Buying a home can be exciting and nerve-racking all at the same time. You spend time with professionals to find your ideal home, and in some cases, that process can take longer than anticipated. Finally, you find a home, and you are ready to put in an offer and start the series of steps to finalize the home purchase. In the thrill of it all, one process that you must consider essential before purchasing a home is having a home inspection completed.



A home inspection, before you finalize the purchase of a home, checks that every single part of your future home performs properly. It is important to know that a home inspection is not a pass-or-fail test. The home inspection assesses the overall condition that the home currently is in and provides a potential home buyer with an indication of what repairs or replacements are needed now in the home and in the near future. From the roof to the foundation, there are many areas of a house that a professional home inspector checks and a major inspection aspect includes checking pipes for any possible leaks. Leak checks ate a vital part of an inspection, and finding the right company that properly investigates every piped section of a home provides you with reassurance to prevent future damage to your home and health. If you are in the process of buying a home, you need to understand the value and importance of having a professional home inspection that finds any leaks that need to be fixed before you make your purchase.
 

Undetected Leaks in a Home Inspection

When a leak from a pipe in a home is not found in an adequate time frame, that leak can cause a significant amount of damage to a home over time. Depending on where the leak is located, a leak can damage various parts of a home without a homeowner knowing the damage is currently happening. A leak undetected and not properly repaired can cause a homeowner to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars to eliminate the damage a leak produced.
 

Foundation Damage

A leak from a pipe under the foundation of a home can cause the dirt underneath to wash away and eventually cause the foundation to crack. The dirt provides support to the foundation slab, and without the dirt, the foundation begins to sag and break. A crack in the foundation will, over time, creep up the frame of the house and, at times, will be visible in the interior walls of the home.
 

Ceiling Issues

For hot water to reach the home areas that require its purpose, hot water pipes normally run from a water heater up through the ceiling to other parts of the home. If a leak occurs somewhere between the water heater and the disbursed area, the ceiling structure will eventually begin to weaken the drywall, and the drywall can swell from the water. Sooner or later, the drywall will give out, causing a hole in the ceiling and debris to fall through.
 

Insulation devastation 

The insulation material is found in the exterior walls and the lid or ceiling of a home. When pipes that move water throughout the home are placed within these areas, a leak will damage the insulation. The insulation material becomes wet and heavy and will, over time, begin to fall. The damaged insulation becomes mushy and ruined, which makes removing the material more challenging.  Additionally, wet insulation can begin to grow mold, which can cause harmful health issues.
 

Rotting Flooring Material 

If a leak occurs, anywhere within a home with nearby piping for water or other plumbing purposes, the flooring material's chance of becoming damaged is a high possibility. From the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room, if a leak from a pipe occurs, the flooring surrounding the affected areas will be ruined. As water sits on or under the flooring, the material begins to rot, grow mold, and give off a horrible odor.
 

Mold

A leak in a pipe anywhere found in a home can cause the potential growth of mold. Usually, when we think of mold in the home, the first thought is black mold or Stachybotrys Chartarum. At times, some mold that is found is not black mold, but what many homeowners don't realize is that exposure to any mold can cause health issues. Issues that consist of skin irritation, headaches, and respiratory health problems.
 

Pool Leak Detection Home Inspection

As you search the real estate market for your next home, you may want to find a home that has a pool already built. A pool is an excellent addition to a home, but if not properly cared for and inspected, a pool can cost a large amount of funding to repair any damage. Before purchasing a home with a pool, having an inspection that checks the pool's pipes for any leaks or issues will save you money in the long run if you purchase the home.
 

Plumbing Leaks 

Having a home inspection that includes checking the home's pool is an inspection you do not want to skip over. A pool is a fun place to spend time with family and friends, but it can be expensive for a home with maintenance and repairs. A home inspection for a pool must include examining the pool's plumbing functionality. Here a home inspector checks the pipes that run from the pump to the pool and checks for any leaks. Leaks in the pool piping system can damage other parts of a pool and cost more money to repair the leak and the damage the leak caused.
 

