What Is a Plumbing Inspection?

Whether you're preparing to purchase a home or tracking down that dripping sound somewhere in the walls, a professional plumbing inspection helps ensure everything from the kitchen sink to the outdoor spigot is in top working condition.

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What Is a Plumbing Inspection?

A professional plumbing inspection involves hiring a trained plumber to look over the entire plumbing system of your home. This includes inspecting all the water lines and pipes as well as any water-using fixtures, such as sinks and toilets.

What Typically Happens During a Plumbing Inspection?

During a plumbing inspection, the plumber typically completes a variety of tasks, which might include:

• Checking for leaks and corrosion in water lines

• Removing clogs in water lines and drainage pipes

• Checking the condition of P-traps and overflow drains

• Assessing the flow rate and functioning of faucets and showerheads

• Ensuring proper operation of drains in the bathroom, laundry room and kitchen

• Looking over fixtures such as tubs, showers, toilets and sinks for any leaks or other problems

• Inspecting connections to appliances such as water heaters, dishwashers and washing machines

• Completing a camera inspection of the sewer lines exiting the home

• Checking for tree roots and debris inside pipes that could lead to cracks or bursting

• Assessing the integrity of pipes after a hard freeze

• Looking over outdoor plumbing fixtures, such as outdoor faucets or water supply lines leading to an outdoor fountain

How Long Does a Plumbing Inspection Last?

Plumbing inspections typically take a few hours. The exact length of time depends on the size of the home and whether the plumber finds any problems that need further investigation. If you have an unusually large home or specific areas you want the inspector to check, ask for a time estimate based on your specific job before blocking out time on your calendar.

Before a plumbing home inspection, you should make note of any signs of plumbing problems, such as a faucet that drips more than usual, sounds of water running inside your walls or whether the tank takes extra time to refill after you flush the toilet. Reporting these things to your plumber can help pinpoint potential areas of concern.

If a major problem is found during the inspection, you may be asked to shut off valves supplying water to your home so the problem can be fixed immediately. Addressing issues quickly can help prevent water damage to your walls, ceiling, floors or furniture.

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What Is a Camera Plumbing Inspection?

During a plumbing camera inspection, the plumber sends a small tethered camera through the drainage line to the point where your home drains connect to the city sewer lines. Watching from a connected cell phone or tablet, the plumber makes a visual inspection of the line to look for cracks, root incursions or any places where the connections between pipes aren't secure. Camera plumbing inspections aren't always included in a general plumbing inspection, so you may need to specifically add on this service or contact a separate provider trained in camera inspections.

How Often Do You Need a Plumbing Inspection?

Having your home plumbing inspected on a regular basis helps you identify potential future problems and get things fixed before something major happens. Generally, you should have a professional plumbing inspection every 2 years. If you have an older home, you might want to schedule regular plumbing inspections more frequently.

For newly purchased homes, a plumbing inspection is typically part of the general inspection you should include in your contract before finalizing the purchase. Plumbing inspections are especially important if you're buying an older home that might have hidden problems or specific areas of concern. A professional inspector or team of inspectors may complete your whole-home inspection at the same time, looking at the building construction, the HVAC system, the electrical wiring and the plumbing.

Home plumbing tends to last a while, so the pipes in your home may not need replacement for 40 years or more, depending on the material used to construct the pipes. Many minor problems, including small leaks, can be addressed by repairing the pipe rather than having the entire plumbing system replaced.