What’s Included in a Plumbing Inspection and Do You Need One?

You may be thinking of getting a plumbing inspection for many reasons. Maybe it's been a couple of years, and you just want to ensure everything is okay because you like preventing problems before they arise. Or you're thinking of purchasing property and want to make sure you're not getting a lemon by getting a plumbing inspection before buying a home. Or perhaps you've been hearing dripping somewhere and are worried your bathroom plumbing needs repair.

Either way, a plumbing inspection is a low-cost way to put your mind at ease—or at least spot a problem that needs dealing with before it becomes bigger and more expensive down the road. This guide breaks down what to expect during a plumbing inspection and which parts of your home a plumber will check out.

What Is a Plumbing Inspection?

The purpose of a plumbing inspection is to check all of the pipes in your house to make sure they're in good repair. That applies to both interior plumbing as well as to exterior drainage systems.

During the inspection, a licensed plumber will check your toilets, sewage lines, water supply, pipe condition, water heater, and so on. They're looking for signs of corrosion, leaks, and general poor condition that could result in problems later on.

Types of Plumbing Inspections

A plumber may use a couple of tricks to check for problems with your plumbing. Visual inspections can spy cracks or leaks on easily accessible parts of the plumbing system, like exterior pipes, while video equipment is helpful for looking into pipes or water lines.

Visual

Plumbers will walk through your home, taking a closer look at pipes, faucets, water valves, caulking, and other elements to look for any damage. They can spot cracks, gaps, warping, leaks, condensation, mold, or other issues around the home.

Camera

It’s not easy to look into a dark pipe or down a drain and see any buildup or other damage, so plumbers use high-definition cameras to get a better look at these parts of the plumbing. If the plumber is doing a general inspection, they will likely use visual and camera inspections for a thorough plumbing checkup.

Why Should I Get a Plumbing Inspection?

Plumbing is essential for the health and safety of your household. It makes sense that homeowners like to conduct checkups to make sure that everything is working correctly. Here's a look at two situations where you'll never regret a plumbing inspection.

Protect Your Home

Plumbing inspections protect your home from costly and dangerous plumbing accidents. Minor clogs, leaks, and pipe damage hiding in your walls today could erupt without warning down the road. When that happens, you could be dealing with flooding, water damage, and mold risks that need to be addressed immediately. How much does an emergency plumber cost? While the answer varies by plumber and situation, weekend or after-hours calls can be substantially more expensive compared to routine plumbing work that is scheduled after an inspection unveils something that needs attention.

In addition to living with the inconvenience and cost that go along with a major plumbing incident that requires your plumbing to be shut off during repairs, major plumbing accidents can put your home at risk for mildew and mold that can make your household sick. A simple seasonal inspection can prevent a problem that could leave you with headaches for years to come.

Selling or Buying a Home

While homeowners should consider scheduling routine plumbing inspections with qualified plumbers as part of household upkeep, plumbing inspections should never be skipped when it comes to buying or selling a home. For sellers, inspections keep you ahead of issues that will come up during a buyer inspection. Being able to show proof of a fully functional, recently inspected plumbing system can be a great selling point. For buyers, an inspection protects you against investing in a home with hidden plumbing issues.

What Does a Plumbing Inspection Include? 

A lot goes into the overall process, but a plumbing home inspection checklist generally involves the following steps.

Check Permits

The plumber will check to ensure that all proper permits and plans are in place according to city codes and ordinances.

Water Heater Inspection

The plumber will check your water heater to ensure it is in good working order and free of corrosion.

For gas water heaters, the plumber will inspect the gas supply line and look for soot. This is important to prevent carbon monoxide gas from leaking into the home. For electric water heaters, the plumber will make sure the wires are the correct sizes and don’t have any damage. You may need to hire an electrician if you suspect any electrical problems.

Whether for a tankless water heater or a tank heater with a tank, the plumber will check the water valves and connections on the unit. They may also check for any strange sounds coming from the unit and will confirm that the maximum temperature is set to prevent scalding.

In-Depth Examination of Exposed Plumbing 

Any exposed plumbing must be checked for cracks, misalignment, warping, or other visible damage. The plumber will also check that exposed pipes are insulated against freezing.

Examine Fixtures and Caulking

The plumber will run the water in your fixtures and check them for costly plumbing leaks. Some fixtures the plumber will check include:

• Sink faucets

• Tub and shower faucets

• Showerheads

• Outdoor water spigots

• Toilets

They'll also inspect your caulking to ensure there are no issues that could lead to water damage.

Dishwasher Inspection

Photo: Yakobchuk Olena / Adobe Stock

The plumber will check the dishwasher to ensure it is in good working order, has an air gap, and is properly anchored to the countertop.

Examine Insulation

The plumber will examine hot and cold water piping to determine if they are properly insulated. Thus, your pipes won't freeze when temperatures drop. Frozen pipes lead to burst pipes, which is a major plumbing problem.

Check for Lead Pipes

Some older homes have dangerous lead pipes that need replacing. A plumber will check your home to determine if you have these pipes.

Video Inspection of Drains and Sewer Pipes

The plumber will want to check inside pipes and drains for potential blockages or increased sediment buildup, but this isn’t easy to do with a visual inspection. The plumber can snake a high-definition camera or an endoscope into pipes or drains for a clearer and more detailed view.

Sump Pump Inspection

Sump pumps are important for mitigating flooding, so they need regular inspections to ensure they work when needed. The plumber will check for visible damage or debris on or around the sump pump. They may also check that the electrical components are working properly.

What Does a Home Plumbing Inspection Cost?

What Might a Plumber Recommend After the Inspections?

That depends on what the plumber discovers during the inspection. Hopefully, all they'll recommend is another inspection in a couple of years.

Chances are, problems like leaks and clogs were known about before the inspection—and they may have even prompted the inspection. Plumbing issues that you may not have noticed are corrosion or some kind of damage to the pipes. In that case, they may recommend replacing the affected pipes.

You may not be aware of some leaks that are ticking time bombs for your house. For example, pipes may be leaking into the foundation rather than into your home, which could cause extensive damage if not corrected.

It's impossible to say what a plumbing inspector will recommend for your home. However, it's wise to get the inspection done regardless. You want to know these issues ahead of time, and you can always get a second opinion if you doubt the recommendation.

Schedule an Inspection as Soon as Possible If You Suspect Problems

If you suspect that your house may have plumbing issues, or if you're thinking about purchasing a home and want to make sure everything is good internally, a plumbing inspection is a low-cost way to prevent huge bills in the future. Contact a plumber near you and schedule an inspection right away; you don’t want to wait when it comes to something as important as this.

Questions to Ask the Plumber When Scheduling an Inspection

The big day has come to schedule an inspection with a local plumber. The only problem is that you have no idea what to ask the plumber before you set a date for them to come to your home. Start with these need-to-know questions:

• Is your company fully licensed and insured? It helps if you know how to check plumber is licensed.

• What is included in a whole-house plumbing inspection? Will you be checking both interior and exterior fixtures?

• Does your quote include a visual inspection, camera inspection, or a combination of the two?

• Will you be able to switch out parts on the same day if you discover issues during the inspection?

• Do you offer plumbing maintenance packages that can help me to save on inspections and plumber repair cost each year?

Paige Bennett contributed to this piece.