Pittsburgh is unique in many ways, but it’s especially unique when it comes to the real estate market.
Pittsburgh has the second oldest housing stock in the country (behind only Buffalo, NY), and a recent report from Redfin shows the median Pittsburgh home bought in 2024 was 68 years old.
Think about that for a moment: Half of the homes sold in 2024 were more than 68 years old!
Whenever you inspect a home that old, you’re nearly guaranteed to generate a lengthy report. In fact, many of our buyers receive inspection reports that are generally 50-80 pages long.
But that length doesn’t necessarily mean a house is unsafe or undesirable; it simply means there are opportunities to make an old house safer, more comfortable, or up-to-code.
Read our full blog to learn more about what you should expect during a Pittsburgh home inspection!
Table of Contents
What to Expect From Your Home Inspection Report
Common Structural Issues In Pittsburgh Homes
Common Electrical Issues In Pittsburgh Homes
Common Plumbing Issues In Pittsburgh Homes
Common Mechanical Issues In Pittsburgh Homes
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What to Expect From Your Home Inspection Report: 4 Areas to Check
Here’s what you can generally expect to find on your Pittsburgh home inspection report (to learn more, check out our home inspection checklist):
1. Common Structural Issues In Pittsburgh Homes
When a house is 50+ years old, you’re bound to find at least a few structural issues. Remember: Home construction techniques and best practices have come a long way, and things that were normal 50-100 years ago could be frowned upon today.
The biggest issue we see:
Leaks In the Basement - If a Pittsburgh house has a stone foundation, it’s almost guaranteed to leak during heavy rains.
This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. In fact, we recommend all Pittsburgh homes have at least two dehumidifiers running in the basement to help remove moisture.
Of course, you can also explore other construction, remodeling, and remediation options to prevent leakage.
2. Common Plumbing Issues In Pittsburgh Homes
Plumbing problems usually aren’t spotted during a walkthrough because the water is often turned off—and that means buyers regularly see more plumbing issues than they had expected when they finally receive the inspection report.
1. Leaks - You’re almost certain to find leaks. Many homes have some amount of plumbing that’s more than 50 years old, and some of it will be supported by “temporary” fixes from years ago that were never properly repaired. Keeping up with plumbing and other utilities is simply one of many expenses you’ll see as a homeowner.
2. The Sewer Line - This one’s a wild card. You really never know what condition the sewer line will be in until you send a camera down there. The inspection could find nothing. Or it could find a costly issue.
3. Common Electrical Issues In Pittsburgh Homes
Poke around enough homes in Pittsburgh, and you’ll start to notice a common trend: Some homes simply have weird electrical systems. Here are two things to watch out for:
1. Knob-and-Tube Wiring - Knob-and-tube wiring was common from the 1880s to the 1930s, and it basically consisted of a single wire wrapped in an insulative material, such as rubber.
This technique eventually grew outdated because it was expensive to install and, more importantly, it could become a fire hazard. The old insulative sleeving can expand, crack, and fall off, leading to potentially dangerous conditions.
While it sounds scary, knob-and-tube wiring is surprisingly common in Pittsburgh, and some homeowners don’t even realize it’s present in their house!
2. Old, Ungrounded Wiring - Another common issue in Pittsburgh homes is ungrounded wiring—particularly in houses built before the 1960s. Grounding is a safety feature that redirects electrical surges away from the home’s wiring and into the earth, which helps prevent electrical fires, damage to appliances, and even personal injury.
Many older homes in Pittsburgh still have two-prong outlets, which are a telltale sign that the wiring isn’t grounded. While two-prong outlets aren't illegal, they do pose a greater risk, especially in a world where we rely on so many electronic devices.
Replacing ungrounded wiring with modern, grounded circuits is often recommended—not only for safety, but also for insurance purposes, since some carriers won’t write policies for homes with outdated electrical systems.
4. Common Mechanical Issues In Pittsburgh Homes
Old houses like the ones in Pittsburgh regularly have mechanical issues. In some cases, the appliances have served well beyond their expected lifespan, and they’re often not serviced as much as they should be. We’ve even seen sellers try to hide defects with paint and other techniques!
Here are two of the biggest problems we see:
1. HVAC Systems Are Rarely Serviced - Most experts recommend servicing your HVAC system at least twice a year—once in preparation for the cold months and once in preparation for the hot months.
But many homeowners don’t follow the standard recommendations. Instead, they get around to it whenever they remember to—which could lead to years in between services.
That’s why we always give our sellers two HVAC recommendations:
Get your HVAC system serviced.
Put in a clean filter.
They’re small steps, but they show inspectors and buyers that you’ve gone the extra mile to prepare your house for sale.
2. Many Hot Water Heaters Have Backdraft - Look, we won’t mince words: Backdrafting is potentially dangerous.
But it’s much, much more common than many people realize.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term, here’s what you should know: Generally, hot water heaters use atmospheric venting to release gas (like carbon monoxide) outside of the home. Backdrafting simply means that this process is disrupted, and some of the gas is released inside the house.
With enough build-up, carbon monoxide can be dangerous. But it’s not necessarily something to be terrified of, especially since a professional can quickly fix it.
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If the idea of navigating a home inspection sounds scary, contact us.
We have a trusted network of outstanding inspectors, and we’d be happy to make an introduction.
Of course, you should also reach out if you’re planning to buy a home. We’d love to guide you on your journey!
Cheers,
J&T