Don’t Skip the Inspection
Acquiring a new home represents a significant financial commitment and an exciting step for you and your family. However, this dream can rapidly devolve into a distressing situation if the property is afflicted with underlying plumbing issues. To safeguard against such scenarios, Green Tech Plumbing offers comprehensive plumbing inspections, designed to provide you with peace of mind and bolster your confidence in your investment.
Our in-depth plumbing inspection plays a crucial role for informed buyers, enabling them to secure more favorable terms by negotiating the cost of necessary repairs prior to finalizing the sale. A professional evaluation of the plumbing system imparts essential insights, empowering you with the knowledge required to make a well-informed decision regarding your home purchase.
This blog article will delve into the specifics of our inspection process, offering a detailed overview of what to expect. Additionally, we will share several practical tips to further protect your interests during the home-buying process. These guidelines are aimed at ensuring that you step into your new home with confidence, fully aware of its condition and ready to make the most of your investment.
Camera The Sewer
Using a camera to check the storm or sewer system is a smart move with no negatives. If the plumber finds that everything is clear, you’ll feel good knowing there are no problems. But if they find a big problem, it’s really good to know about it before you buy the house. This way, you can avoid big issues later. Want to learn more about how we use a camera to check the sewers? Just head over to our sewer inspection page for all the details. This info can help you make a smart choice when buying a home.
Check The Water Heater
Visually inspect the water heater for leaks, rust, and discoloration. Brown rust-colored stains on and around the water heater are signs of corrosion. Turn on the fixtures and check the water temperatures ranges. No hot water is an obvious sign but so is scalding water. If you can’t get the temperature to warm, you might have a gas control valve problem or even a thermostat issue.
We would also recommend checking on the age and warranty of your water heater. The manufacturer’s label should provide all the information but if not just grab the serial number.
How to Read the Serial Number
Every manufacturer has it’s own serial number format, check the name brand of the water heater to get started. Next, use the information below to decipher the age of the unit.
Rheem and Ruud
MMYY****
MM = Month of manufacture
YY = Year of manufacture
Example: 1209D1234 = December 2009
American and AO Smith
2008–present:
YYWW*******
YY = Year of manufacture
WW = Week of manufacture
Example: 16051234567 = 2016, 5th week (early February)
Pre-2008:
*MYY******
M = Month of manufacture
A = January | B = February | C = March | D = April | E = May | F = June | G = July | H = August | J = September | K = October | L = November | M = December
YY = Year of manufacture
Example: 4D051234567 = April 2005
Bradford White
Bradford White’s serial numbers are a little less straightforward. The year of manufacture is noted by the first letter of the serial number, and the month is the second letter.
YM*******
Y = Year of manufacture
A = 1984 or 2004 | B = 1985 or 2005 | C = 1986 or 2006 | D = 1987 or 2007 | E = 1988 or 2008 | F = 1989 or 2009 | G = 1990 or 2010 | H = 1991 or 2011 | J = 1992 or 2012 | K = 1993 or 2013 | L = 1994 or 2014 | M = 1995 or 2015 | N = 1996 or 2016 | P = 1997 or 2017 | S = 1998 or 2018 | T = 1999 or 2019 | W = 2000 | X = 2001 | Y = 2002 | Z = 2003
Note: Bradford White water heaters manufactured 20 years apart will have the same letter designation
M = Month of manufacture
A = January | B = February | C = March | D = April | E = May | F = June | G = July | H = August | J = September | K = October | L = November | M = December
Example: KH6511396 = August 2013
Is your water heater’s brand not listed above?
If your water heater’s brand isn’t listed, check NACHI’s or The Water Heater Hub’s serial decoder to learn more.
How’s The Water Pressure?
To ensure a thorough evaluation of a home’s plumbing system, it’s advisable to activate all or most of the fixtures in the house, including flushing the toilets. While this is typically a task performed by professional home inspectors, it’s beneficial to be proactive in case it’s overlooked. During this process, observe that the water flows smoothly and that drains and toilets effectively and rapidly disperse the water without any accumulation or backup.
Additionally, a key aspect of the inspection involves examining the property’s landscaping. Be on the lookout for any soft, waterlogged areas on the ground. Such conditions could be indicative of underlying issues with the sewer system beneath. Identifying these potential problems early on can save significant time and resources in the future, ensuring that you are fully aware of the condition of the property you are considering.
No Lead Please
Lead is hazardous to your health, especially the elderly, pregnant women, and children. Construction companies have been using lead for water mains since the 1920s up until 1986 when it was ultimately banned. The pipes are dark and can be identified at the water main or just under your kitchen sink.
Recently the city of Chicago started installing new water mains and it caused a noticeable problem. Residents were experiencing extremely high levels of lead in their water system because the new water mains “stirred up” built-up lead in the pipes. For more information check out this web page.
Smoke The Sewer
Smoking the sewer is a simple and efficient method to find air leaks in your plumbing. These leaks can let sewer gas sneak into your home, which isn’t good. When a plumber runs a smoker through the sewer, it helps them spot any leaks that might be there. This is a cost-effective way to ensure your family isn’t breathing in any unpleasant sewer gas. It’s a smart step to keep your home safe and comfortable.