Buying a home is exciting—but hidden plumbing problems can turn that excitement into expensive repairs. So, should you get a professional plumbing inspection before you sign? The short answer is: yes—especially in coastal cities like Long Beach, where soil conditions, older infrastructure, and salt air can accelerate wear.
Below, A1 Best Plumbing explains what’s at stake, what’s included in a true plumbing inspection, and how it can strengthen your negotiation. Throughout this guide, our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend practical steps you can take to protect your investment.
Quick Answer:
- Yes, get a professional plumbing inspection before you buy. It reveals hidden issues a general home inspection may miss and gives you leverage to negotiate repairs or price.
- Schedule it during your inspection contingency period. Don’t waive your right to investigate.
- Focus on high-cost systems like sewer lines, supply piping, water heater, and fixtures with potential for leaks or water damage.
When time is tight, our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend prioritizing sewer camera inspections and a whole-home pressure/leak assessment.
Why It Matters (And What’s at Risk)
- Hidden costs can be huge. A failed sewer line, slab leak, or polybutylene repipe can run from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.
- Insurance headaches. Pre-existing conditions or gradual leaks may not be covered post-close.
- Health and habitability. Slow leaks breed mold; cross-connections can contaminate drinking water.
- Negotiation power. Documented findings help you request repairs, credits, or a price adjustment.
Our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend documenting every finding with photos, videos, and written estimates so you can negotiate with confidence.
What a Professional Plumbing Inspection Includes
A comprehensive pre-purchase plumbing inspection from A1 Best Plumbing typically covers:
- Water pressure and flow testing: Ensures adequate pressure without stressing pipes or appliances.
- Fixture-by-fixture checks: Sinks, toilets, tubs, showers for leaks, supply line condition, shutoff valves, caulking, and drainage speed.
- Supply piping assessment: Identify materials (copper, PEX, galvanized), corrosion, pinhole leaks, or outdated lines.
- Sewer and drain system evaluation:
- Visual checks at traps and cleanouts.
- Sewer camera inspection from main cleanout to the city connection to find root intrusion, bellies, cracks, offsets, or grease buildup.
- Water heater condition: Age, capacity, TPR valve, venting, expansion tank, pan and drain, seismic strapping (critical in California).
- Appliances and connections: Dishwasher, fridge icemaker, washing machine boxes, and gas/water shutoffs.
- Backflow and cross-connection safety: Hose bibb vacuum breakers, irrigation backflow devices where required.
- Leak detection: Meter monitoring, thermal imaging, or acoustic tests for hidden leaks; slab leak screening when indicated.
- Code and safety compliance: Dielectric unions, proper drip legs on gas lines, accessible cleanouts, and anti-scald considerations.
Our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend including a sewer camera inspection on any house older than 20 years—or any home with trees near the lateral.
Common Red Flags Found Before Closing
- Root intrusion or cracked sewer laterals. Coastal clay soils and mature trees make this common in Long Beach.
- Galvanized steel or polybutylene supply lines. These are near end-of-life or known to fail; a repipe may be needed.
- Low or wildly fluctuating water pressure. Can indicate corroded lines, regulator failure, or leaks.
- Improper water heater installations. Missing pans/drains, incorrect venting, or no seismic straps can be safety hazards.
- Evidence of past leaks and mold. Stains in cabinets, warped flooring, musty odors, or fresh paint in suspicious spots.
- DIY or unpermitted plumbing. Mixed materials, improper traps, no cleanouts—future failures are likely.
When these show up, our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend a written estimate for repair or replacement so you can renegotiate or require seller repairs.
Older vs. Newer Homes: What to Expect
- Pre-1970s homes: Often have galvanized or cast-iron components; expect corrosion and potential sewer issues.
- 1970s–1990s: Watch for polybutylene and early plastic drain fittings; many are at or past their design life.
- Renovated homes: Great curb appeal, but plumbing may be partially upgraded. Our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend verifying permits and inspecting behind the finishes (access panels, attic, crawlspace) to ensure quality work.
- New builds: Fewer surprises, but still verify pressure regulation, proper venting, and correct water heater installation. Manufacturing or installation errors do occur.
Timing: When to Schedule and How to Coordinate
- Book during your inspection contingency period, ideally right after the general home inspection.
- Get seller permission for sewer camera access and to remove/reinstall cleanout caps.
- Be present if possible. Seeing live camera footage and asking questions in real time is invaluable.
If scheduling is tight, our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend prioritizing sewer scoping and water heater/supply line checks first, then a full fixture audit.
Cost, ROI, and Negotiation Power
- Typical costs: A stand-alone plumbing inspection with sewer scope often ranges a few hundred dollars.
- Return on investment: One major finding (e.g., a broken sewer line) can save you thousands or justify a price reduction or seller credit.
- Leverage: Provide the inspection report and estimate with photos/video. Ask for:
- Repairs by a licensed plumber prior to close, or
- Closing credits sufficient to address the issues post-purchase, or
- Price reduction reflecting the true condition.
Our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend specifying materials and methods in addendums (e.g., full lateral replacement vs. spot repair) to avoid corner-cutting.
Can I DIY This? What You Can—and Can’t—Catch
- DIY checks: Look under sinks for moisture, test every faucet and toilet, run showers, check water heater age (serial number), note water pressure, and sniff for sewer gas odors.
- Limitations: You can’t see inside buried pipes or behind walls without specialized tools. Sewer cameras, pressure tests, and thermal imaging catch issues that eyes alone won’t. That’s why our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend a pro inspection even if you’re handy.
Smart Questions to Ask Your Plumber (and the Seller)
- What is the pipe material and estimated remaining life?
- Are there active leaks, and where is the shutoff for each fixture and the whole house?
- What’s the water pressure and is a regulator installed and functional?
- What did the sewer camera find—can I get the video file?
- Are any items out of code or safety compliance (seismic strapping, venting, scald protection)?
- What repairs are urgent vs. elective, and what are ballpark costs?
Our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend getting findings in writing with photos, video links, and clear next steps.
When to Walk Away—or Renegotiate
- Walk away if multiple high-dollar issues exist and the seller won’t budge—failed lateral, failing supply lines, slab leaks, and unpermitted work can stack up fast.
- Renegotiate when defects are fixable and priced fairly. Seek seller credits large enough to use your own licensed contractor after closing.
How A1 Best Plumbing Helps Long Beach Buyers
A1 Best Plumbing provides buyer-focused inspections designed to protect your investment:
- Comprehensive plumbing evaluations including sewer camera scoping and pressure testing.
- Actionable, same-day reporting with photos, videos, and repair estimates.
- Local expertise with Long Beach-specific issues like root intrusion, coastal corrosion, and older housing stock.
- Clear, prioritized recommendations so you know what’s urgent, what can wait, and how to budget.
From starter homes to historic properties, our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend verifying the plumbing system before you remove contingencies or close.