Deferred Maintenance - Water Where it Doesn't Belong

One of my favorite home inspectors says to buyers at the beginning of their home inspection:

Close your eyes. Imagine the Grand Canyon. You see it? Deep, huge...OK. Water made that. Throughout your inspection, I will be looking for water where it doesn’t belong.

Some water problems make a big slash, like roof leaks and broken high-pressure pipes. Ignored roof leaks can ruin a house in a matter of weeks, broken pipes in hours. These are emergency rebuilding needs like what caused the tragedy in Minnesota.

More gradual, low volume water penetration is the parallel to the rotting infrastructure we see on our local roadway bridges.

Oozing “waste pipes” -- the nice way to say “sewer lines” -- drip unmentionables in more houses than you want to know about!
When the seal on the toilet fails, tiny amounts of waste water collect at the toilet’s base. First there is dampness...the house whispers “maintain me.” Later, a ring of rotted wood develops around the toilet...“repair me!” Eventually, the floor wobbles when you sit on the toilet... “rebuild me and spend lots of money.”

The same is true of that ooze you see on the waste lines in the basement; they communicate to you, if you listen. Check your downspouts, faucets, under sinks. Maintain now or pay later.

People will not drown if you don’t fix your water problems. This is between you and your budget.