Plumbing inspection — polybutylene, pinhole, PEX, and the parts you can see.
Supply-line identification, copper pinhole risk, polybutylene flagging, water heater documentation, and drain evaluation across Eden Prairie homes. Photographed and tagged in the same-evening report.
Three supply materials, one frost line, and a known recall.
Polybutylene supply lines turned up in Eden Prairie homes built 1978–1996 — we still find them in original-construction Cedar Forest and early Bearpath properties. Copper pinhole pitting from local water chemistry is a documented Eden Prairie pattern, especially on recirculating hot loops. PEX is now standard. Add Minnesota's 42-inch frost depth and you have a system where material identification and exterior hose-bib discipline matter as much as fixture pressure.
What the plumbing tells us.
Six findings drive most plumbing surprises after closing in Eden Prairie. Each is photographed, severity-tagged, and tied to a recommendation in the report.
Polybutylene supply
Gray/silver flexible plastic with crimp fittings. Class-action recall material; most insurers will not write coverage.
Copper pinhole
Microscopic perforations from inside out. Green oxidation, repair clamps, and prior pinhole repair history flagged.
Galvanized supply
Pre-1960 steel pipe. Interior corrodes, restricts flow. Rare in EP but appears on a few original-construction parcels.
End-of-life water heater
Tank 12+ years, sediment, anode-rod history, T&P relief, drain pan, and expansion-tank presence documented.
Non-frost-free hose bib
Old non-frost-free bibs without an interior shutoff are a common winter-burst source in EP. Flagged for upgrade.
Drain function
Fixture-by-fixture drain evaluation. Slow drains, S-traps, missing AAVs, and sink-disposal cross-connect flagged.
What's likely in the walls.
Supply-line material risk by Eden Prairie subdivision and build window. Polybutylene is the headline, but copper pinhole on recirculating hot loops is the day-to-day.
| Neighborhood | Build era | Supply material | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Forest | 1985–2005 | Polybutylene (early) → copper → PEX | High |
| Bearpath (early) | 1992–1998 | Polybutylene possible · copper | High |
| Bearpath (later) | 1999–2010 | Copper · PEX | Medium |
| Hennepin Village | 1998–2008 | Copper · PEX | Medium |
| Mitchell Lake area | 1972–1995 | Copper · PB possible (1989–95 builds) | Medium |
| Round Lake area | 1968–1985 | Copper · galvanized possible (early) | Medium |
Three steps. Material first, fixtures next, exterior last.
Supply material & main shutoff
Material identified at every accessible run — basement, mechanical room, under-sink, behind toilets. Main shutoff located, photographed, and tested. Static pressure read at an exterior bib.
Run every faucet, flush every toilet
Every fixture run — supply pressure, drain function, fixture-shutoff operation, P-trap presence, supply line integrity. Water heater documented. Softener, RO, recirculation pump where present.
Hose bibs, irrigation, sewer cleanout
Frost-free verification at every exterior bib. Irrigation backflow preventer documented. Sewer cleanout located. Same-evening report includes material map, fixture log, and severity-tagged findings.
Add a plumbing inspection — or run it standalone before winter.
Two-minute quote. Booking this week. Same-evening report.