Serving King and Snohomish Counties

Plumbing issues within homes can consist of leaks, lack of flow, or issues with the waste lines. The cause of the problems can be related to the type of plumbing pipes used or general workmanship

Plumbing Leakage

It is rare to find a major plumbing leak at a water distribution (supply) line within a home as it would be very obvious to the owner of the property. The exception would be leakage at pipes in the crawlspace as the leakage would not readily visible. Most plumbing leaks found at an inspection are related to the waste lines or valves once turned to the "on" position.

Leakage into a basement from a dishwasher that was recently installed by the owner	Leakage from a shower waste line
Leakage from a tub spout valve once the valve was turned to the "on" position	Disconnected waste line in the crawlspace

Galvanized Steel Supply and Distribution pipes

Homes built prior to the 1970's may have steel galvanized pipes installed for both the supply and distribution lines. This type of pipe is a known defect as the pipes rust from the inside out result in a loss of functional flow and failure. It is common to find homes with partially replaced distribution system pipes. When (2) different types of metal pipes are improperly connected, galvanic corrosion can occur.

Galvanized plumbing distribution pipe rusted from the inside out

Corrosion as a result of an improper connection of galvanized steel pipes to copper pipes

Newer Plumbing Systems

Most new construction homes will have "pex" type plumbing installed. Prior to pex, most homes had either copper or CPVC pipes installed.

 Although not yet formally considered a "defect", CPVC pipes can become brittle and eventually fail.

In the 1980's and early 1990's, a type of plumbing called polybutylene was used. These pipes tend to crack and then leak. Most polybutylene pipes are found in manufactured homes and at the connections to sinks

CPVC piping

Polybutylene sink connection

Other Issues

Many other issues can exist in the plumbing system of the home. Many are created by "do it yourself" repairs or modifications.   

P trap at a sink that is wrapped in duct tape and electrical tape

BACK TO HOME