A good plumbing inspection checks six things: supply pipes and shutoffs, fixtures, drains and vents, the water heater, water pressure and quality, and the hidden stuff (leaks behind walls and in the sewer line). You can do a careful visual pass yourself in about an hour using the checklist below. A licensed plumber then confirms what you can't see, and that usually costs a few hundred dollars, not thousands.
We've been fixing New Mexico plumbing, heating and cooling for over 38 years. Most of the expensive calls we run started as a small sign someone saw and didn't act on. This checklist is built to catch those signs early.
TL;DR
- Do a visual walkthrough once a year: under sinks, around toilets, the water heater, the boiler and every visible shutoff valve.
- Run the water meter test for hidden leaks: shut off every fixture, wait two hours and see whether the meter dial moves.
- Gurgling drains or sewer smells usually point to a dry trap or blocked vent, not a broken pipe.
- Budget roughly $150 to $300 for a professional visual inspection, more if a sewer camera is added.
- Boilers and water heaters in our hard-water state need yearly attention. Book it before the first cold snap.
Table of Contents
- What a plumbing inspection actually covers
- Before you start
- The checklist, area by area
- Boiler and hydronic heat: an annual checklist
- What a plumbing inspection costs
- Inspection vs. home inspector: who to call
- When the inspection is for a permit
- Our perspective: what we see in the field
- Want a professional to go through it with you?
- Your yearly schedule
- FAQ
- Sources
What a plumbing inspection actually covers
The word "inspection" means two different things, and mixing them up causes confusion.
A homeowner or maintenance inspection is what this article is mostly about. You (or a plumber you hire) look over a working system to catch leaks, corrosion, failing parts and poor drainage before they turn into water damage. It's the same idea whether you're a first-time owner, buying a home, or just checking an older house.
A permit inspection is done by a building official on new or altered work. It follows set phases, which we cover near the end of this article.
A maintenance inspection should leave you with a written list: what's fine, what to watch, and what to fix now. If you hire someone, ask for that list.
Before you start
Gather a flashlight, a dry paper towel or two, a bucket, a notepad and your phone for photos. Photograph anything suspicious so you can compare next year. Find your main water shutoff first. If you can't turn it by hand, or it's stuck, that's your first finding. A shutoff you can't close in an emergency is a problem waiting for a bad day. If a burst pipe is already happening, skip the checklist and follow our burst pipe emergency steps.
The checklist, area by area
1. Main shutoff and supply lines
- Close and reopen the main shutoff. It should turn smoothly and stop the flow completely.
- Look at every visible supply pipe for green or white crusty buildup, pitting, flaking or drips.
- Check the pressure regulator, if you have one, for corrosion or weeping.
- Note the pipe material: copper, PEX, galvanized steel or older polybutylene. Galvanized steel that's rusty inside restricts flow and eventually leaks. If you see it throughout the house, read our whole-house repipe checklist.
2. Under every sink
- Dry the pipes and connections with a paper towel, then watch for a minute. A fresh bead of water on a dry towel is a slow leak.
- Look at the cabinet floor for swelling, soft spots, stains or mildew smell.
- Open and close the shutoff valves (angle stops). Seized or weeping valves should be replaced.
- Confirm each drain has a P-trap, the U-shaped bend that holds water.
3. Faucets, showerheads and tubs
- Run hot and cold at every faucet. Watch for sputtering, weak flow on one side or drips after you shut it off.
- Check around the base of faucets and the handle for moisture.
- Look at tub and shower caulk and grout. Cracked caulk lets water behind the wall.
- Check showerheads for mineral crust. In much of New Mexico that's hard water scale.
4. Toilets
- Rock the toilet gently. Any movement means the seal or bolts need attention.
- Look for water at the base and at the supply connection.
- Do the dye test: put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait 15 minutes without flushing, and see if color shows in the bowl. If it does, the flapper is leaking.
- Listen after flushing. A tank that runs or refills on its own is wasting water.
5. Drains and vents
This is the part most checklists skip, and it's where hidden trouble lives. A thorough drainage review looks at five elements: clear, properly sloped drain lines; P-traps on all fixtures; unobstructed vent stacks that run through the roof; a leak-free, corrosion-free drain, waste and vent system; and a water or smoke test to find hidden leaks.
At home, you can check the practical symptoms:
- Fill each sink and let it drain. It should empty steadily without gurgling.
- Run the washing machine drain and watch for backing up in the laundry sink or floor drain.
- Flush a toilet while a nearby sink drains. Bubbling in the sink suggests a venting or blockage problem.
- Pour water into rarely used drains, like a guest bathroom or floor drain, to refill the trap.
