What does a home inspector check in the plumbing system?
Inspectors identify piping materials because each has implications. Galvanized supply lines corrode and restrict flow, cast iron drains deteriorate with age, and polybutylene can fail unpredictably, all common considerations in older Bloomington homes.
Functional testing is part of the process. The inspector runs faucets and fixtures, checks drainage speed, looks for leaks under sinks and at connections, tests for adequate pressure, and verifies the water heater operates and vents safely.
Hidden lines need other tools. The buried sewer lateral cannot be seen in a standard inspection, so where the home is older or has mature trees, the inspector may recommend a sewer scope to assess the one major plumbing component a visual check cannot reach.
