Had a virtual inspection last year and the inspector missed a slow leak under the sink—camera angle just didn’t catch it. Ended up with water damage a month later. I’d rather deal with muddy footprints than hidden surprises, honestly.
That’s rough. I’ve seen stuff like that happen more than a few times—virtual just can’t replace getting your head under the sink and poking around. Out of curiosity, did you try to get the city to cover any of the water damage, or was it all on you?
virtual just can’t replace getting your head under the sink and poking around
That’s really true. I’ve tried to rely on virtual inspections a couple of times, and every time there’s something they miss. It’s just not the same as someone actually being there, checking for leaks or weird noises. As for the city covering water damage, in my experience, unless you can prove it was their direct fault—like a main break or a backed-up sewer—they usually push it back on the owner. Frustrating, but that’s been the pattern.
I’d say don’t beat yourself up over it. These things happen, and even with all the right steps, sometimes you’re just stuck dealing with the aftermath. If nothing else, it’s a reminder to document everything, just in case you ever need to push back harder.
Getting The City To Check Your Pipes: In-Person Or Virtual Inspection?
I feel this in my soul. When we bought our place last year, I thought I was being all high-tech and clever by booking a virtual inspection. The guy had me holding my phone under the sink while he tried to direct me like some kind of plumbing air traffic controller—“tilt left, no, your other left.” Meanwhile, I’m trying not to drop my phone into the cabinet full of cleaning supplies. Spoiler: he missed a slow drip that turned into a not-so-slow puddle two weeks later.
Honestly, there’s just something about having someone physically there, poking around with their flashlight and making those “hmm” noises. It’s like they have a sixth sense for trouble spots that just doesn’t translate over Zoom or FaceTime. Plus, you can ask all those dumb questions in person without feeling like you’re derailing the whole call.
And yeah, the city is basically a pro at the blame game. I once called about a weird gurgling noise in my pipes after a big rainstorm, and they managed to convince me it was probably my “unique plumbing situation.” Translation: not their problem. I swear, unless water is shooting out of the street like a geyser and you’ve got video proof with today’s newspaper in frame, they’ll find a way to make it your issue.
But hey, don’t beat yourself up over it. If homeownership has taught me anything so far, it’s that sometimes you do everything right and still end up with soggy socks. At least now I take photos of everything—my phone’s camera roll is 80% pipes and weird stains on drywall. Not exactly Instagram-worthy content, but it does come in handy when you need to show someone what’s going on.
Hang in there. If nothing else, you’ll have some good stories for the next time someone asks how things are going with the house...
Totally relate to the “other left” thing—been there, awkwardly wedged under the bathroom sink with my phone flashlight and a city inspector on FaceTime. I thought virtual would be easier, but honestly, it just felt like I was doing half their job for them. Missed a leaky shutoff valve that way, too. Ended up calling a plumber a month later when the cabinet started smelling funky.
I get why virtual inspections are a thing now (especially post-pandemic), but for stuff like pipes, I’m with you—there’s just no substitute for someone actually being there. They always seem to spot little things I’d never think to mention or even notice. Plus, you can kind of gauge how serious something is by their reaction in person. Over video, it’s just a lot of “hmm, can you move the camera?” and then hoping you’re showing the right thing.
And yeah, the city is a master at passing the buck. I had a sewer backup last fall and tried to get them to check the main line. They basically shrugged and said if it wasn’t flooding the street, it must be my problem. Ended up paying out of pocket for a camera inspection, which found tree roots in the city’s section... but by then I’d already paid for cleanup.
Now I just document everything too—photos, videos, even saved some receipts in case I need “evidence” down the line. Not glamorous, but it’s saved me a few headaches.
If you can swing it, I’d always push for an in-person inspection, especially if something seems off or you’ve got an older house. At least then if something gets missed, you know you did your part—and maybe you’ll get a story out of it that’s actually funny later on (instead of just expensive).