[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-plumbing-walkthrough-how-we-test-every-sink-toilet-and-drain\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-plumbing-walkthrough-how-we-test-every-sink-toilet-and-drain\/","headline":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Plumbing Walkthrough \u2014 How We Test Every Sink, Toilet, and Drain","name":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Plumbing Walkthrough \u2014 How We Test Every Sink, Toilet, and Drain","description":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Plumbing Walkthrough \u2014 How We Test Every Sink, Toilet, and Drain This is where I roll up my sleeves (literally) and run some water. Every sink, every tub, every toilet\u2014yes, even the jetted ones. The goal isn\u2019t to check if the tile grout matches the backsplash. I\u2019m here to see if water goes where it\u2019s supposed to, how fast it drains, and whether there\u2019s any hidden damage just waiting to show up. Here\u2019s How I Inspect Plumbing Fixtures My standard walkthrough includes: Running water at every sink \u2013 kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, utility. Filling and draining tubs\/showers \u2013 If accessible and safe to do so. Flushing every toilet \u2013 Looking for slow fill, leaks, rocking bases. Checking water flow and drainage \u2013 I check how long water takes to heat, flow rate at each fixture, and whether drains back up or gurgle. Hose bib pressure test \u2013 I use a gauge to read static pressure from exterior faucets. Low pressure can point to supply line or valve issues. What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: active leaks, signs of previous water damage, slow drains, low or uneven pressure, cross-connections, and visible pipe condition under sinks or near the water heater. \u274c I\u2019m not looking to: inspect inside walls or underground lines, determine pipe sizing, or test water quality. That\u2019s for licensed plumbers or environmental testers. Video Documentation = Protection for Everyone Every time I test a sink, toilet, tub, or shower, I\u2019m filming it. This protects both the buyer and the seller. If something goes wrong later, there\u2019s clear documentation showing that it was working\u2014or not\u2014on the day of the inspection. I also record how long it takes for hot water to arrive and how well fixtures drain. This Comes Before Thermal Imaging for a Reason All this water testing happens before I run the thermal scan. Why? Because thermal cameras are fantastic at spotting water leaks\u2014but only if there\u2019s moisture to detect. If I just turned on every fixture in the house, the camera may catch a hidden leak or damp spot that would otherwise go unnoticed. Common Red Flags I See Slow draining sinks \u2013 Often due to partial clogs or venting issues. Wobbly toilets \u2013 A rocking base can mean a broken flange or past leak. Under-sink corrosion \u2013 Especially on older copper or galvanized lines. Pressure spikes \u2013 High pressure (above 80 PSI) can damage appliances or valves. I document it if found at the hose bib. FAQs: Plumbing Function Testing Do you test every fixture? Yes. I operate all accessible sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets. I also check for functional drainage and pressure issues at each. Do you test exterior plumbing? Yes. I test exterior hose bibs for water flow and measure pressure with a gauge. Leaks or poor pressure are noted in the report. Do you check for pipe leaks behind the wall? No, but if I suspect a leak or see signs of one, I\u2019ll use a thermal camera to investigate. I report anything suspicious for further review. Can you tell if the pipes are up to code? I don\u2019t do code enforcement. I look at function, safety, and red flags. A licensed plumber should be called if installation quality is in question. \u2192 Next up: Post 22: Signs of Plumbing Trouble \u2014 What an Inspector Looks For \u2190 Previously: Post 20: Water Heaters \u2014 What We Inspect (and What We Don\u2019t) Curious what it\u2019s like to schedule your own home inspection with us?","datePublished":"2025-07-03","dateModified":"2025-07-10","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/#Person","name":"Kloc Curtis","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/","identifier":6,"description":"Curtis Kloc is a U.S. Navy veteran and seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in business development, inspections, and technical systems. He has built and sold multiple six- and seven-figure home inspection and environmental services companies, including HERO Inspections & Environmental and Elite Analysis. Curtis is the founder of Inspections Over Coffee, a nationally expanding franchise known for its white-glove service, inspector training systems, and streamlined operational workflows.