Getting the city to check your pipes: in-person or virtual inspection?

“Lost signal, can’t see the fitting, inspector gets cranky… just easier to let ‘em see it up close.”

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a couple virtual inspections go smoother than expected - maybe I just lucked out with tech-savvy inspectors? The last guy even zoomed in on a leaky joint and called it before I noticed. Sure, crawlspaces are spider hotels, but if I can avoid squeezing under there twice, I’ll risk a little pixelation. Anyone else had a virtual go off without a hitch, or am I just rolling the dice?

The last guy even zoomed in on a leaky joint and called it before I noticed.

I know what you mean about the crawlspaces - spider hotels is right. Had a virtual inspection last month where I was wedged under a tub, phone flashlight in one hand, sweating bullets. Inspector asked me to tilt the camera just so, and somehow he spotted a loose clamp I’d missed. Didn’t expect that level of detail over video, honestly. Still, I’ve had calls drop mid-inspection before and had to reschedule, which was a pain. Guess it’s a bit of a gamble either way.

spider hotels is right

Yeah, those crawlspaces are a nightmare. I like the idea of not having extra people tromping through my house, but honestly, tech issues make me nervous. Last time my WiFi glitched, inspector couldn’t see half the pipes. Not sure it’s worth the hassle unless you’ve got a rock-solid connection.

I get the hesitation with tech issues - WiFi can be so flaky, especially in older houses or basements. But honestly, I’d rather deal with a dropped connection than have someone tracking dirt through my place or accidentally letting the cat out. Last time I had an in-person inspection, the guy left muddy boot prints everywhere and I spent half the afternoon cleaning up.

If you’re worried about the connection, maybe try a WiFi extender or even just use your phone’s hotspot for the call? Not perfect, but it’s worked for me when my router decided to take a nap. Plus, less foot traffic means less risk of stuff getting knocked over or someone missing a spot with their mask. Just feels safer all around, even if it takes a couple tries to get the tech working right.

Last time I had an in-person inspection, the guy left muddy boot prints everywhere and I spent half the afternoon cleaning up.

Yeah, I had a similar experience - except mine knocked a picture frame off the wall and didn’t even notice. I get the appeal of virtual, even if the WiFi’s a pain. At least my floors stay clean.

I’m with you on the frustration. The last in-person inspection I had, the inspector tracked gravel in from the driveway and somehow managed to scuff up my new baseboards. Not a huge deal, but it definitely left me wishing I’d put down more drop cloths or something. There’s a certain peace of mind with having someone physically there, but I’ve started leaning toward virtual when it’s an option.

Virtual isn’t perfect - my WiFi dropped halfway through once and I had to awkwardly reconnect while holding my phone under the sink. Still, at least there’s no mess to clean afterward, and you can kind of control what gets seen (and what doesn’t). Makes it a bit less invasive. One thing I noticed: virtual inspectors tend to ask for more camera angles and sometimes want to see details you wouldn’t expect, like the shutoff valve behind the water heater. Worth double-checking your setup ahead of time.

If you’re prepping for either kind of inspection, it helps to take a few photos beforehand in case they need extra proof later. For in-person, I put down towels or cardboard in high-traffic areas now - learned that one the hard way after muddy boots on white tile.

Neither method is perfect, but honestly, as long as things get signed off without too much hassle, I’ll take a little WiFi trouble over scrubbing footprints out of grout any day.

I totally get where you’re coming from - having someone tromp through the house with muddy boots is one of those little things that just sticks with you. I had a similar situation last year, except mine involved an inspector who managed to knock over a potted plant on his way out. Dirt everywhere, and my poor spider plant never really recovered.

“at least there’s no mess to clean afterward, and you can kind of control what gets seen (and what doesn’t). Makes it a bit less invasive.”

That’s exactly why I’ve started preferring virtual, too. There’s something nice about not having to worry about what someone might bump into or track in. Plus, as someone who tries to keep things eco-friendly, I like not having to use up extra paper towels or cleaning products after the fact.

