DIY Plumbing Inspection Prior to Moving In

Moving house is a demanding task because there are more things to worry about than the relocation process. Before you begin the moving process, you need to ensure that the new place is in top condition. You have to check the heating system, walls, floors, basically every part of the house. But one of the most significant parts of the home you should check is the plumbing. A well-functioning plumbing system is a must if you want to live an easy-going life in your new place. You would usually have to hire a plumbing service to assist you with your inspection. But we will help you with your DIY plumbing inspection prior to moving in.

Prepare for the DIY plumbing inspection

First, before you check every element of your plumbing, you need to prepare. Ensuring that the pipes in your new home are in good condition is not an easy or clean task. You need to worry about two things.

·      Since you are only doing an inspection, you will not need a lot of tools, but you will need to have the basics with you. To perform a DIY plumbing inspection, you need an adjustable wrench and a flashlight. 

·      As we said, plumbing is dirty work. Come wearing clothes you do not mind getting dirty while checking the plumbing system.

Handywoman holding a wrench.
Get the basic tools and get ready to work on your DIY plumbing inspection.

Finally, get yourself mentally prepared. You should check every part of the plumbing system, do not be afraid to go into hard-to-reach places, like the basement. Who knows where you might find a leaking pipe that will cause problems later on if you do not fix it now. When you have everything checked thoroughly, you will not have to worry about your things getting water damaged when you move in. When the assessment of your pipe system is complete, you can let Fairfax Transfer and Storage or any other moving company relocate you into your new home.

Check the shut off valve

Now that you know how to prepare for inspection, the first thing to check the shut-off valve. The use of the shut-off valve is in its name. You use it to shut off the flow of water to your system. View it as a “kill switch” for your plumbing system.

To check your shut-off valve, you need to locate it first. There are a few places where your shut-off valve can be. When looking for the shut-off valve, you should avoid the upstairs of your home. In most cases, your shut-off valve will be on the first floor, yard, or basement.

The best option is to find your water meter because the shut-off valve will be near it. The water meter can be inside the house or outside. Usually, the position of the shut-off valve will depend on the climate. In warmer areas, the shut-off valve is inside, and in colder places, it is outside. There is no standard place where the shut-off valve is located, so you will need to do some detective work to find it.

A round and gray metal valve.
You have to locate the shut-off valve because it can help you during a plumbing emergency.

Besides the main shut-off valve, which stops the water in your whole home, there will be a shut-off valve in the kitchen or bathroom. Closing those valves will stop the water in only those rooms in the house.

To check if the valves work correctly, you only need to turn them off and see if there is water running on the faucets. In addition, look for any leaks around the valves. If there are any problems with the shut-off valve, learn how to select the best plumbing service that can help you.

DIY plumbing inspection of your water heater

The second part of your plumbing you should inspect is the water heater. With the water heater, there are three things you have to check.

·      The first thing is if it heats the water. The water heater should heat the water fast and reach a set temperature. To check the speed of the water, turn it off and let the water get cold. You can see the temperature on the thermostat or by touch. If the water is hot to the touch and the thermostat is not showing it, it is probably not working.

·      The second thing is the size of the water heater. On average, a family with 3 to 5 members will need a water heater that holds anywhere between 40 to 60 gallons of water. If you get a water heater that carries that much water, you can shower and clean the dishes without worrying about hot water running out.

·      Finally, check the water heater for calcium carbonate buildup. If your water has a lot of minerals inside the tank, it can lead to corrosion and prevent your water from heating.

Inspecting the faucets in your home

Checking your taps is the easiest task when it comes to plumbing examination. You need to locate all the faucets and check if they are leaking. Check below the sinks for leaking pipes when examining the taps in the bathroom and kitchen. If your faucets are leaking, write it down because you will need to come back and fix it. To deal with leaking pipes, you can try tightening them with the adjustable wrench. When you have repaired everything in the kitchen and bathroom, you can begin the moving in process. To set up your bathroom faster, you need to prepare everything on time by learning about bathroom packing.

Running faucets.
If your faucets are leaking, you can lose a lot of money on water bills, so get a professional to fix them.

Final steps in your DIY plumbing inspection

When you have done everything above, check if the toilet flushes. As soon as you flush – the toilet bowl should empty immediately, and the cisterns should fill, do this in every bathroom in your house. Finally, check the shower pressure in every bathroom, and get professionals to help you if the pressure is weak. There is nothing more demoralizing than a weak shower pressure in the morning. With this, your DIY plumbing inspection journey is complete. You only need to avoid plumbing mistakes to keep your system running smoothly.

Meta: Are you planning to move into a new home and need help with the plumbing? Learn about DIY plumbing inspection prior to moving in.

1.    https://unsplash.com/photos/4CNNH2KEjhc

2.    https://www.pexels.com/photo/handywoman-holding-a-plumbers-wrench-8486928/

3.    https://www.pexels.com/photo/round-gray-metal-valve-3066793/

4.    https://www.pexels.com/photo/stainless-faucet-861414/

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