Plumbing Inspections: The Silent Drip That Bankrupts You

Plumbing problems are sneaky. They don’t always announce themselves with a burst pipe and indoor rainstorm (though that does happen). Sometimes it’s just a slow drip behind a wall, a sweating pipe in a crawlspace, or a toilet that runs quietly for months, slowly adding zeros to your water bill.

Or worse, results in water damage and cracks in your foundation. The next time there is a big rainstorm the water bubbles up through the cracks and floods your basement.

A plumbing inspection isn’t glamorous — nobody brags about their perfectly sealed P-traps — but it’s one of those things that saves you money, time, and sanity. And yes, it’s absolutely worth doing before there’s a puddle in your basement that wasn’t there yesterday.

---

What a Plumbing Inspection Actually Covers

A proper plumbing inspection checks three big things:

1. Leaks — obvious and hidden. Home inspectors check under sinks, around toilets, near the water heater, and behind appliances. A tiny drip can cause big problems if it hits drywall or wood framing.

2. Water Pressure — too high and it strains/damages your fixtures; too low and you feel like you’re showering in a mist of disappointment.

3. Drainage — water should move fast and quietly. Gurgling, bubbling, or that swampy smell from a floor drain means something’s up.

A good home inspector will also look at the main shut-off valve, the water heater, and any visible supply lines — especially if they’re old copper or the dreaded polybutylene (the gray, brittle stuff from the 80s that loves to split open when you’re on vacation).

---

Most Common Issues

• Leaky fittings that someone tried to “fix” with Teflon tape and optimism.
• Corroded shut-off valves that no longer shut off anything.
• Cross-threaded connections on washing machine hoses — one burst and it’s game over for your laundry room.
• Sump pumps that haven’t been tested in years and quit the moment the power blinks during a storm.
• Water heaters on their last legs — rusted bottoms, expired anode rods, mystery noises that sound like a kettle boiling gravel (that sound is rusted flakes of metal inside the water heater).

 

 

Uncommon Issue: Some silly electrician puts an electrical socket in a sink.

 

 

When to Schedule a Plumbing Inspection

You should have your plumbing inspected once a year, especially in older homes or if you’ve had recent foundation movement or water pressure fluctuations. It’s also a must before:

• Buying or selling a home.

• Renovating a bathroom or kitchen.

• Installing a new appliance that connects to water. 

And definitely before winter, if your home has any history of frozen pipes. A quick inspection can reveal uninsulated lines or drafty crawlspaces that could cause a disaster come January when the pipes burst.

Bonus: If your home floods (for whatever reason) you should get a full home inspection in order to check what all has been damaged. The plumbing could be just the tip of the iceberg.

---

What You Can Do Between Inspections

• Peek under sinks once in a while. If you see a drip, white crust, or dark patch — don’t ignore it.

• Test your shut-off valves. If you can’t turn them easily by hand, they’ll fail when you need them most.

• Drain a few gallons from your water heater once a year to flush out sediment. It’s simple and extends its life.

• Make sure sump pumps actually run — pour water into the pit until it clicks on.

---

The Bottom Line

Plumbing issues are like dental problems — the longer you ignore them, the more expensive they get. An inspection is your yearly checkup, catching the tiny problems before they become major repairs.

And because water damage from leaky pipes can cause problems with your home's foundation, wiring and structure, the expenses can add up very quickly.

At moffatinspections.ca, which we recommend if you are looking for any kind of home inspection in Ajax, the home inspector takes the time to track down those hidden risks — the leaks behind walls, the valves that won’t turn, the drains that gurgle at night — and knowing about these problems before hand let's you fix them before they flood your basement.