Why it matters to the pipes
A standard home inspection is a broad survey. It notes visible pipes and fixtures, runs taps, and looks for obvious leaks, but it cannot see inside walls or under the front lawn. In houses built before the 1970s, the most costly plumbing issues often live exactly there: a lead water service, galvanized supply pipe narrowing from inside, or a clay sewer lateral full of roots.
Have to hand
- A flashlight and a bucket
- Old towels and a pair of gloves
- The way to the main valve
Put the tools down if
- Water will not stop at the valve
- Sewage rises in a floor drain
- You smell gas near the heater
The steps, in order
- Look at the water service. Where the line enters the basement, check the pipe's colour and material. Soft grey pipe may be lead.
- Trace the supply pipes. Grey threaded pipe is likely galvanized steel; copper is reddish-brown; plastic tubing is often red, blue or white.
- Run several fixtures together. Watch pressure at the top floor when the kitchen tap and a shower run at once.
- Note the water heater. Check its age on the label, ask whether it is rented, and look for rust at the base.
- Ask about the drain. Has the basement ever flooded? Has the sewer been cleared or replaced?
- Arrange a camera inspection. With the seller's permission, a sewer camera shows the lateral's condition.
Common missteps
- Relying on a fresh coat of paint or new vanity as proof of updated plumbing
- Skipping the sewer camera because the drains seem fine during a short visit
- Overlooking a tankless heater's maintenance history; scale is easy to miss, and our page on tankless water heater descaling explains why it matters
- Assuming the basement is dry because it is dry on viewing day
- Waiving conditions without any plumbing information at all
Reading the basement
The basement tells a story if you know where to look. Efflorescence, the white chalky residue on walls, indicates moisture coming through. Fresh paint low on one wall may cover a stain. A new floor drain cover beside old concrete suggests recent work, which is worth asking about. Look at the ceiling joists below bathrooms, too, for old water marks. None of these signs alone is cause for alarm, but together they help you ask the right questions.
When to ring for help
A plumber's visit is worth booking when you are seriously considering an older house, ideally during a conditional period. We can confirm pipe materials, camera the sewer, look at the heater and shut-offs, and give you an honest sense of what might need attention in the near term. We do not inflate findings; we describe what we see so you can decide.
Galvanized pipe is one of the most common discoveries in postwar Etobicoke homes. Our article on galvanized pipe problems explains how it ages and what replacement usually involves.