Home inspection found plumbing issues but seller says it's fine
Sellers often dismiss corroded pipes or water stains flagged in an inspection as minor, leaving buyers to decide whether to push for a repair credit or risk a major leak. This dynamic creates high-stakes friction during contract negotiations, forcing buyers to weigh walking away against paying out of pocket for a costly repipe shortly after moving in.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from November 2026.
- This comes up 17.6× more often in r/Plumbing than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Asking the seller for a small financial credit to cover the fixDid this help you?
- 2Fixing the pipe yourself using solder or PEX pipeDid this help you?
- 3Ignoring the corrosion and handling the repair later if it becomes an actual leakDid this help you?
- 4Asking online forums for advice on construction inspectionsDid this help you?
- 5Throwing pipe foam on the pipes to check the box and pass the home inspection rather than arguing about itDid this help you?
- 6Accepting the seller's assurance that the plumbing functions appropriately despite looking unconventionalDid this help you?
- 7Replacing the damaged drain lines independently after purchaseDid this help you?
- 8Walking away from the purchase entirelyDid this help you?
- 9Expecting to remove and replace all the plumbing after buyingDid this help you?
- 10Checking for permits to gauge the quality of the workDid this help you?
- 11Asking the seller to hydro jet the line to allow for a clearer camera scope.Did this help you?
- 12Showing the inspection video to an independent local plumber for a second opinion.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“As the title states, I’m buying a house (California) and the inspection revealed some issues with the copper plumbing.”source ↗
“I asked for this to be repaired by the seller or provide a credit. They claimed they had it “looked at” by their own contractor and they claim this is totally fine, no leak.”source ↗
“To me this looks like one bath/shower away from a total burst. You can even see water stain on the wood adjacent to it (and check out that big rusty bastard next to it).”source ↗
“I toured a house I’m interested in buying today. I peeked into the crawlspace and found this plumbing inside. I’m concerned about the s trap. I could not find a plumbing permit in the permit search. How bad is this? Is it acceptable, or does some or all of it need to be torn out and repiped?”source ↗
“We're trying to close on a home purchase and one of the inspection findings was damaged drain/waste pipes.”source ↗
“Are those burn marks going to compromise the integrity of the pipes? Worry about letting them off the hook and dealing with a big repair expense out of my pocket later.”source ↗
“Doesn't stop people with clipboards demanding it be done. I do this every couple of years because a client wants a home inspection report dealt with for a sale or whatever, and "insulate exposed water pipe" is on the list.”source ↗
“would probably be a deal breaker for me unless i’m just head over heels in love with the house.”source ↗
“I wouldn't buy a house with cpvc water lines without the expectation that they will all need to be replaced.”source ↗
“Looking for any advice on if this is a major red flag of structural compromise.”source ↗
“Essentially saying it is working as intended and he will not get quotes to repair/replace nor hydro jet the line and provide a fresh sewer scope.”source ↗
“Any advice is greatly appreciated as this will be our first home purchase and don't want to rely on sellers "it is working fine" take away.”source ↗
“My concern is if it can't be flushed with a hydro jet then how else would we clear a blockage in the event it backs up on us in the future.”source ↗
“Should I ask for them to replace?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 46Why does my new plumbing still have bad water pressure and risky joints?
- 12Did I install this plumbing right or is it going to leak?
- 3Is normal plumbing wear in a new home a leak?
- 2How to tell if an old toilet flange needs replacing when retiling
- 23How to tell if boiler and plumbing installation was done right
- 2Am I responsible for fixing plumbing work I didn't do?