Finding the perfect home is never easy, as there are so many
considerations to look into. Location, parking space, available living space,
all these, and more are taken into account. Where we tend to slack is in
checking the available water source. Water is important both for cleaning but
especially for drinking, and as such, it's vital to make sure that a new home
will be safe to use. There are even further considerations to make when it
comes to water and a home, many of which we may not even think about.
The Source of the Water for a Home
Investing in a home takes time and deliberation which should
perhaps include where this home gets its water. It may not seem as thrilling as
checking the location or looking at home designs, but water is an integral part
of a home. Therefore, knowing where the water source comes from is a priority
as not every home has access to public water sources from the city.
Private wells are the only source of water for certain homes
and this needs to be known by any investor before committing to a purchase.
Viewing the property should be enough to establish if the water source is from
a private well or not, but even if the well is not a deal-breaker, its water
still needs to be made safe even more.
Water Quality Based on Its Source
Private well water quality falls under the responsibility of
the owner. Testing water quality before a purchase is not an unreasonable
demand, especially if the source is a private well, however, payment for this
will come out of the seller's pocket. This may or may not be possible depending
on the decision of the seller.
If a filtration system is already in place with a private
well, its effectiveness will still require regular testing, maintenance, and
even replacing. Some of the best
whole house water filtration and softening systems would work great in
providing clean safe water to drink and use for cleaning, particularly with
private wells.
If the water source comes from the municipality, its quality
will be far better but it too can still have issues. Old plumbing
infrastructure permits certain contaminants to seep in and reach consumers.
Some more dangerous substances include lead or bacteria.
Cities will also not filter hard water
minerals which will undoubtedly make their presence known with limescale
deposits on tableware and in water appliances. When it comes to water even
location is important. Whether with a private well or city water, certain
locations are prone to specific contaminants like iron or hard water. Houses
close to industrial areas or airports could display PFOA
chemicals in water sources.
The Age of the House
Checking the age of a house before making a purchase is done
as a way to gauge many aspects of the building. For one it can provide
information about how it was built and what material was used, but also include
information about the plumbing system.
The age of a house will indicate how old the pipes or the
water treatment equipped is, so as to better gauge how much of an improvement
will be needed. Older houses could also have older pipes made with dangerous
materials like lead. Damage due to age is far easier to deal with than
compromised lead pipes.
Water Drainage System
Still a part of the water system that needs attention, the
drainage system is sometimes overlooked. Having a connection to the public
sewer system is an important aspect of a home's water system overall. Having to
deal with septic tanks is a real hassle and it can take a toll both on one's
budget and on the amount of water that can be used, especially for cleaning. It
would be detrimental for a new investor to find out that they are responsible
for their own sewage and disposal of greywater.
With a property that has a connection to the public sewer
lines, it's invaluable to know where these are in relation to the building and
their age. Building extensions to a home cannot go over the main pipeline and
this information has to be discovered from the beginning. Inspection of public
pipes requires access to them and a garage on top of them would constitute
breaking statutory rights.
Conducting Water Searches
Any prospective investor in a property will seek to
undertake water searches. This is where all the information required will be
gathered and offered to the buyer. These searches are not just limited to water
as the land and other aspects will be investigated. Just on the water side of
it, the searches will encompass what the water source is, if there is a
connection to a public sewage system, where water pipes are located, both for
bringing water in and draining out.
Another essential aspect included in the searches deals with
waterfronts and rainfall. Whether a home has a beautiful view of a lake or is
in any way close to a body of water, the impact it can have on the house needs
investigation. Risks of floods are assessed and gathered, as well as how they
can infiltrate and contaminate the drinking water source.
Investing in Water Quality
Even when the water source is proven to be from the
municipality by way of public water mains, a great long-term investment in
water quality can still be vital. Reverse osmosis systems and water softeners
are great examples of tools that can help not only improve drinking water
quality but also care for water-using appliances. A home purchase will mean new
appliances that fit the home and these can suffer from hard or sedimented
water.
Eliminating certain contaminants can even render cleaning
products more efficient and prevent blockages in the future. Sedimentation and hard water are troublesome
issues to address. Access to cleaner, safer drinking water with the help of a
whole house water filter will ensure a reduction of unnecessary expenses.
Fortunately, many water issues can be discovered before investing in a purchase
or minor problems are easy to resolve with the variety of home water treatment
devices available.
Conclusions
Thinking of investing in property comes with many checklist
options to tick off, and water is one that must not be set aside. Whether
knowing the water source and pipe layout around the building, all these and
more must be taken into consideration, along with the more obvious aspects of
structure or location. Catching problems early on is important but solving
issues that arise later is just as vital. Either with preliminary searches or
by investing in a water treatment method, problems can be tackled one way or
another.
