Don't forget your plumbing checklist moving into a new home

If you're selling your home and relocating, don't forget your plumbing checklist moving into a new home.

Most of us will get a building inspection, but not think about having a plumbing inspection. In most cases the plumbing is probably fine. You might need to do some simple repairs, but if there are serious issues, it can cause additional expenses that could completely blow your budget.

Here's a handy checklist before signing the contract. This will give you added peace of mind when purchasing a new property.

Check the water supply system

An important item on your plumbing checklist moving into a new home is the water supply system. This is where you need the expertise of a licensed plumber.

Checking that the water supply system is in order can save you a lot of money and heartache down the track. If the water metre is faulty it can cause misreading of water usage and increase your water bill. In the worst-case scenario, if the water metre is leaking, it can cause a sinkhole and exacerbate leaks.

If the service lines are too old, corroded, or dirty it can contaminate the water in your household. Then, there's the water heater and connections. If these are leaking or malfunctioning it can increase your energy bills and may also damage items.

Checking the water supply system is an important step before you commit to a purchase price.

Internal water supply to the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry

Another box to tick is the internal plumbing. Some of these you may be able to do yourself, but to be thorough you need a licensed plumber.

The checklist includes:

• Pressure valves in faucets, to ensure water is being delivered efficiently at the right amount and pressure
• Toilet valves and supply, to ensure the valves are not faulty, the flushing mechanism works, the trap is not leaking
• Showerheads, to check for leaks and corrosion. If it's corroded inside, the water will smell when first turned on
• Bathtub and sinks, to check the drainage is sufficient for the amount of water
• Hot water system, to ensure no leaks or corrosion and that it is functioning correctly
• Dishwasher connections, to ensure there are no leaks or other problems which could otherwise lead to an electrical failure or damage the appliance

Once this checklist has been ticked off, next comes the drainage.

Check the overall drainage

Another important area to check is the overall drainage and sewerage system. In most cases, it'll be fine but you can never be too safe.

It's critical that the water supply system and the drainage and sewerage system don't mix, to protect your family's health.

If you have a septic tank or septic pipes these also need to be checked so that all the waste is being delivered correctly. The last thing you want is any little surprises down the track, which could be quite costly to rectify.

A licensed plumber will check for any leaks in these systems.

Check the roof plumbing

When you're buying a house, have a good look at the guttering and downpipes. Rusted out guttering and downpipes can be expensive to replace and need to be factored into the purchase price. If the guttering is only showing minimal rust in some places, it could be an easy fix.

Then there are the valley irons. If these are rusted out or in bad shape, it can cause serious leaks during a downpour. Valley irons are not cheap to replace either.

Roof pipes also need to be checked to ensure they're not asbestos and that the flashing is in good condition. Flashing in bad condition can mean serious damage in the roof and ceiling during heavy rain.

Don't forget the gas

If there are gas appliances and gas heating, then checking there are no gas leaks is an important step. A licensed plumber can perform this with special equipment and methods.

You can also do a check of your own, using a gas leak detector. The device doesn't cost much. It detects the presence of some of the most common household gases such as natural gas, liquid propane, butane, and methane.

Ultimately a thorough check should be done by a licensed plumber, for absolute peace of mind.

Checking while at the open for inspection

Looking at your plumbing checklist moving into a new home there are things you can check yourself at the open, or at another time when the agent can arrange it.

To summarise these:

• Water quality, that there's no bad smell or discolouration
• Toilets, that they flush properly and don't leak around the base, seats are not broken
• Signs of water leaks in the ceiling
• Taps, internal and external, that they all work and there are no leaks

In the invent of there being a leaky tap, it's no biggy. You'll probably find you can replace it yourself easily with new tapware, such as the stylish Dorf Epic Block Basin Tap Set at Plumbing Sales.

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