[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-signs-of-plumbing-trouble-what-an-inspector-looks-for\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-signs-of-plumbing-trouble-what-an-inspector-looks-for\/","headline":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Signs of Plumbing Trouble \u2014 What an Inspector Looks For","name":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Signs of Plumbing Trouble \u2014 What an Inspector Looks For","description":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Signs of Plumbing Trouble \u2014 What an Inspector Looks For Most plumbing problems don\u2019t announce themselves with a geyser. They show up as quiet leaks, discolored ceilings, or weird materials that were once industry standard\u2014but now make plumbers sweat. That\u2019s why I take a slow, careful approach when inspecting a home\u2019s plumbing. I\u2019m looking for visible symptoms that tell a bigger story. The Usual Suspects: Materials That Raise Flags Polybutylene piping (gray plastic) \u2013 Common in homes from the late 70s to mid-90s. It\u2019s been known to degrade internally and fail without warning. If I see it, I call it out every time. PVC instead of CPVC on hot water lines \u2013 PVC is not rated for hot water. It gets brittle and can crack. I document this because it\u2019s not just a code issue\u2014it\u2019s a failure waiting to happen. Improper traps \u2013 I\u2019ve seen it all: S-traps, bell traps, no trap, upside-down trap. If it looks like it belongs in a Dr. Seuss book, it probably needs a plumber. Galvanized pipes \u2013 These corrode internally and reduce water pressure. I document them if they\u2019re still in use, especially on main supply lines. What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: material types, signs of corrosion or improper repair, active or historic leaks, water stains, shut-off valve condition, and unprofessional workmanship. \u274c I\u2019m not looking to: scope pipes, pressure-test the whole system, or measure flow in gallons per minute. That\u2019s beyond the scope of a home inspection. Tell-Tale Signs of Trouble I See Often Staining on ceilings or under sinks \u2013 Even faint marks could mean active or recent leaks. Corroded shutoff valves \u2013 A valve that won\u2019t budge now might fail completely when needed. Poor drain installations \u2013 Loose, taped, or flex-piped drains lead to slow leaks and eventual damage. PVC on hot water lines \u2013 Yep, it bears repeating. It\u2019s wrong. I see it. I report it. Thermal Imaging After Water Testing Remember: I test all fixtures and plumbing before running the thermal camera. If there\u2019s a hidden leak behind the wall or ceiling, the camera may show a tell-tale cold or wet pattern. That\u2019s how I catch problems that might otherwise be missed entirely. FAQs: Plumbing Red Flags in an Inspection What\u2019s wrong with polybutylene piping? Polybutylene is prone to internal chemical degradation and sudden failure. If it\u2019s present, many insurers won\u2019t cover damage. I recommend evaluation by a licensed plumber. Can PVC be used for hot water lines? No. PVC is not rated for hot water. CPVC or PEX should be used. Improper materials can lead to leaks or burst pipes. Do you check if the drain setup is correct? Yes. I look for proper traps, clean connections, and secure fittings. I don\u2019t perform water flow tests like a plumber would, but I do report visible concerns. What if I see water stains after you leave? All water testing is documented via photo or video, and thermal imaging can catch many leaks. But some leaks only appear intermittently\u2014call me, and we\u2019ll document next steps. \u2192 Next up: Post 23: Interior Rooms \u2014 Signs of Damage You May Be Overlooking \u2190 Previously: Post 21: Plumbing Walkthrough \u2014 How We Test Every Sink, Toilet, and Drain Curious what it\u2019s like to schedule your own home inspection with us?","datePublished":"2025-07-10","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-20-1.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/home-inspector-blog-20-1.png","height":736,"width":1312},"url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-signs-of-plumbing-trouble-what-an-inspector-looks-for\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":574,"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): Signs of Plumbing Trouble \u2014 What an Inspector Looks ForMost plumbing problems don\u2019t announce themselves with a geyser. They show up as quiet leaks, discolored ceilings, or weird materials that were once industry standard\u2014but now make plumbers sweat. That\u2019s why I take a slow, careful approach when inspecting a home\u2019s plumbing. I\u2019m looking for visible symptoms that tell a bigger story.The Usual Suspects: Materials That Raise Flags  Polybutylene piping (gray plastic) \u2013 Common in homes from the late 70s to mid-90s. It\u2019s been known to degrade internally and fail without warning. If I see it, I call it out every time.  PVC instead of CPVC on hot water lines \u2013 PVC is not rated for hot water. It gets brittle and can crack. I document this because it\u2019s not just a code issue\u2014it\u2019s a failure waiting to happen.  Improper traps \u2013 I\u2019ve seen it all: S-traps, bell traps, no trap, upside-down trap. If it looks like it belongs in a Dr. Seuss book, it probably needs a plumber.  Galvanized pipes \u2013 These corrode internally and reduce water pressure. I document them if they\u2019re still in use, especially on main supply lines.What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not  \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: material types, signs of corrosion or improper repair, active or historic leaks, water stains, shut-off valve condition, and unprofessional workmanship.  \u274c I\u2019m not looking to: scope pipes, pressure-test the whole system, or measure flow in gallons per minute. That\u2019s beyond the scope of a home inspection.Tell-Tale Signs of Trouble I See Often  Staining on ceilings or under sinks \u2013 Even faint marks could mean active or recent leaks.  Corroded shutoff valves \u2013 A valve that won\u2019t budge now might fail completely when needed.  Poor drain installations \u2013 Loose, taped, or flex-piped drains lead to slow leaks and eventual damage.  PVC on hot water lines \u2013 Yep, it bears repeating. It\u2019s wrong. I see it. I report it.Thermal Imaging After Water TestingRemember: I test all fixtures and plumbing before running the thermal camera. If there\u2019s a hidden leak behind the wall or ceiling, the camera may show a tell-tale cold or wet pattern. That\u2019s how I catch problems that might otherwise be missed entirely.FAQs: Plumbing Red Flags in an InspectionWhat\u2019s wrong with polybutylene piping?Polybutylene is prone to internal chemical degradation and sudden failure. If it\u2019s present, many insurers won\u2019t cover damage. I recommend evaluation by a licensed plumber.Can PVC be used for hot water lines?No. PVC is not rated for hot water. CPVC or PEX should be used. Improper materials can lead to leaks or burst pipes.Do you check if the drain setup is correct?Yes. I look for proper traps, clean connections, and secure fittings. I don\u2019t perform water flow tests like a plumber would, but I do report visible concerns.What if I see water stains after you leave?All water testing is documented via photo or video, and thermal imaging can catch many leaks. But some leaks only appear intermittently\u2014call me, and we\u2019ll document next steps.\u2192 Next up: Post 23: Interior Rooms \u2014 Signs of Damage You May Be Overlooking\u2190 Previously: Post 21: Plumbing Walkthrough \u2014 How We Test Every Sink, Toilet, and DrainCurious 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): Signs of Plumbing Trouble \u2014 What an Inspector Looks For","item":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-signs-of-plumbing-trouble-what-an-inspector-looks-for\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]