An Older House: Plumbing to Check Before Closing

Supply pipes

Look at the pipes coming from the meter and along the basement ceiling.

• Copper: generally good. Look for green crust at joints and any patched sections.
• Galvanized steel: grey, threaded joints. Restricts flow over time. Budget for replacement.
• Polybutylene: grey plastic, often with crimp rings. Has a history of failure; insurers may ask about it.
• PEX: red, blue or white plastic. Modern and usually fine.

Our note on polybutylene and galvanized goes into detail.

Drains and stack

Cast-iron stacks turn up in most older homes. Check for rust streaks, weeping joints and patches. ABS black plastic suggests updates. Run several fixtures at once and listen for gurgling.

Sewer lateral

A sewer scope is the best investment you can make before buying an older home. It shows roots, cracks and sags that no visual inspection can find.

Water heater

Check the label for the year. Find out if it is rented. A tank over twelve years old should be in your budget for replacement.

Shut-off valves

Find the main shut-off and see if it closes. Check a few fixture shut-offs. Seized valves are common in older homes and worth replacing early.

Flood protection

Look for a backwater valve on the main building drain, a sump pump, and downspouts that discharge onto the ground rather than into a pipe. Ask about any past flooding.

Once you own it, a plumbing walk-through helps plan upgrades over time. See repiping and camera inspections.