At a glance
- Topic
- Before the conditions come off
- Reading time
- About 2 min
- Phone
- (365) 363-2754
- Matching repair
- Sewer Camera Inspection in Ajax
Why it matters
Repiping a house or replacing a sewer lateral can cost a large share of a renovation budget. Knowing about it before the deal firms up lets you plan, negotiate or walk away.
The routine, in order
- Name the water pipe. Beside the meter and water heater, is it copper, galvanized steel (grey, threaded), PEX (coloured plastic) or grey Poly-B? Mixed materials suggest patch repairs.
- Look at the main valve. Does it turn? Is it an old gate valve or a quarter-turn ball valve?
- Find the stack. Cast iron, ABS or a mix? Rust lines on cast iron or crusty joints are worth noting.
- Ask for a sewer camera. A camera run through the lateral is the only way to see roots, sags or clay tile joints under the lawn.
- Read the water heater label. Note its age and whether it is rented.
- Run every fixture at once. Fill the tub, flush a toilet, run the kitchen tap. Watch the pressure and listen for gurgling.
- Look in the basement for clues. Efflorescence on walls, stains around the floor drain, a sump that has been working hard.
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming an updated kitchen means updated plumbing behind it.
- Skipping the lateral because the drains seemed fine on a dry day.
- Forgetting to check whether the water heater rental transfers with the house.
Local tip Ajax's oldest neighbourhoods date from the town's wartime and postwar beginnings. Houses from those first decades deserve the camera most.
Where a plumber takes over
A camera inspection and a walk-through with notes on pipe condition fit neatly into a conditional period.
Questions we hear on the phone
Can you come during my inspection period?
Yes, if the seller agrees to access. Book early, as conditional periods are short.