Your home is no doubt your biggest investment and providing security for your family’s future. As a result, you shouldn’t rush the process when it comes to house hunting and once you do find your dream home, then you should always carry out a thorough check of all aspects of the property including the plumbing.
A survey commissioned by your solicitor will pick up any structural issues with the property but they won’t necessarily run through a plumbing check list.
In an ideal world, where money is no object, you should get a professional plumber in #Swansea to have a look at the boiler, heating system and gas appliances in your new home. This will help to identify any potential problems or issues before you sign on the dotted line and help to avoid any costly issues or repairs once you have moved in.
If the plumbing and appliances all appear to be in good working order, it’s still worth double checking that this is actually the case. To give you peace of mind before making that momentous purchasing decision, here are guidelines from the team at Gower Plumbing, Electric & Gas.
CHECK OVER THE BOILER
Ask the estate agent or home owner to show where the boiler is located in the home you’re planning to buy. Ask them if they know how old the boiler is and if there is a service record. You should also check if they have the instructions and if the boiler is still under warranty.
If they don’t have this information, you can make a note of the boiler’s serial number and then do a Google search using this number. This will identify the make, model and year of the boiler. If you are still uncertain about the boiler’s service history, then call your local plumber in Swansea to come out and carry out a full check. It’s also a good idea to sign up to a boiler maintenance and service plan, particularly if the boiler is relatively old, so it gets regularly serviced to avoid future problems.
PREP THE PIPEWORK
One of the main causes of leaks in the home can be inferior pipework and, particularly in winter, if the pipes don’t’ have cladding. If you identify any issues with the pipework this can be helpful when negotiating on the price of the new property. And if you can get a reduction in the price, then it’s worth spending that extra cash on upgrading your pipework to avoid issues in the future.
LOOK AT THE WATER TANK
If the property in question doesn’t have a #combiboiler, then there is likely to be a water tank in the loft or somewhere else in the house. The durability of water tanks varies from model to model and can also be affected by the quality of the water in the area.
Things you need to look at include where the tank is located, and could it cause problems if a major leak occurred. If you have any concerns, then again, it’s a good idea to get a professional plumber to take a look at it.
Consider the location of the tank. If it sprung a leak, could it cause damage to your property and what can you do prevent any leaks or future problems. The age and type of water tank installed in the property can also be identified through a Google search using the serial number.
FLUSH THE TOILETS
When looking around your potential new home, check for discolouration or warping around the base of the toilets. You should also check if the floor moves or feels soft around the base of the toilet and if the bowl rocks from side to side.
If there is a leak at the base of a toilet that has been left unattended, it can result in rotting floor boards and can also turn into a bigger leak. Just flush the toilet a few times and check with your hands to see if there’s any dampness at the base.
PLUMBERS IN SWANSEA – GOWER PLUMBING, ELECTRIC & GAS #plumbernearme
If you do decide to carry out a full plumbing inspection of your potential new home, then you need to be present during this inspection to be able to ask as many questions as possible. This small investment on a minor maintenance inspection will go a long way to saving your hard-earned cash.
