Before you close on an older Phoenix-area house, ask about four things: the sewer line, the water heater, the pipe material and any past leaks. A standard home inspection covers a lot of ground in a few hours, and it may not go deep on plumbing you can't see. This short list helps you ask better questions while there's still time to ask them.
This is general information, not real-estate or legal advice. Questions about your contract or the seller's disclosure go to your agent or a real-estate attorney.
What plumbing should I check before buying an older house?
Start with these four. Each one is a question for the seller, your inspector, or both.
- The sewer line. It runs underground from the house to the street or the main, so nobody sees it without a camera.
- The water heater. Find out how old it is and where it sits.
- The pipe material. Ask what the water pipes inside the house are made of.
- Leak history. Ask if anything has leaked, been patched or been replaced, and ask for the paperwork.
The point of the list is to know what you're buying. What you do with the answers is up to you.
Write your questions down before your next walk-through. Sellers and agents answer more clearly when the question is specific. "How old is the water heater?" gets a better answer than "Is the plumbing okay?"
Does a standard home inspection cover the sewer line?
Not necessarily, so ask. Inspectors work from a written scope, and that scope decides what ends up in your report. Before the inspection, ask what the inspector will and won't check on the drain and sewer lines. Get the answer in writing so nobody is guessing later.
Why does it matter? A sewer line problem stays out of sight until something backs up, and fixing one can mean digging up a yard. A sewer camera inspection sends a small camera on a flexible cable into the line, so a plumber can see the inside of the pipe. Then you decide with facts instead of hope. Our post on what a sewer camera inspection shows has more.
Ask the seller where the sewer cleanout is. That's the capped pipe where a camera can go in.
One limit to know about. A sewer camera looks inside drain and sewer pipes. It isn't a tool for finding leaks in the water pipes under a slab.
How do I check the water heater's age?
Read the label on the tank. It lists the brand, the model and a serial number. Many brands tuck the build date inside the serial number, but every brand codes it differently. The manufacturer's customer service line or a licensed plumber can decode yours.
While you're there, look at where the heater sits and at the floor around it. Rust, stains or water marks deserve a question to the seller. Ask when the heater was last replaced, and whether they have the receipt.
Ask whether the heater has ever been serviced, and what the seller knows about how it's been used. A heater of unknown age is a fair thing to ask about in any Valley home, and it's worth a look from a plumber before you close.
Which pipe materials should I ask about?
Ask the seller and the inspector what the water supply pipes are made of. Common answers are copper, PEX (a flexible plastic pipe) and galvanized steel (steel with a zinc coating). Homes across the Valley, from Ahwatukee to older central neighborhoods, were built in different decades. So the age of the house is only a starting point. What's actually in the walls is what counts.
If the answer is an older material, or the seller mentions repeated leaks, ask a licensed plumber whether repiping is something to plan for. Older pipes aren't automatically a problem. You just want to know before closing, not after.
Are there slab questions I should ask?
Some Valley homes are built on a concrete slab, and in those homes some water pipes run under the floor where you can't see or reach them. So ask the seller whether there's ever been a leak under the slab, or a pipe rerouted, and ask for the receipts.
It also helps to ask for a few months of water bills. A bill that jumped for no clear reason deserves a follow-up question.
Can a plumber look at the house before I close?
Usually yes, if you ask in time. The inspection window is set in your purchase contract, and your agent knows your dates. A licensed plumber can look at the sewer line, the water heater and the pipes you can reach, and tell you plainly what they found.
Bring the inspection report, the address, and anything the seller has told you about repairs. If the seller has a repair receipt for a leak or a new heater, bring that too. A plumber can only judge what they can see and what you can show them.
When should I call a licensed plumber?
Call when the inspection report flags plumbing, when the seller can't answer one of the questions above, or when the house is older and nobody has ever looked at the sewer line. Tell the plumber your inspection deadline up front, so they can say what can be checked in that time.
A plumber checks, explains what they found, and you approve the price before any work starts. Under contract and want a plumber's eyes on the place before you close? Contact us and tell us your deadline.
Common Questions
Not necessarily. Ask your inspector before the inspection exactly what they will and will not check on the drain and sewer lines, and get the answer in writing.
Read the label on the tank for the brand, model and serial number. Many brands put the build date inside the serial number, but each brand codes it differently, so the manufacturer or a licensed plumber can decode it.
Ask what the water supply pipes are made of, such as copper, PEX or galvanized steel. Do not guess from the age of the house, because pipes may have been replaced over the years.
Usually yes, if you ask in time. The window is set by your purchase contract, so check your dates with your agent and tell the plumber your deadline up front.
