Why a Professional Plumbing and Sewer Evaluation Matters After a Home Inspection
A professional home inspection can provide buyers and homeowners with valuable information about the condition of a property. During an inspection, conditions may be discovered that deserve additional evaluation by a licensed plumbing contractor.
That is where working with an experienced local plumbing company becomes important.
When a plumbing or sanitary sewer concern requires further investigation, one Portland-area company homeowners can contact is True Flow Plumbing PDX.
Website: True Flow Plumbing PDX
True Flow Plumbing PDX provides residential plumbing and sewer services throughout the Portland Metro area, including sewer camera inspections, drain cleaning, sewer repairs and replacements, trenchless sewer rehabilitation, leak detection, water heater services, water service replacement, and other plumbing services.
What Happens When a Home Inspection Finds a Plumbing Problem?
A home inspector’s job is to inspect the accessible components of the property and document conditions that may deserve attention.
Sometimes the next step is simple. Other times, the inspector may recommend that a particular condition be evaluated by a licensed plumbing contractor.
For example, an inspection might identify signs of previous leakage, corrosion, an aging water heater, unusual plumbing connections, drainage concerns, or other conditions that require additional investigation.
Having the condition evaluated doesn’t automatically mean an expensive repair is necessary.
The purpose of the additional evaluation is to better understand the condition and determine what, if anything, should be done about it.
When a Sewer Scope Identifies a Problem
A sewer scope can be particularly valuable during a real estate transaction because most of the sanitary sewer lateral is underground and cannot be evaluated during a standard visual inspection.
A sewer camera may reveal conditions such as root intrusion, cracked or broken piping, separated joints, offsets, pooling water, deterioration, debris, unusual pipe transitions, or previous repairs.
An inspector’s sewer-scope video provides important documentation of what was visible inside the line at the time of the inspection.
If something questionable is discovered, that doesn’t necessarily mean the entire sewer needs to be replaced.
A plumbing and sewer contractor can review the footage and determine whether additional investigation is appropriate.
Getting a Second Evaluation Before Making a Major Sewer Decision
This is especially important when a sewer inspection identifies a condition that could potentially result in a significant repair.
Before deciding that an entire sewer needs to be replaced, it can be beneficial to have the condition evaluated by a contractor experienced with multiple sewer repair methods.
True Flow Plumbing PDX can review existing sewer-scope footage and, when necessary, perform an additional camera inspection or locate the affected portion of the sewer.
The objective is to determine what is actually wrong and what repair method is appropriate for that particular condition.
In some situations, a localized repair may be sufficient.
Other conditions may be candidates for trenchless rehabilitation.
More extensive deterioration may require replacement.
The repair should fit the problem rather than assuming every sewer defect requires the same solution.
Different Sewer Problems Require Different Solutions
Sanitary sewer systems throughout the Portland Metro area vary considerably.
Older homes may have cast iron, concrete, clay, or other older piping materials. Portions of those systems may have been repaired over the years using ABS or PVC.
That means one sewer lateral can contain several different types and ages of piping.
When True Flow Plumbing PDX evaluates a sewer concern, the condition of the pipe, location of the defect, depth, accessibility, nearby utilities, existing connections, and overall condition of the remaining sewer can all affect the recommended repair.
Depending on those conditions, available solutions may include cleaning and hydro-jetting, spot repairs, pipe patching, CIPP cured-in-place pipe lining, pipe bursting, traditional excavation, or sewer replacement.
Learn more about their sewer services through True Flow Plumbing PDX.
Party Sewers and Nonconforming Sewer Systems
Portland-area properties can sometimes have sewer configurations that require additional investigation.
Older properties may have been remodeled, divided, expanded, or partially replumbed over many decades.
During a sewer scope, an inspector may encounter an unexpected wye, branch connection, unusual routing, or another condition that isn’t immediately identifiable.
In some situations, additional camera inspection and sewer locating may be necessary to determine how the system is configured.
True Flow Plumbing PDX has experience investigating party sewer connections and nonconforming sewer configurations and can assist homeowners when an inspection identifies an unusual underground condition.
Water Heaters Are Another Common Inspection Finding
Water heaters are another area where home inspectors frequently identify conditions that deserve attention.
A water heater may still produce hot water while showing signs of age, corrosion, leakage, improper installation, or other conditions.
When an inspector recommends additional evaluation, a licensed plumbing contractor can inspect the water heater and determine whether servicing, repair, correction, or replacement is appropriate.
True Flow Plumbing PDX provides water heater repair and replacement services for homeowners throughout the Portland Metro area.
Drainage and Plumbing Concerns
Not every plumbing problem involves the main sewer.
Slow drains, recurring clogs, leaking fixtures, deteriorated piping, water-service problems, and other plumbing conditions may also be discovered during or after a home inspection.
These conditions deserve the same approach:
Identify the problem first.
Determine its cause.
Then recommend the appropriate repair.
Inspection First, Specialized Evaluation When Needed
Home inspectors and plumbing contractors have different roles, and those roles work well together.
The home inspector provides an independent evaluation of the property and documents the conditions observed during the inspection.
When a specialized plumbing or sewer concern is identified, a licensed plumbing contractor can provide the additional evaluation necessary to determine whether corrective work is appropriate.
That gives homeowners and buyers better information before making decisions involving potentially significant repairs.
Need a Plumbing or Sewer Evaluation?
If a home inspection or sewer scope identifies a plumbing concern that requires additional evaluation, homeowners and real estate professionals can contact True Flow Plumbing PDX.
The company serves Portland and surrounding communities and provides residential plumbing, drain, water heater, sewer inspection, sewer cleaning, sewer repair, trenchless rehabilitation, and sewer replacement services.
For additional information or to schedule a plumbing or sewer evaluation, visit:
True Flow Plumbing PDX – Portland Metro Plumbing & Sewer Services