Home inspection: defects in water supply and drainage piping

Improper installation of water supply and drainage piping is one of the construction defects a home inspection looks for. We inspect properties in Kfar Saba and nationwide. What condition should the water pipe to a balcony be in, and how often does hot water piping get damaged in ways that simply aren't visible?

A pre-purchase inspection like this is about closing the sale with peace of mind. Whether it's an older house or a new apartment from a contractor, don't skip a check of the piping, including the pipe running to the balcony, and make sure hot water piping is inspected as part of the plumbing system.

We work throughout the country, including Kfar Saba and Ramat Gan. When you're comparing the price of a home inspection, confirm the check actually includes the plumbing.

Improper installation of water supply and drainage piping

By: engineer Ron Arad, Arad Bedek Bayit Ltd.

In home inspections, we regularly come across unusual plumbing defects, and in most cases these construction defects aren't just a problem for the water system: they're a safety issue too.

Planning the plumbing layout

Proper planning of a water supply and drainage system has to account for both how accessible the pipes are to a professional doing repairs, and the risk of damage where piping is left exposed.

Two cases: piping defects we've found

When people think about inspecting a house or apartment, they often forget to check the surroundings the property sits in. For an apartment, checking the building itself is essential, since the building's condition directly affects the condition of the unit you want to buy: pay attention to the shared and public areas, and to the building as a whole. Here are two examples from actual inspections.

An obstacle on the way to the storage rooms: in a 40-story building in Ramat Gan, we found that the drainage pipe on the storage-room floor had been installed in the wrong place, so the contractor ran it horizontally across the floor of the storage-room corridor, the very path residents use to move carts, crates and furniture. Beyond the safety hazard and the eyesore, the exposed pipe itself was also at risk of damage.

Exposed hot water piping on a balcony: in a luxury building in Kfar Saba, we found a serious safety defect during an inspection of one of the apartments. At least three water supply pipes ran exposed along the balcony walls.

Even cold water piping there would have counted as a serious construction defect, since exposed piping is easily damaged by a housekeeper, a child climbing on it, or furniture bumping into it, any of which can cause a leak that floods the apartment.

Beyond the defect itself, it's also an eyesore that can't be covered up, and worse, since this was hot water piping, anyone who touches the exposed joints risks a burn.

Hot water piping defects

Repairing hot water piping, a balcony pipe, or any similar plumbing defect isn't an ordinary fix: cases like these border on professional negligence and can cause real injury. The way to avoid them is a home inspection engineer's check at handover, followed by a demand that the contractor clear every defect the report identifies.

Serving Ramat Gan and the rest of the country

When we inspect plumbing, we also check for plaster defects in a resale apartment and everything else that affects your safety and the soundness of the deal you're about to make. If you're weighing a purchase, or already in the middle of one, don't hesitate to use your rights in full: reach out to us at any stage for guidance specific to your situation.

We're Ron Arad's company, veterans in the field and long-time leaders in home inspection. We serve Kfar Saba and the surrounding area, and the rest of the country from north to south, with fast booking and flexible hours to suit you.