Dallas home inspector works on million-dollar house. Then he fills up the tub: ‘Some inspectors may not fill them up all the way’
What’s better: A new house, or an old house?
It’s a common topic of discussion online. Some insist that new homes are of low quality. These users will claim that modern houses are built quickly without much thought given to the materials used to make them.
In contrast, fans of new houses say that older homes lack many of the modern conveniences and innovations that are standard in new homes. Plus, old homes can have significant issues that are way more expensive to fix than if a new home had the same problems.
If you’re in the market for a home and are thinking about a new-built, you might want to get it inspected. A TikTok video from a home inspector shows why.
What Went Wrong With This House?
In a video with over 11,000 views, TikToker and home inspector Ryan Cantrell (@real.truvision.ins) shares an issue with a newly-built house. The total price of the house, he says, is $1.7 million.
According to Cantrell, he was performing a home inspection on this house when he discovered something concerning during a routine test.
“What we always do as inspectors, and there’s a lot of bathrooms in this house, is we fill up the tubs,” he explains. Cantrell says this is a standard test. An inspector fills up the tubs and sinks, lets them drain, and inspects the relevant areas for leaks or problems.
Cantrell says that he was glad that his team did this, even though only a small amount of water would allow them to discover the same issue. As the video continues, he shows that the downstairs bathroom and the surrounding area are covered in water.
“Got about a couple of centimeters of water,” he explains. “That’s because all the water from upstairs, when it drained, it came up through the master shower.”
What Happened?
There are a few possible explanations for what happened here.
The first option is that the pipes were simply clogged. This is more common than one might think, even on a newly-built house. In order to remedy this, the drains can be snaked. Other efforts can also be made to find the exact location of the clog and remove it.
The second option is that the pipes were not properly vented, or they are missing a vent connection.
In short, pipes require venting so that water can flow downward smoothly. If the pipes are not properly vented, pressure can back up, making it nearly impossible for water to continue flowing. If this happens, it can effectively act like a clog and cause the water to shoot up through the drain of least resistance — i.e., the floor drain on the bottom-floor shower. Users on Reddit have documented this exact issue.
What Else Could The Problem Be?
Finally, some drain lines may be leaking or simply misconnected. In some new constructions, builders or subcontractors leave test caps on, fail to connect pipes completely, or misconnect drains—meaning water finds alternate routes into the home.
The true cause of the problem could be one, two, or all of these issues. In the comments section, Cantrell favorited a comment speculating that it was a blocked line. This comment, paired with just how common blocked lines are, means it’s the most likely reason for the house’s issues.
Still, as Cantrell stresses in the video, this simply shows why many recommend a home inspection. This is even the case for a newly-built home.
New homes are not immune to issues. By hiring an inspector and allowing them to inspect your home through the various stages of construction, one can prevent issues like these from arising after the house has already been completed—saving the homeowner a lot of headaches and a considerable amount of money in repairs further down the line.
@real.truvision.ins Even luxury homes need inspected! #luxuryhomes #homeinspection #dfwrealestate #dfwrealtor ♬ original sound – REAL TruVision Inspections
Commenters Have Thoughts
In the comments section, users offered their opinions on the homeowner’s predicament. Some even shared their own stories.
“If I hired a builder to build my dream home, you’d better believe I’m hiring an independent inspector to inspect all the phases of the build. No surprises,” stated a user. “If the builder has issues with the requirement, then he’s gone.”
“My new home in Fort Worth several years ago, had a sand plug at the joint of my sewer line and the main. Lucky a city guy had an idea and sent a line toward the street to unplug it,” wrote a user.
“And you know whether it’s a $100000 home or a million dollar home, the quality of the employees don’t change. They don’t use fancier parts or say this is a million dollar home. Let’s do this instead of that. I think you get the same quality Build regardless,” detailed a third.
The Mary Sue reached out to Cantrell via email.
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