\r\n\r\nWith deep roots in nuclear engineering from his time as a Machinist Mate and Engineering Laboratory Technician aboard two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, Curtis brings unmatched precision and discipline to every business he runs. He is certified and licensed in home inspection, mold assessment, asbestos inspection, and environmental testing, and is a member of NACHI since 2006. Curtis now leads AI automation initiatives through Nexation.ai, helping businesses eliminate busywork and refocus on what matters most\u2014client relationships, growth, and results.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Person","name":"Curtis Kloc","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","width":512,"height":512}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/home-inspector-blog-19.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/home-inspector-blog-19.png","height":736,"width":1312},"url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-plumbing-walkthrough-how-we-test-every-sink-toilet-and-drain\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":596,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Plumbing Walkthrough \u2014 How We Test Every Sink, Toilet, and DrainThis is where I roll up my sleeves (literally) and run some water. Every sink, every tub, every toilet\u2014yes, even the jetted ones. The goal isn\u2019t to check if the tile grout matches the backsplash. I\u2019m here to see if water goes where it\u2019s supposed to, how fast it drains, and whether there\u2019s any hidden damage just waiting to show up.Here\u2019s How I Inspect Plumbing FixturesMy standard walkthrough includes:  Running water at every sink \u2013 kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, utility.  Filling and draining tubs\/showers \u2013 If accessible and safe to do so.  Flushing every toilet \u2013 Looking for slow fill, leaks, rocking bases.  Checking water flow and drainage \u2013 I check how long water takes to heat, flow rate at each fixture, and whether drains back up or gurgle.  Hose bib pressure test \u2013 I use a gauge to read static pressure from exterior faucets. Low pressure can point to supply line or valve issues.What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not  \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: active leaks, signs of previous water damage, slow drains, low or uneven pressure, cross-connections, and visible pipe condition under sinks or near the water heater.  \u274c I\u2019m not looking to: inspect inside walls or underground lines, determine pipe sizing, or test water quality. That\u2019s for licensed plumbers or environmental testers.Video Documentation = Protection for EveryoneEvery time I test a sink, toilet, tub, or shower, I\u2019m filming it. This protects both the buyer and the seller. If something goes wrong later, there\u2019s clear documentation showing that it was working\u2014or not\u2014on the day of the inspection. I also record how long it takes for hot water to arrive and how well fixtures drain.This Comes Before Thermal Imaging for a ReasonAll this water testing happens before I run the thermal scan. Why? Because thermal cameras are fantastic at spotting water leaks\u2014but only if there\u2019s moisture to detect. If I just turned on every fixture in the house, the camera may catch a hidden leak or damp spot that would otherwise go unnoticed.Common Red Flags I See  Slow draining sinks \u2013 Often due to partial clogs or venting issues.  Wobbly toilets \u2013 A rocking base can mean a broken flange or past leak.  Under-sink corrosion \u2013 Especially on older copper or galvanized lines.  Pressure spikes \u2013 High pressure (above 80 PSI) can damage appliances or valves. I document it if found at the hose bib.FAQs: Plumbing Function TestingDo you test every fixture?Yes. I operate all accessible sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets. I also check for functional drainage and pressure issues at each.Do you test exterior plumbing?Yes. I test exterior hose bibs for water flow and measure pressure with a gauge. Leaks or poor pressure are noted in the report.Do you check for pipe leaks behind the wall?No, but if I suspect a leak or see signs of one, I\u2019ll use a thermal camera to investigate. I report anything suspicious for further review.Can you tell if the pipes are up to code?I don\u2019t do code enforcement. I look at function, safety, and red flags. A licensed plumber should be called if installation quality is in question.\u2192 Next up: Post 22: Signs of Plumbing Trouble \u2014 What an Inspector Looks For\u2190 Previously: Post 20: Water Heaters \u2014 What We Inspect (and What We Don\u2019t)Curious what it\u2019s like to schedule your own home inspection with us?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Plumbing Walkthrough \u2014 How We Test Every Sink, Toilet, and Drain","item":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-plumbing-walkthrough-how-we-test-every-sink-toilet-and-drain\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]