The plumbing inspection starts where the supply pipe enters the building and finishes where the drain and vent pipes leave. All visible piping materials are inspected and identified. This can include insurance concerns such as lead or galvanized steel pipe.

As the price of copper has climbed, plastic piping materials have become more common, with varying degrees of success. The latest material, PEX, appears to be here to stay.

Drain and vent piping has been almost exclusively ABS for 40 years. In older houses, we often find cast iron, steel, lead, copper, clay or asbestos pipe. Most of these older materials have a finite life, and we attempt to determine how close to the end of the serviceable life these materials are.

Fixtures are inspected, with particular attention paid to the ceramic tub and shower enclosures. Moisture penetration in these will lead to failure of the enclosure walls and floors. We use an electronic moisture meter which determines the moisture content of the scanned area. From this we can determine the projected lifespan of the enclosure, and often provide maintenance tips to prolong the life.