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There will come a time in life when your current living situation won’t accommodate your lifestyle anymore, and you’ll need to move to a bigger—or smaller—home. Along with the type of home you’re looking for and a good location, an important aspect to take into consideration before signing on the dotted line is the current state of the house’s plumbing structure. Our master plumbers at Fosh Plumbing & Heating have created the ultimate plumbing checklist for you to reference during your next move. Here are some things to look out for: 

Check the Gutters
Make sure the gutters are in good condition and not backed up with leaves, twigs or any other debris. If the gutters are not clean, it is not a make or break situation, as this is an easy issue to remedy. Although the current homeowner should be responsible for making sure this gets done, we would always recommend taking precautions and checking for yourself. The reason this is important is that if gutters are not cleaned, water builds up in them, which will eventually run over the sides and dampen the walls in the house. If this continues over an extended period of time, the structural integrity and the electrical wiring of the house can be at risk, as well as potential mold growth.

Check the Water Heater
Most of us take hot water in our homes for granted, but if you’ve ever been without it, you truly value the importance of the water heater. If you’re ready to make the move, check that the water heater is functioning and in good condition. If the previous owner took care of the water heater, there should be minimal sediment buildup inside the water heater. A water heater with a significant amount of sediment buildup in it can block pipes over time and reduce the energy efficiency in your home.

Check the Bathtubs and Sinks
Test all of the sinks in the home to start off. Turn on the sinks to their fullest capacity and watch for the pipes underneath the sinks to make sure no water is coming out of them while water is running. After you have done this, turn the faucets off and see if they continue to leak or drip for an excessive amount of time. Now it’s time to check the tubs. Fill the tub or sink to the top with water and then take the plug out and watch it completely drain. If it either drains too slowly or does not drain at all, that means there is a problem or blockage within the pipes.

Inspect the Washing Machine
Dealing with the internal inspection of a washing machine should be left to the professionals, however, you can check the hoses feeding into the washer to make sure there are no leaks or weaknesses that may cause flooding later on down the line. Also, check the trap of the washing machine for the excessive buildup of mud or other forms of debris. Have a towel or bowl nearby when you open up the washing machine trap as water usually slips out when it is opened up.

Check the Toilets for Leaks
This can be hard to do, as a leak in a toilet does not present itself as prominently as a leak in the roof would. To find out if your toilet has a leak, flush the toilet and then add a couple of drops of food coloring to the water tank on the back of the toilet. Let the toilet sit for a few hours and if when you return the water has changed color, you most likely have a leak on your hands.

At Fosh Plumbing & Heating, we have helped countless customers with fixing plumbing issues in their new homes. It is essential to know that everything is in order at your potential new home before you finally decide to buy. Add these five tasks to the checklist when inspecting your potential new home to be reassured that everything is in order and functioning before move in day. When you need to bring in a professional to inspect or fix issues, just give us a call at 610-496-5700 or visit our website here.