Plumbing Problems – Buying a New House? Plumbers Give You Tips on What to Look For

This summer is the beginning of great things in the southern California real estate market and many people are now able to buy their dream home in Florida. If this describes you then you will want to make sure your new home does not have water leakage or other symptoms of a poor plumbing system. Florida is very different from almost every other city in the country, because real estate here is viewed as an investment that can take you to retirement. Having to repair or replace the plumbing system may mean that you will not be able to recoup your money for an extra year or so, which may seem like forever when you are ready to retire. These are some things you will want to make sure you check before you sign on the bottom line:

• Stand over each toilet, straddling it, and rock back and forth. You are looking fir signs of a soft or spongy floor that may be rotting or weakened. Florida has small earthquakes nearly every day; the toilets may well be affected by this.
• Turn on the water in the kitchen, bathroom sink, and tub simultaneously. If there is a noticeable reduction in the water volume or pressure, the pipes may need to be replaced sue to significant buildup of calcium and other mineral deposits.
• Check for loose tiles where they connect around the bathtub, indicating water damage. If the wall directly behind these tiles is soft, this is not a good sign.
• Standing water anyplace on the property is a sign leaking or broken pipes. The excess water may be coming from a damaged sewer line and contain sewage and other waste. This can be dangerous and a breeding ground for both insects and bacteria. Even though Florida is currently in its fourth year of drought, previous years where we had the El Nino rains make it more likely that you may have excess water on the property.
• The hot water tank should be replaced if it is more than fifteen years old. The first four numbers of the serial number tell you the month and year it was made. This is a simple thing to replace before you move into your new home. This is also exacerbated by the frequent earthquakes.
• Make sure that the dishwasher and the garbage disposal connections are tight and completely leak free.