If you're PCS-ing to Randolph AFB and house-hunting in Universal City or Converse, you're looking at a lot of homes built in the 1960s and earlier. They're solid, affordable, and close to base — but their plumbing can hide expensive surprises. Here's what to check before you sign.
Red flag #1: Galvanized supply lines
Many homes near Randolph still have original galvanized steel supply lines. These corrode from the inside over decades, restricting flow and rusting the water. Signs to watch for: rusty or discolored water (especially first thing in the morning), low pressure, and visible corrosion on exposed pipes. A galvanized home often needs a whole-home repipe sooner rather than later.
Red flag #2: Aging cast-iron drains
Post-war homes frequently have cast-iron drain and waste lines that are now well past their 50-year lifespan. They corrode and crack from the inside, causing slow drains, backups, and sewer odor. A sewer camera inspection before you close tells you the real condition of the drains — cheap insurance against a five-figure surprise.
Red flag #3: A hard-water-beaten water heater
The area's hard water shortens heater life. Check the age (the serial number tells you), listen for rumbling, and look for rust or moisture at the base. A heater near the end of its life is a negotiating point — and a reason to plan for a water softener to protect the next one.
Red flag #4: Signs of a slab leak
The expansive clay soil here stresses under-slab pipes. Watch for warm spots on the floor, cracked flooring, a running-water sound with everything off, or a suspiciously high water bill in the seller's disclosures. If anything looks off, get professional leak detection before you commit.
Why an inspection is worth it for military buyers
PCS moves are fast, and you often buy sight-almost-unseen under time pressure. A dedicated plumbing inspection — beyond the general home inspection — gives you real leverage and peace of mind. We know the older housing stock in Universal City and Converse intimately.
Get a plumbing read before you close
We'll inspect the supply lines, camera the drains, check the water heater, and flag any slab-leak signs — then give you a written report. Call (831) 290-4327 to schedule before your option period ends.
A PCS-Timeline Inspection Plan
Military moves run on a tight clock, and the plumbing check has to fit inside your option period — the window when you can still negotiate or walk away. Prioritize the expensive-to-fix items: have the supply lines identified (galvanized is the big one near Randolph), the sewer lateral cameraed, the water heater's age and condition checked, and any slab-leak signs evaluated.
Each of those, caught before closing, is a negotiating point instead of a surprise you inherit after moving your family in from three states away. A focused plumbing inspection is inexpensive relative to a repipe or a sewer replacement, and it gives you real leverage while you still have it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and you should — the option period is exactly when to do it. Findings become leverage to negotiate repairs or price, or grounds to walk away. Once you close, those same issues are yours to pay for.
Often, yes, even on newer builds — builder-grade valves, drain slope, and water-heater issues turn up on homes just a few years old. On the 1960s housing common near Randolph, it's essential given the age of the supply and drain lines.
Texas requires a seller's disclosure of known material defects, including known plumbing problems, but it only covers what the seller actually knows. An independent inspection catches the issues that never made it onto the disclosure.
A whole-home repipe from galvanized to PEX is a fixed-scope job priced by the home's size, number of bathrooms, and access — most are done in one to two days. Catching galvanized pipe before closing turns it into a negotiating point instead of a bill you inherit after the move.
Cibolo Pro Plumbing
Licensed Texas plumbers (TX Master Plumber (TSBPE)) based in Cibolo, serving the Metrocom for 15+ years. Have a question about your home's plumbing? Call (831) 290-4327.
