Plumbing inspection cost

When you buy a house, you don’t want to max out your budget buying a house, only to find out that you need to spend a hefty sum fixing the plumbing. Or, you may be living in a house and you’ve got a leak or a blockage that you just can’t work out where it’s coming from. But how will you find out if there are any problems and what the problems are?

Well, you could decide to become a plumber. That’s one option. Or, you could get a plumbing inspection done.

How much does a plumbing inspection cost?

Plumbing inspection costs vary. Here’s a quick price guide for you below:

• Standard plumbing survey: £100 – £400
• Basic survey to check for drain blockages: £90 (1 hour)
• Plumbing inspection with a camera: £250 (1 – 3 hours)
• Cleaning and unclogging: £100
• Installing a soakaway drain: £500 – £1,000
• Repairing a drain line breakage: £850
• Plumber hourly rate: £40 – £60

Each plumbing task involves different skills, materials, and labour times so your local plumber will either charge a daily rate, hourly rate, or an overall price.

What is a plumbing survey?

A plumbing survey is a process where you can determine whether the plumbing and the drains have any blockages or leaks and where they are.

Why would you need one? If your drains are overflowing, and you don’t know why you might need a professional to check where the blockage is. Or, if you’re buying a property and want to make sure the plumbing is fine.

What does a plumbing survey report involve?

A plumbing survey report may involve a CCTV drain survey to give an overview of the system, and so the footage will be available in the report. Speak to a plumber to find out what techniques are best for your plumbing survey.

Why go for a pre purchase plumbing inspection?

Plumbing installation can be quite expensive. So, if you’re buying a property, you don’t want to be surprised with a plumbing repair and installation job soon after.

We’re not saying you won’t buy the property if you find something. However, it’s nice to know exactly what your costs are going to be.

A plumbing survey would cost you around £250 for an average-sized house. Plumbing installation costs, on the other hand, might set you back by much more, so it can be useful to know when negotiating the final price of the house purchase.

How to check the plumbing when buying a house

It’s important to check the plumbing in your new house has the following:

• Separate pipes for sewage and greywater
• A freshwater supply that enters the property
• There’s a hot water supply after being heated in the hot water tank
• That gases and air can escape out of the system efficiently via venting pipes

You will need to hire a skilled plumber to do this properly.

What is the plumbing survey process?

• Inspection
• Camera survey
• Plumbing survey report
• Resolving the issues

Factors affecting your plumbing inspection cost

• Type of house and plumbing
• Length of pipes and drains (excavating the ground or locating the entrance and exit of your plumbing can add £100 – £300 to labour costs)
• Ease of access

Along with the usual checks such as flooring, drains, pipes, and sewage systems, your local plumber will make sure there isn’t any chance of water wastage from leaks, floods, or leaks from the sewage.

Other typical problem areas a plumber will look at during an inspection include:

• Water supply system
• Drainage
• Outdoor water system
• Sewage systems

FAQs

What does a plumbing inspection consist of?

Here are some of the checks a plumber will carry out during an inspection:

• Water filtration systems
• Fixtures, drains and supply lines
• Toilets, baths, and sinks
• Exposed, above-ground plumbing (traps beneath bathrooms, kitchens, and utility room sinks), shut-off valves, bathroom
• Tankless heating systems or water storage tank
• Draining and venting systems in kitchens, utility rooms, and bathrooms
• Using a plumbing inspection camera to examine sewer pipes and drains
• Discharge and sump pump checks
• Examining shut-off valves

How do you inspect plumbing?

A quality plumbing inspection involves checking anywhere through which water runs in your new home. This includes:

• Baths
• Sinks
• Toilets
• Pipes
• Lines

Why do I need a plumbing inspection?

A plumbing inspection will detect issues early on, preventing major repairs in plumbing systems and pipes which could save you money in the long run.

What is a plumbing survey?

A plumbing survey is a survey that will identify if there are any plumbing problems in your property. If left unattended, you could be faced with costly repairs.