Sewer smells deserve attention. A municipal guide on sewer odors explains that traps form an airlock against sewer gases, and that odors or gurgling often mean a dry trap or blocked vent rather than a broken pipe. That's why a vent termination on the roof belongs on the list. If you don't want to climb up, that's a good job to hand to a pro.
Slow drains throughout the house, or repeated backups, point toward the main sewer line. Our sewer line clog checklist walks through the signs and why we put a camera down the line before anything else.
6. The water heater
- Look at the tank base and the fittings for moisture, rust streaks or mineral crust.
- Check the temperature and pressure relief valve and the discharge pipe attached to it. The discharge should not be dripping.
- Listen for rumbling or popping when it heats. That's usually sediment.
- Note the age on the data plate. Tanks often start failing in their second decade, and a leak at the bottom means replacement, not repair.
- If the tank is gas-fired, look at the flue and the burner area for soot, rust or scorching, and call a licensed pro for anything that looks off.
Hard water is the New Mexico factor here. Minerals settle at the bottom of a tank, make it work harder and shorten its life. Our guides on maintaining and extending your water heater in New Mexico and tankless water heater maintenance cover the routine. If you suspect a leak, our contractor-tested steps to find a water heater leak help you pin down the source.
7. Water pressure and quality
- Screw a pressure gauge onto an outdoor hose bib. Readings that are very high strain every fixture and appliance; very low pressure suggests a clog, a failing regulator or a leak.
- Check faucet aerators and showerheads for scale.
- Look for white scale on kettles, dishwashers and glass, and for stained fixtures.
- If your water leaves spots, tastes off, or the scale keeps coming back, a home water quality assessment tells you what's in it and whether a softener or filtration makes sense.
8. Hidden leaks: the water meter test
This is the most useful ten minutes on the list. The EPA's leak-detection checklist recommends it: turn off every water-using fixture, wait two hours with no usage, and check whether the meter dial has moved. Movement means water is going somewhere. The same EPA material notes that hidden leaks are common and can waste thousands of gallons a year.
Check the ice maker, irrigation system and softener first, since they can trip the test. If the dial still moves, you likely have a leak in a wall, under a slab or in a buried line. That's when electronic detection pays for itself. We explain how it works in leak detection methods that meet EPA tests.
9. Hose bibs and outdoor lines
- Disconnect hoses before winter, and check each spigot for drips when on and off.
- Inspect exposed pipes for cracks, especially after a hard freeze.
- Check irrigation connections and backflow devices for leaks.
10. Sewer line and cleanouts
Find your cleanout, usually a capped pipe outside near the foundation. You can't judge the line from the cap, but you can make sure it's accessible. For homes built decades ago, a sewer camera is the only way to see root intrusion, sags or cracks.
One caution applies to older neighborhoods. Gas lines have occasionally been bored through sewer laterals during utility work, which is called a cross bore. A utility safety page explains that using a mechanical drain auger in a cross-bored line can sever the gas line. Plumbers often recommend a camera inspection first for exactly that reason. If you smell gas at any time, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Don't run a drain machine through a line you can't see.
Boiler and hydronic heat: an annual checklist
Many New Mexico homes heat with boilers and baseboard or radiant systems, and the plumbing inspection should include them. Here is what we look at on a yearly service, and what you can safely look at yourself.
You can check:
- Pressure gauge: compare the reading to the range printed on the boiler or in its manual.
- Visible piping and valves for drips, rust or mineral stains.
- The area around the boiler: clear of boxes and stored items, with good access.
- Radiators and baseboards: warm along their full length, no cold spots, no banging.
- Any unusual noise, such as kettling, knocking or constant cycling.
A licensed technician should handle:
- Combustion and flue inspection, including the venting.
- Burner or heat exchanger cleaning and combustion testing on gas units.
- Safety controls, relief valve and expansion tank checks.
- Circulator pumps, zone valves and air removal.
- Water chemistry and sediment, which matter in hard-water areas.
Treat the boiler like any fuel-burning appliance. Gas or carbon monoxide concerns are not a DIY matter, and carbon monoxide alarms should be working in the home. Book boiler service in late summer or early fall, not the first freezing morning. We install and service boilers across the Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Corrales area, and a yearly visit is far cheaper than a midwinter no-heat call.
