Plumbing Inspection in Phoenix, AZ

What gets checked

• Service line and shutoff: the pipe from the meter area into the house, its material and the main valve.
• Water pressure: a gauge reading and the condition of any pressure regulator.
• Supply piping: visible runs, angle stops and signs of corrosion or pinhole leaks.
• Water heater: age, sediment, venting, the relief valve and the drain pan.
• Drains and vents: flow at each fixture and any odor or gurgling.
• Fixtures: toilets, faucets, tub and shower valves.
• Outdoors: hose bibs, irrigation and any backflow device.

The Phoenix housing picture

The median Phoenix home was built around 1984, according to city-data.com, but the range is wide. Older central neighborhoods and historic districts can still have galvanized supply lines, cast iron drains and aging sewer laterals. Newer homes have their own items to watch, such as plastic supply lines and fittings. Most Phoenix houses sit on a concrete slab, so supply lines under the floor cannot be seen. Warm spots on the floor, a meter that moves with every tap closed, or unexplained moisture are reasons to add leak detection.

Hard water leaves clues

With total hardness of 10 to 17.6 grains per gallon in the City's report, scale is part of nearly every inspection. Crusted aerators, sticky shower cartridges and a water heater that rumbles with sediment all hint at how the hidden plumbing is holding up, and whether a softener is worth adding.

Who owns which pipes

The City of Phoenix says property owners maintain the water and sewer lines that run through their property to the City's mains. The City also keeps an inventory of service line materials, including lines listed as lead, galvanized or unknown, at phoenix.gov/pipes. Checking that inventory before an inspection gives the plumber a head start.

Good reasons to book one

1. Before buying, especially an older central home.
2. Before a kitchen or bath remodel.
3. After a high water bill you cannot explain.
4. When more than one drain slows down at the same time.

Cost factors

Cost depends on the home's size, the number of bathrooms and fixtures, whether a sewer camera is added, and how much piping is reachable from the attic or garage.