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Field guide for Burlington owners

Plumbing Checks Before Buying a Home

A general home inspection paints the broad strokes, but plumbing problems hide in walls and underground. A few targeted checks can save a lot of money later.

  • Steps you can safely take yourself
  • What it looks like in Burlington houses
  • When to put the wrench down and phone us
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The short answer

Look at the supply pipe material, the water heater age, the main shut-off and floor drain, and get a camera inspection of the sewer lateral for older homes.

Key point

A general home inspection paints the broad strokes, but plumbing problems hide in walls and underground.

Working through it

  1. Supply pipes: copper, PEX, galvanized or polybutylene?
  2. Service line: is it copper, plastic or lead where it enters?
  3. Water heater: age, owned or rented?
  4. Main shut-off: does it turn?
  5. Drains: run water in every fixture, flush toilets, look for slow drains.
  6. Basement: stains, efflorescence, sump pump and backwater valve.
  7. Sewer lateral: camera inspection for homes built before about 1980.
Ask the seller: any history of backups, leaks or floods, and any repairs done.

Have this ready when you call

  • Which fixture, which floor
  • Whether the main is closed
  • Rough age of the house and heater
  • Any past floods or drain work

Time to bring in the trade

Before your conditions expire. See drain camera inspection.

First move in a leak

Close the main shut-off, open a low tap to drain pressure, then call (365) 464-5184.

What the findings mean for your offer

Plumbing findings fall roughly into three groups. Minor items, such as a dripping faucet or a running toilet, are routine and should not change much. Moderate items, such as an elderly hot water tank or a seized main shut-off, are worth knowing about and budgeting for. Major items, such as a collapsed clay lateral, extensive polybutylene or galvanized pipe throughout, or evidence of repeated sewer backups, can be costly and may affect your offer or conditions.

  • Ask for receipts for any major plumbing work the seller mentions.
  • Check if the tank is owned outright or rented, and what the contract says about transfer.
  • Look for a backwater valve access cap in the basement floor.
  • Ask whether the basement has ever had water.

A camera inspection report with footage gives you something concrete to discuss. If the lateral needs work, you will know before closing rather than after the first backup.

Burlington specifics

Older homes in Roseland, Maple, downtown and Aldershot may have clay laterals and galvanized pipe. Homes from the 1980s may have polybutylene. Rental water heaters are common.

Questions we hear

Is a home inspection enough?

It is a good start, but a sewer camera inspection is often worth adding.

What is the biggest plumbing red flag?

Signs of sewer backup or old supply pipe material.

Call now(365) 464-5184