A home viewing is not a plumbing inspection, but it is a chance to spot questions you can raise before purchase. Bring any concerns to your home inspector or a qualified plumber.
Look for visible clues
Ask where the main water shutoff is and whether it is accessible. Look below sinks and around toilets for staining, swollen cabinet bases or damp flooring. Notice the age and visible condition of the water heater, and ask about any recent leaks or repairs. In a basement or crawlspace, look for signs of past moisture without entering unsafe areas.
Run fixtures only with the seller’s permission. A quick look cannot reveal everything inside walls or underground drains, and one working tap does not prove the whole system is sound.
Ask for records
Request available permits, equipment manuals and invoices for recent plumbing work. If a specific issue matters to the purchase, arrange a focused assessment rather than guessing at repair cost. Our plumbing repair team can discuss a concern identified during an inspection.
Turn an observation into a useful question
If you see staining below a sink, ask when it appeared and whether a repair was made. If the water heater looks old, request its model, installation and service records. If a basement has a floor drain or pump, ask what it serves and whether there have been backups. A dry surface during one viewing cannot rule out an intermittent problem.
Keep notes and photos with the seller’s permission so your inspector can examine the specific concern. A general viewing checklist helps you prepare, but it does not replace an inspection or establish the cost of concealed work. For a pressure complaint, our guide to changing water pressure lists details worth recording before a plumbing assessment.