By Mickey Wilson, owner of One Hour Plumbing Service. Licensed plumbing contractor, CSLB #992029.
What he looks at
- Water supply lines: what they are made of and how corroded they are
- Drain lines: cracks, rust, and joints that are weeping
- Connections between old pipe and newer repairs
- Gas lines and their supports
- Signs of past or active leaks: wet soil, stains, mineral trails
- Pipe hangers and straps that have let go
What the common findings mean
Galvanized supply lines with heavy rust at the threads are near the end of their life, and that explains falling water pressure. Cast iron drains with rust blisters or cracks along the bottom are starting to fail. Damp soil under a bathroom usually means a drain joint or a toilet seal is leaking. Copper spliced directly to steel corrodes at the joint and should be fixed with the right fitting.
What you get afterward
A plain answer in three parts: what is fine, what to keep an eye on, and what needs work now. If something needs repair, you get a price. If nothing does, Mickey says so and you have peace of mind.
When it is worth doing
- The house was built before about 1970 and has never been repiped
- Water pressure has been dropping
- There is a musty or sewer smell near the floor
- You are buying or selling a raised-foundation home
- Another plumber quoted a large job and you want a second opinion
Why it is free
Because most of what is wrong under a house cannot be judged over the phone, and an honest quote starts with looking. There is no obligation. Plenty of inspections end with nothing to fix.
Homes on slabs
If your house is on a concrete slab there is no crawl space to inspect. The checks are different: a meter test for hidden leaks and a camera inspection for the sewer line. Call and describe the house, and Mickey will tell you what makes sense.
Related service: Free Under-House Inspection
Service area: Plumber in Artesia