Homebuyers should invest in specialized plumbing inspection before purchasing home  

Jolly Plumbing gives tips to homebuyers to protect themselves from hidden, costly repairs

(JULY 21, 2015 – KELLER) – Many homebuyers pay for a general home inspection to assess the condition of the home before they sign the loan papers; however what they don’t realize is that these inspections don’t usually catch plumbing problems beyond the fixtures. In order to save themselves from expensive and time consuming plumbing repairs that maybe lurking out of sight, homebuyers should hire a licensed plumber to inspect the plumbing system.

 In 2014, Jolly Plumbing inspected 120 homes and 25 percent of those had underlying issues with their sewer. The average cost of repair was $3,500. Houses that needed a complete repipe, had cost that ranged from $20,000 to $26,000 (this does not include the cost of homeowners having to hire other contractors to replace the flooring, carpet and drywall).

“We have had several customers who did not know the condition of their plumbing system when they purchased the home, only to have problems a few months down the road,” said Chester Jolly, Jolly Plumbing Owner and Master Plumber. “General inspectors usually just do a visual inspection of the plumbing fixtures, whereas a licensed plumber can look deeper into the pipes and the system. Nothing is worse than the excitement of a new home being ruined by costly plumbing repairs or having your new home torn apart to fix it. We perform full plumbing inspections that include a camera sewer line inspection for $385. If a customer has us do it before they buy the house with problems, it could save them thousands of dollars.”

A licensed plumber should inspect the following:

• The main sewer line by running a camera through it to detect leaks, deterioration, rusts and potential reoccurring clogs such as tree roots. They can also make sure that all the pipes were laid correctly and connect correctly.
• The age of the water heater and if it needs to be replaced. When inspecting the hot water heater, they should look for mineral deposits, corrosion of the tank or any parts, and other warning signs that the tank needs to be replaced.
• Leaking toilets can be determined by warping or discoloration around the toilet base, and a soft or moving floor around the base.
• Water pressure. A general home inspector will turn on all the faucets and visually check the pressure. A licensed plumber can put a gauge on the water pressure to check it. If it is too high, you could come home to a flooded house.