Things You'll Need:
- Flashlight
- Work clothes
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Step 1
Determine the location of the water meter and make sure the shut off valve is working properly. For water supplied by a well, look for the main shut off to the house.
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Step 2
Get your flashlight and put on your work clothes. Crawling around under a house may be a dark and dirty job. First, check the size of the water pipes. To have good pressure when several lines are open in the house, it is best to have a ¾ to 1-inch line from the water source. Once inside, they are usually ½-inch in diameter.
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Step 3
Find out if there are any lead pipes in the plumbing. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead or galvanized plumbing. Even homes that have had new plumbing installed may still have lead pipe from the meter to the house.
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Step 4
Make sure there is adequate protection from freezing weather, such as wrapped pipes and vents that will close off in the winter. If there is a well, it also needs winterization.
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Step 5
Observe the hot water heater. Things to check are capacity, age and location. Some areas have water with heavy amounts of mineral deposits that settle in the bottom of the heater. As these deposits fill the bottom of the tank, there will be less capacity for hot water.
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Step 6
Ask what type of sewer system is used. If there is a septic tank, find out the location, tank capacity, age of the system and location of the lateral lines. The lateral lines are drainage lines that carry water from the tank and disperse them evenly underground.
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Step 7
Confirm that all faucets turn on and off without dripping and that they have both hot and cold water running to them. The final examination is to flush all commodes, making sure they empty and fill effectively.
