Summer is the “home buying” season. Many homebuyers find out too late that they have plumbing issues. Here are some things you can check while viewing your potential dream home. In the bathroom, check around the base of the toilet for signs of water damage, are there any black or white stains or is the vinyl curled. Check for a softened floor by straddling the toilet and rocking back and forth, is it spongy? How quickly does the toilet flush? Finally check the tiles around the top of the bathtub, are there any leaky or loose tiles.
You can check the water supply piping by turning on the kitchen and bath taps to check for a reduction in the water volume as this could signify calcium and mineral deposits in the pipework meaning it would need replacing. Check the water heating system. The first 4 numbers of the serial number are the month and year, anything over 15 years is a candidate for replacement.