Pool Pump

A pool pump is a vital piece of equipment for the maintenance of a pool. A pool pump circulates the water through other essentials parts of the pool, such as the filter, pool vacuum, aerator, water features, and heater. Without the pool's pomp properly functioning, a pool will begin to have issues like algae or cloudy water and will not be useable for swimming. A home inspector reviews a pool pump and tests to make sure all functions are working correctly. Additionally, a home inspector will make sure the pool pump as a whole is secured and is not presenting any faulty wires that could cause harm to anyone. Ensure that a pool pump is properly handling the daily functions of maintaining a pool to save potential homeowner money and stress.
 

Pool Interior

Inspecting a pool's interior to check for any cracks or other forms of damage is important to have with a home pool inspection. Depending on the type of material a pool was built with it can show different signs of damage that need repairs.

Some pool interiors are made from a vinyl liner that supports and contains the water inside the pool from leaking out. A tear in the pool's vinyl liner can be another costly repair.

Some pools are built using several forms of plaster, which an inspector will examine to see if there are any cracks found throughout the plaster. The inspector will also examine any decorative title that borders the pool plaster for any cracks and damages. Some cracking found in a pool's plaster interior is a normal occurrence. However, larger cracks in a pool's plaster interior can lead to serious issues down the road, and the pool will need to have the water drained to repair the damage. Draining the water from a pool and refilling a pool can cost not only money but is also time-consuming.
 

Pool Decking 

A pool deck tends to be where much of the swimmer's foot traffic and relaxing occurs. Yes, swimming and pool play is the main purpose of owning a pool, but as adults layout on the pool deck or sit and watch the kids play, and swimmers use the edges of the pool to get in and out of, the pool deck servers a vital purpose for the use of a pool. The inspection of a pool's decking or tile surrounding includes an inspector checking the "coping" found directly around a pool. The coping is usually 12-18 inches wide and made from a solid material such as concrete, natural stone, or brick. Any chips, cracks, and other imperfections can cause pool patrons to trip or cause foot injuries like scrapes and scratches. Also, any chips from the pool decking can fall into the pool and cause other pool equipment, like the filter and pump, to have issues. Having the pool decking thoroughly inspected allows a home buyer to be informed of any damage the current pool obtains. The repairs to a pool decking may be minor. However, if there is a lot of damage, sometimes a complete renovation of a pool deck is needed and can cost thousands to have replaced.
 

Pool Lighting

Many pools have a light under the water for night swims and help prevent swimming injuries in the dark. A home inspection for a pool will include testing the working function of the pool light. Some pools even have additional lighting features to enhance the ambiance of swimming, and an inspector should review those lighting features. The inspector will also check to see what sort of light bulbs are used in all the pool lighting features. Another important part of inspecting a pool's lighting capabilities is to check the condensation inside the lighting feature. The amount of condensation in a pool lighting feature can lead to mildew and mold issues, which will need some attention to fix that issue.
 

Pool Accessories 

Pools are great for cooling off during the summer, having an easy way to do water exercises, and just an overall fun place to have in your home. Some homeowners have other features built with the pool, like a waterfall, slide, diving board, water fountains, and infinity edge to add even more fun to a pool. Homeowners may also add a pool cover to support the pool's maintenance and cleanliness, which helps extend the lifespan of a pool. A home inspector examining a pool's accessories checks to see if they are working properly to minimize a potential home buyer with any surprises. For safety purposes, a pool inspection should include looking at the diving board and slide for any sharp edges, rust, and deterioration that can cause harm or injury to swimmers.
 

Lasting Advice For Home Inspections With Pools

In your anticipation of buying a home, there are many important steps to take before any offers are placed on a home, and having an inspection is one of these crucial steps. It is important to do your research on the inspection company and hire a company that guarantees a proper inspection. As a potential home buyer, you also need to be fully aware of where and what a home inspector is examining to ensure your home inspection does not miss any part of the home.