Plumbing & HVAC Inspection Before You Buy or Upgrade a Chicago-Area Home: What We Check and How It Saves You Money

Why a plumbing inspection before buying a house is worth it

A general home inspection covers the roof, structure, electrical, windows, appliances and more in a few hours. When the inspector sees something questionable in the plumbing or heating, the report often says to have it evaluated by a qualified contractor. That evaluation is where a pre-purchase plumbing inspection fits.

The value is timing. During an inspection contingency, a clear list of plumbing and HVAC findings — with photos — gives you something concrete to discuss: a repair request, a credit, or simply a realistic budget for your first year in the house. After closing, the same problems are yours to pay for.

In plain words: it is cheaper to find the problem before you own it.

What we check on the plumbing side

The plumbing inspection focuses on the parts of the system that fail most often and cost the most when they do.

• Water heater inspection: age, venting, the temperature and pressure relief valve and its discharge pipe, the gas connection, and rust or moisture at the base.
• Visible supply and drain piping: hidden leaks, corrosion, mixed or outdated materials and signs of amateur repairs.
• Drains and sewer: how fixtures drain, and a camera inspection of drain lines when needed — for example in older homes or where there has been a backup.
• Sump pump and sewage ejector: pump condition, check valve, pit and discharge.
• Shutoffs, fixtures and accessible gas piping for visible concerns.
• Visible code and upgrade needs under Illinois or Chicago requirements.

More detail is on our plumbing inspection page.

What we check on heating and cooling

An HVAC inspection looks at the equipment that keeps the house safe and comfortable through a Chicago winter and summer.

Furnace inspection covers ignition, burners, the blower, filter, condensate drain and the accessible areas of the heat exchanger. Boiler inspection covers controls, the relief valve, expansion tank, circulators and visible piping. AC inspection covers the outdoor condenser, the accessible coil area, refrigerant lines and condensate drainage.

Venting and carbon monoxide concerns get special attention. We look at vent connections, slope, terminations and combustion air on the gas equipment we inspect. A common finding after a furnace replacement is a water heater left alone on an oversized masonry chimney — a condition that needs to be corrected. If we see signs of a compromised heat exchanger or a venting problem, the equipment should stay off until a qualified technician evaluates the safe repair or replacement options.

In winter, running an air conditioner can damage it, so we note when a cooling test should be done in warmer weather.

See our heating and cooling inspection page for the full checklist.

Two-flats, multi-unit buildings and mechanical systems

Many Chicago-area buyers and landlords are looking at two-flats, three-flats and small apartment buildings with shared boilers, water heaters and venting. A mechanical inspection of the home or building documents that shared equipment and its condition, and the report can be handed to an owner, lender contact or property manager.

Owners and managers can read more on our mechanical systems inspection page.

Before you upgrade or remodel

An inspection is not only for buyers. If you are planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel, a basement finish or an equipment replacement, knowing the condition of the existing piping, drains, water heater and heating system first lets you budget the whole job. It is much easier to replace an aging drain line or relocate a water heater while walls and floors are already open.

Upgrade recommendations come with options. Where higher-efficiency equipment is an option, it may reduce energy use, but actual savings vary with the home, how it is used and utility rates, so we explain what each option changes rather than promising a number.

How the inspection works

You book by phone or online and tell us the property, the systems you want checked and any deadline. A technician inspects the accessible systems on site and photographs what we find. You then get a clear written report with photos, separating urgent items from work to plan and items to monitor, with repair or upgrade recommendations and options.

If you want our team to do the work, we can price it and take before and after photos. If not, the report is yours to use with any contractor.

How finding problems early saves money

The savings are practical rather than magic. A leak found early is a repair instead of a ceiling and flooring job. A water heater replaced on schedule avoids an emergency replacement and a wet basement. A sewer problem found before closing becomes part of the negotiation instead of a surprise. A venting problem found before winter is a correction instead of a safety event. We cannot promise a dollar figure — every house is different — but finding problems early almost always gives you cheaper options.

Start with our Plumbing & HVAC Inspections overview.

Frequently asked questions