What a plumbing inspection costs
Prices vary by region, home size and what's included. One 2026 pricing guide puts a standalone visual walkthrough by a licensed plumber at $150 to $300, and $300 to $500 when paired with a video sewer scope. Another guide lists a sewer camera inspection at $125 to $500 and combined visual and camera packages at $400 to $1,300, depending on system complexity.
| What you get | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Visual plumbing walkthrough | $150 to $300 |
| Visual plus sewer camera | $300 to $500 |
| Sewer camera as an add-on | $125 to $500 |
| Comprehensive combined package | $400 to $1,300 |
Those are national figures from the guides, not Waller's prices, and we don't publish a flat inspection price because homes differ so much. For a general idea of how camera work is priced, this breakdown of sewer camera inspection costs is a useful read. Call us and we'll tell you what your home needs before you pay for anything extra.
As a rule, spend on the camera when the house is older than the 1980s, has big trees near the sewer line, has had backups, or you're buying and can't see the history.
Inspection vs. home inspector: who to call
A general home inspector looks at the whole house and flags plumbing issues at a visible level. A licensed plumber tests flow, pressure and drainage, opens up fittings, runs a camera and fixes what's found. When the report says "recommend evaluation by a plumber," that's our cue. For buying a house, use both: the general inspection first, then a plumber on anything flagged.
When the inspection is for a permit
If you're remodeling, adding a bathroom or building new, the inspector who signs off is a building official, not a plumber you hired. Who that official is depends on where you live. In New Mexico the authority having jurisdiction is typically the Construction Industries Division of the state Regulation and Licensing Department, unless a municipality such as Albuquerque or Rio Rancho runs its own certified building department. Confirm which applies to your address before you schedule.
For new work, inspections typically happen in three phases, as Rio Rancho's plumbing inspection page describes:
- Rough-in: after all piping is installed, before anything is covered or concealed.
- Top-out: after the venting and distribution piping are in place.
- Final: with fixtures connected and the system ready for service.
A licensed contractor normally pulls the permit and schedules these. Planning a remodel? Our list of the most useful plumbing items to think about when remodeling will help you ask better questions.
Our perspective: what we see in the field
In 38 years we've learned that plumbing rarely fails all at once. It quietly causes damage first: a slow drip under a vanity, scale building inside a water heater, a shutoff valve nobody has turned in a decade. The homeowners who save the most money aren't the ones with the newest systems. They're the ones who look every year.
We also think the first call should reach a person. When you call Waller's, you talk to local experts, not an automated phone menu. Our licensed professionals explain what they found in plain words, tell you what can wait and what can't, and leave your home clean when they're done. If your list turns up nothing, great. If it turns up something, you'll know the next step and who's coming.
— Aaron Waller, General Manager
Want a professional to go through it with you?
If your walkthrough turned up a leak, a tired water heater, scale, a boiler due for service or a drain that won't behave, we can help. Waller's handles plumbing repairs, leak detection, water heater repair and installation, re-piping, boiler installation and service, and water softeners, filtration and hard water treatment for homeowners in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales and across New Mexico. See everything on our plumbing, heating and cooling services page or book an appointment through wallersplumbingandheating.com.
Your yearly schedule
- Late summer: boiler and heating service, water heater check, filter changes.
- Fall: disconnect hoses, insulate exposed pipes, test shutoffs.
- Spring: meter test, drains and vents, outdoor spigots, cooling system service.
- Every few years, or when buying: professional walkthrough, with a sewer camera for older homes.
FAQ
How often should I get a plumbing inspection?
A quick homeowner check once a year is a good habit, and a professional walkthrough every few years suits most homes. Do it sooner for older houses, after a long freeze, or when you see stains, low pressure or slow drains. Buying a home is also a good time for a plumber to look.
What is included in a plumbing inspection?
A full inspection covers supply lines and shutoffs, fixtures, drains, traps and vents, the water heater, water pressure and visible signs of leaks. A sewer camera is often an add-on. You should receive a report listing problems and recommendations.
How much does a plumbing inspection cost?
One 2026 guide lists $150 to $300 for a standalone visual inspection and $300 to $500 with a sewer scope. Combined packages on other guides can run higher. Prices depend on your area and home, so ask what's included before booking.
Can I do a plumbing inspection myself?
Yes, for the visible parts: under sinks, toilets, faucets, the water heater and the meter test. You can't see inside walls, under slabs or in the sewer line, and gas or combustion components on boilers and water heaters should be left to a licensed professional.
Sources
- Plumbing Inspection Cost: 2026 Homeowner Pricing Guide, InspectandTest
- Plumbing Inspection Cost: What to Expect in 2026, NearbyHunt
- Plumbing inspection checklists, GoAudits
- Why do I have sewer smells in my home or business, City of Almont
- Detect and chase down leaks checklist, U.S. EPA
- Cross Bore Safety, Metropolitan Utilities District
- Fees and applications, NM Construction Industries Division
- Plumbing Inspections, City of Rio Rancho