New Homeowner Plumbing Checklist: 9 Things to Do in Your First Week
By Mike Holt, NJ Master Plumber · September 13, 2024 · 3 min read · Updated November 1, 2026
Quick answer
In your first week, find and test the main water shut-off, learn where the other shut-off valves are, check the water heater's age, test the sump pump, use the water meter to check for hidden leaks, find the sewer cleanout, and run every faucet and toilet. Then book a plumbing inspection with a sewer camera if the house is older.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 1 hour
- You need
- Flashlight, bucket, phone camera
Rather not risk it? A licensed plumber can handle this for you, with written upfront flat-rate pricing options before any work starts.
The first week in a new home is the best time to learn how its plumbing works, before anything goes wrong. These nine steps take about an hour, and you'll know where to go if a pipe ever bursts.
Your first-week plumbing checklist
Step 1: Find and test the main water shut-off
It's usually in the basement next to the water meter, where the line comes through the foundation wall. Turn it off, open a faucet to confirm the water stops, then turn it back on. If it's stuck or leaks at the stem, get it replaced before you need it.
Step 2: Find the other shut-off valves
Check for a shut-off valve under each sink, behind each toilet, on the cold water pipe above the water heater and behind the washing machine. Outdoor faucets usually have their own valve in the basement. Take photos so you remember where they are.
Step 3: Check the water heater's age and condition
Find the rating plate on the side of the tank. The manufacture date is on it or coded in the serial number. Look for rust, water around the base and a pipe on the relief valve that runs down toward the floor. How long a heater lasts varies, so have a plumber look at one that's showing its age.
Step 4: Test the sump pump
If the house has a sump pit and the floor around it is dry, stand clear and pour a bucket of water into it. The pump should start, empty the pit and stop on its own. Then check outside that the discharge pipe sends the water away from the house. Don't touch a plug, outlet or pump if there's standing water.
Step 5: Check for hidden leaks with the water meter
Turn off every faucet, the dishwasher, the washer and the ice maker. Look at the water meter. If the dial or the small leak indicator is still moving, water is leaking somewhere, maybe a running toilet or a pipe inside a wall. Our leak detection team can find it.
Step 6: Find the sewer cleanout
Look for a capped pipe near the main drain stack in the basement floor or wall, or outside near the foundation. Keep it clear of boxes and storage. If the main line ever backs up, it's how a plumber gets in, so leave the cap on.
Step 7: Run every faucet, shower and toilet
Turn on each fixture and watch the pressure and how fast it drains. Flush every toilet and listen for one that keeps running. A slow drain everywhere, or gurgling when a toilet flushes, can point to a main line problem. See low water pressure if the flow seems weak.
Step 8: Learn what your pipes are made of
Look at the exposed pipes in the basement. Copper, PEX and CPVC are common in newer work. Galvanized steel and cast iron show up in older Central Jersey homes, and how long any pipe lasts varies. Read how long common pipe materials last and the 4 signs your home needs repiping.
Step 9: Book a plumbing inspection
For an older home, or if anything above looked off, book a plumbing inspection. We check every fixture, the water heater, visible lines, shut-off valves and water pressure, and add a sewer camera inspection when it's called for. You get a clear list of what needs attention now and what can wait.
Still house hunting?
Get the plumbing checked before you close. Our post on why you need a plumbing inspection when buying a house explains what a general home inspection misses. Call 908-873-6686 or request service online.
Get tips and reminders
New guides and seasonal reminders. A few emails a year.
Stop and call us if
- The main shut-off valve won't turn or doesn't fully stop the water.
- The water meter moves when every faucet and appliance is off.
- The water heater is leaking, rusty or getting older.
- Drains are slow or gurgle, or you smell sewer gas in the basement.
Call 908-873-6686.
Michael Holt
Owner and operator of Plumbing Doctor, NJ Master Plumber (Lic. #36BI01345600) and U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
More about Mike
