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Ledger note ยท Buying

Plumbing Checklist for Buying a Home in Pickering

A general home inspection looks at plumbing, but only at what can be seen. This checklist covers what to ask, test and look at before you commit to a Pickering house.

  • About 2 minutes to read
  • Best timing: before you sign or open a wall
  • Tools: a flashlight and a notebook
  • Written for homeowners, not trades
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Front view of a charming Victorian townhouse capturing classic architecture and urban aesthetics
Front view of a charming Victorian townhouse capturing classic architecture and urban aesthetics.

Open 7 daysEmergencies any hour

  • Licensed plumbers, details on request
  • Quote before any work starts
  • Pickering and Durham Region
  • Residential and commercial

The routine, in order

  1. Ask about the sewer lateral. Has it been scoped, repaired or replaced? Older homes with clay or cast-iron sewer laterals and big trees out front deserve a camera inspection before closing.
  2. Check the water heater. Read the label for age and find out whether it is rented or owned. Rental contracts transfer with the house in many cases; get a copy and check the terms.
  3. Find and test the main shut-off. If it is an aged gate valve that will not turn, budget for replacement.
  4. Look at the pipe material. Copper, PEX and CPVC are common. Grey threaded galvanized pipe suggests aging supply, and a lead service line from the street is something to ask about in older homes.
  5. Inspect the sump and floor drain. Is there a sump pump? A backwater valve? Any staining or efflorescence that suggests past water?
  6. Run water everywhere. Test pressure at the top floor with two taps open, flush every toilet and watch drains empty.
  7. Look under sinks for water stains, swollen cabinet floors, or recent patches.
  8. For rural homes, ask for recent well water test results and septic pumping and inspection records. See well water testing and septic and plumbing.
  9. Ask about permits for any finished basement bathroom or relocated kitchen. Unpermitted plumbing can complicate insurance and resale; see permits in Pickering.

Job note: a fresh coat of paint on a basement ceiling or a brand-new section of drywall in one spot can be innocent, but it is worth asking what was behind it.

Why this matters in Pickering

Buying here can mean anything from a 1960s Bay Ridges bungalow to a just-finished Seaton townhouse, or a rural property north of Highway 7 on a well and septic. Each comes with its own plumbing questions. Repairs below the floor or under the lawn are among the costliest a new owner can face, and they are often invisible during a showing.

Bring in a plumber when the home inspector flags something, when the lateral is old, or when you are planning changes after closing.

Slips worth avoiding

  • Relying only on the home inspector for sewer condition when the inspector cannot see underground
  • Skipping a water test on a well because the water looks clear
  • Assuming a new build has no plumbing issues; check what the warranty covers in our new-build warranty note
  • Forgetting to ask the seller for receipts from past plumbing work

Time to ring a plumber

Bring in a plumber when the home inspector flags something, when the lateral is old, or when you are planning changes after closing. We can scope the sewer, assess a water heater, or talk through upgrades like a tankless water heater so you know what you are taking on before you sign.

Questions callers ask

Is a sewer scope necessary when buying a house?

It is not required, but for older homes and lots with large trees it can reveal problems that a standard inspection cannot see.

Does a rented water heater come with the house?

Often the rental contract transfers to the new owner. Ask for the agreement and check the terms before closing.

Related pages

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