If that house you are planning to buy is an old house built before 1986, you might want to advise your home inspector to pay special attention to the presence of lead in the plumbing system. Here's more.

As late as the early 1900s it was common in the United States to use lead pipes in residential plumbing systems. Even when copper pipes came into widespread use many plumbing contractors 'sweated' the copper joints together with a lead based alloy called solder. The lead in the solder can leach out into the home water system. And lead, when consumed in sufficient quantities, can cause major health problems.

A good home inspector will know when to search for evidence of lead in the plumbing system. But if you have concern you should alert the inspector to be especially vigilant. If you want to learn more about lead in drinking water, here is a good web site about it.

Not all home inspectors are equal. Some are much more knowledgeable and have more experience in making inspections. Since a good home inspection can save you thousands of dollars, its always best to interview several before choosing which one will work for you.