Hey Hamilton! Summer is here, and that means it’s a great time to buy a new single family home, townhouse or condo.
Whether you are looking in Hamilton or the surrounding areas, John the Plumber Hamilton has you covered. Our professional, licensed plumbers can repair anything you need to your plumbing in your home, and we can do inspections on homes that need it. Why would you have a licensed plumber come in to do an inspection before you buy your home? Read on for why we think it is so important to have an experienced plumber come and inspect your prospective new home.
Not all that long ago, cast iron and galvanized and lead pipe was used to run waste and water to and from your home – Hamilton has hundreds of older dwellings with these old pipes, and they can be very problematic. They wear over time and can even leach toxic chemicals into your drinking water. Counter slopes, cracks and breaches come from old age, deterioration from the ground, and tree roots and gravel can find their way in over time and further compromise the pipes as well. Actively removing the old pipes and installing new ones can be an expensive undertaking, but a faulty main line or compromised water pipe is a problem that will just get bigger and bigger the longer you leave it, as well as deter new home and prospective buyers, should you sell your home down the line. A thorough CCTV camera inspection can tell you what secrets lie in the sewer line, and a good visual inspection can tell you what kind of pipes you have coming into the house.
Poly B pipes in that home you’re looking at can be worrisome as well? Though not necessarily a deal breaker, a licensed plumber can give you his or her knowledgeable opinion on these and can give you an estimate should you consider replacing them now or at a later date. Many homes in Hamilton have poly B pipes, especially if they were built in the early 1980’s, and though this does not need to deter you from purchasing your future dream home, you should be cognizant of what potential problems you may have and of course confirm that your insurance has adequate coverage; you cannot go wrong with erring on the side of caution.
Water that has been shut off to a house, as well as a home that has been vacant for an extended length of time should also be verified by a plumber. All taps, interior and exterior, should be turned on and the house thoroughly checked all over for leaks, cracked pipes, thumps and bangs in the plumbing when water or waste is flushed down etc. Always check under the kitchen and bathroom sink, around the tub, and look up to see if there are any water marks on the ceiling; you will want peace of mind that you’re not going to come home to any water where water should not be.
