Homebuyer Beware of These 5 Plumbing Pitfalls

Homebuyers in the Charlotte housing market are fighting through a tough seller’s market, scouring Zillow listings, receiving every notification they can from Realtor.com, and are fighting tooth and nail to find their dream home. 

It’s no surprise that the Charlotte housing market has such fierce competition. In 2018 Charlotte was ranked the fourth-hottest U.S. housing market and is one of the faster-growing cities, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

According to the Charlotte Observer, the number of homes for sale in the Charlotte area has dropped to its lowest level in 17 years. In February of 2021, new listings were down 6.2% in comparison to February of 2020. 

All of this to say, when Charlotte homebuyers finally have the chance to submit an offer, it can be tempting to buy as-is, to forgo the inspections, and to not press the sellers on details of the home’s maintenance, but these inspections are of the utmost importance. KUTV reports that the “percentage of successful offers between September 2020 and February 2021 that waived the inspection almost doubled from a year before.”

If your future home is not properly inspected for plumbing problems, you could end up paying the price a few months down the road. The NuBlue Plumbing team has put together a list of essential plumbing problems to check for before you sign on the dotted line. 

Sewer Lines

You should always have the sewer lines inspected before purchasing a home. This is important because the drains could be blocked by overgrown tree roots or the drains could be disintegrating due to old age. Both of these problems will result in a smelly and costly repair down the road. Call in a professional plumber to check for any signs of leaks and potential problems. 

Water Heaters

The average lifespan of a water heater is 10-12 years so when you’re purchasing a home, it’s important to know when the current water heater was installed. If the water heater were to leak, would it cause significant damage to the area it’s located? What is the condition of the water heater? Is it a tankless water heater? Are all of the connections secure? Is the size of the water heater appropriate for your family? These are all essential questions to ask when looking to purchase a new home in the Charlotte area. 

Pipes

The next potential plumbing problem could be coming from the home’s pipes. You can check pipe size, water pressure, water meters, and the water color for tell-tale signs of plumbing problems coming from the pipes. If your prospective home was built before 1980, it likely is using galvanized pipes that corrode much faster than PVC pipes, causing a nightmare for the homeowner. If you like good water pressure, hot showers, and leak-free ceilings, this is an important one to check. 

Lead

Lead in your pipes should be a deal-breaker for any potential home buyer, but if you forgo the inspection and the seller doesn’t mention it, how would you know? Lead comes from three places in a home plumbing system: the service line, the solder, and older faucets and valves made from brass. It wasn’t until 1986 that solder containing lead was illegal in the United States. Additionally, homes built in the 1970s through 2014 that use brass faucets and valves may contain up to 8% lead. It is critical that you check the plumbing in a potential home for signs of lead before purchasing. 

Bathrooms

There are a lot of potential plumbing problems in your bathroom. From leaky showers to clogged drains and drippy sinks, it’s important to address these seemingly minor problems before they become larger issues. In fact, a faucet that drips just once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year. 

Homebuyers beware of these five plumbing pitfalls and give your local plumber a call before signing on the bottom line. The team at NuBlue Plumbing is ready to put your mind at ease when you’re going through the stressful process of buying a home.

What else should every homeowner know about their home’s plumbing system? Here are 10 plumbing facts every Charlotte homeowner should know.