Plumbing Inspection in Beaumont, CA

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who covers Beaumont. They'll ask for the address, the year the home was built and whether you're in escrow. On site, the plumber locates the main shutoff, runs every fixture, checks for leaks under sinks and around toilets, tests pressure, watches the meter for hidden losses and examines the water heater, its relief valve, venting and earthquake straps. A camera run of the sewer line can be added when you book.

What changes the price

• The size of the home and number of bathrooms
• A water softener, tankless heater or recirculation system to check
• Adding a sewer camera inspection
• Whether you need a written summary for negotiations

Beaumont conditions

Beaumont grew quickly after 2000 with master-planned communities, and city-stats.com puts the median year built at 2006. Many homes still have their first water heater, supply hoses, fill valves and pressure regulator, and those parts tend to fail around now. Sitting at the top of the San Gorgonio Pass, Beaumont is also one of the windiest and, because of its elevation, cooler cities in the Inland Empire, so hose bibs and pipes in exterior walls can be exposed to the occasional freeze.

Water and sewer come from two different agencies. Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District supplies water from district wells in Beaumont, Cherry Valley and Edgar Canyon plus imported water recharged locally, while the City of Beaumont provides and bills sewer service. BCVWD's Consumer Confidence Report lists total hardness averaging about 173 ppm, ranging from 110 to 230 ppm, and the water is disinfected with chlorine. Scale in water heaters and fixtures is common at that level. BCVWD runs cross-connection control under its management plan; if the property has a backflow assembly, ask the district at (951) 845-9581 what testing it expects.

The City's Building & Safety office accepts permits and plan submittals electronically only, by email, so any repair work after the inspection starts there.

Before the plumber arrives

• Check the water heater label for its manufacture date
• Clear the garage area around the heater and any softener
• Locate the sewer cleanout if you're adding a camera run
• Note any symptoms, like a dripping relief valve or slow shower