But yeah, the WiFi thing is real. Last time I had to do a virtual walkthrough, I ended up balancing my phone on a stack of old paint cans just to get a good angle under the sink. Not my finest moment.

It’s funny how these little hassles add up, but you’re right - if the inspection gets signed off without too much drama, that’s what matters most.

Virtual inspections have definitely made things easier in a lot of ways, but I still find myself torn sometimes. Not having to worry about muddy boots or accidental plant casualties is a huge plus, no doubt. I’ve had my fair share of scuffed floors and random fingerprints on the walls from in-person visits, so I get the appeal of just pointing a camera and being done with it.

That said, the tech hiccups can be a real headache. I once spent nearly half an hour trying to get a stable connection in the basement, only for the inspector to ask me to “tilt the phone just a little more” every two seconds. It’s not always as smooth as it sounds on paper.

One thing I’ve started doing is prepping the space ahead of time - making sure everything’s well-lit and there’s nothing blocking access to whatever they need to see. It cuts down on the back-and-forth, whether it’s virtual or in-person. Still, I do miss the days when you could just hand someone a key and let them get on with it... but at least now my plants are safe.

Honestly, I hear you on the tech headaches. Virtual’s great until you’re stuck waving your phone around in a dark crawlspace, hoping the WiFi holds up. Here’s my quick-and-dirty checklist for virtual: charge your phone, test your signal in every room (especially basements), and have a flashlight handy. If the inspector can’t see something, just snap a photo and send it over - saves a lot of “left, no right, no up” nonsense. Still, sometimes I just bite the bullet and go old-school if it’s a tricky spot. Less stress, fewer dropped calls... but yeah, more muddy boots.

I get the appeal of virtual, especially when you’re trying to avoid crawling through spider webs just to show someone a pipe joint. But honestly, I’ve seen too many things get missed over a shaky video call - especially in older houses where nothing’s where you expect it. There’s just something about having eyes (and hands) on the job that tech can’t replace yet. Sure, muddy boots are a pain, but at least you know the inspector actually saw what needed seeing. Sometimes old-school is just less hassle in the end.

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.

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).

I get the appeal of in-person, but I have to admit - virtual saved my bacon once. During lockdown, my water heater was making noises like it was auditioning for a horror movie, and the city inspector walked me through what to check over Zoom. He spotted a pressure issue I’d never have caught, and I didn’t have to take a day off work or clean up for company. I agree, it’s not perfect (and yeah, the “can you tilt the camera?” dance is real), but for straightforward stuff, it beats waiting weeks for an appointment. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes the convenience outweighs the risk of missing a leaky valve... at least until something starts smelling weird.

I hear you on the convenience factor - virtual inspections have definitely made life easier for a lot of folks, especially for those quick checks or when you just need a second set of eyes. That said, I’ve seen a few cases where something subtle (like a slow drip behind a tank or corrosion on a fitting) just didn’t show up on camera. For basic troubleshooting, virtual works fine, but if there’s any doubt or if you’re dealing with older plumbing, I’d still lean toward in-person. Sometimes you really do need someone poking around with a flashlight to catch the weird stuff.

Had a call last year where the virtual inspection totally missed a pinhole leak - camera angle just wasn’t right, and the homeowner didn’t think to check behind the water heater. By the time I got there in person, it’d already started rusting the base. Virtual’s great for obvious stuff, but there’s no substitute for crawling around and getting your hands dirty, especially in those older basements where nothing’s ever quite as it seems. Sometimes you just have to trust your nose... and your knees.

Virtual’s great for obvious stuff, but there’s no substitute for crawling around and getting your hands dirty, especially in those older basements where nothing’s ever quite as it seems.

Yep, been there - had a virtual walkthrough where everything looked fine, but when I got under the sink in person, found a slow drip that had soaked into the cabinet base. Virtual just can’t catch those hidden spots or subtle smells. I’ll use video for simple checks, but for anything tricky or old, I’d rather see it myself.