A Redlands plumbing inspection has a plumber check the water service, supply and drain piping, fixtures, shutoffs, pressure and water heater, plus a sewer camera run if you want one. Buyers use it to price out repairs before closing, and owners use it to plan maintenance on an aging system. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Redlands.
Who handles water in Redlands, and what about the service line?
The City of Redlands Municipal Utilities & Engineering Department supplies drinking water to Redlands and Mentone, parts of Crafton Hills and San Timoteo Canyon, and a small part of San Bernardino. The City has completed its service line inventory and reports no lead lines and no galvanized lines requiring replacement in its distribution system, and it publishes inventory maps on its water quality page. That covers the utility's lines; the private piping from the meter into the house is what a plumber inspects, and it can be a different story in an older home.
How hard is the water, and does it show?
The City's 2022 Consumer Confidence Report lists groundwater hardness averaging 152 mg/L, with a range of 100 to 200, and treated surface water averaging 135 mg/L. That is enough to build scale in tank and tankless water heaters, showerheads, faucet aerators and valve cartridges over the years. During an inspection, a plumber can drain a little water from the heater to look for sediment and check fixtures for buildup. The latest report is linked from the City's water quality page, so read it for current figures.
What if the property has a backflow assembly?
Redlands has firm rules. Under the City's Cross-Connection Control Plan, every backflow prevention assembly with active water service must be field tested at least once a year by a certified tester acceptable to the City, at the owner's expense. Testing is also required after installation, repair, replacement or relocation. Testers must be certified, hold a City business license and file results through the City's BSI Online platform. If the house has an assembly on an irrigation or fire line, ask the seller for the last test report and have the plumber note its condition.
If repairs follow
The City of Redlands Building & Safety Division, at the One Stop Permit Center on Cajon Street, issues plumbing permits. Water heater permits can be started on the City's online portal but must be paid in person before they are issued, so build that step into your timeline. The plumber you're connected with can tell you which findings need a permit and which are routine maintenance. Customer service questions about water accounts can go to the City at (909) 798-7516.
Plumbing Inspection questions in Redlands
Can the plumber look at a backflow assembly on the property?
How do I find out what the water service line is made of?
Can hard water damage show up in an inspection?
If the inspection turns up repairs, who issues the permit?
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