin filled with water, which may be contaminated with dye, shampoo or other chemicals, and filtered all the way back to the location of the water main break, resulting in a possible tainting of the initial water source.
Pipe Issues
The inspector will check for inadequate and broken pipes while inspecting a house. Some pipes are meant to be strictly utilized for certain purposes, while others are illegal for home use altogether. For example, polyethylene (PE) pipes are only allowed for home use pertaining to water pressure tanks and main water turn-off valves, while polybutylene (PB) pipes are banned for household use throughout the United States, as of August 2010.
Broken pipes are another plumbing issue that home inspectors look for during a home inspection. Pipes can be broken in a variety of ways, such as accidentally crushing a drain line while backing a car out of a garage or intentionally cracking a pipe with a hammer.
The inspector also check for rust in or around pipes, since rust buildup and blockage can reduce household water pressure and flow.
When the inspection is complete the inspector will write a detailed report of their findings along with pictures to provide the customer in 24 hours or less.