Plumbers are a breed apart. You would think they use gold for soldering your pipes with the prices they charge. My grandfather was a plumber and I trustworthy drain leak repair was on the truck with him at nine years old. A plumber may or may not give you a free estimate. With a little digging, it can be done. Just give them the work if indeed you do buy the house.
It is important that they know these things so they can work on it the right way. This can also be an opportunity for you to get some other tips from them on how to handle these situations in case it happens again.

Like knowing where your electrical panel is located, it is just as important to know where the valve for the main water service to your home is located. Also, knowing where the water valves for individual fixtures can help keep small leaks from becoming major repairs. Start by turning off the water for the individual fixture near the affected area. If that doesn't work, or your issue is a busted pipe, turn off the main local water heater repair service service. The main water valve is usually located outside in a box in the ground. Turning off the water main will stop the flow of water to your home and thus preventing further water damage.
There are 4 phases, or lifecycles, to real estate and here is how it often goes. Phase 1 You will see new construction, bright shiny homes popping up, landscaping contests, baby strollers and tricycles in the neighborhood. This is probably going on in the suburbs of the city, as new growth tends to radiate out at a pace of one mile per year from growing and prosperous cities.
You might also want to know more of the specifics. One example is a lady on a recent consumer alert TV programme who was charged water line repair more than a week's wages for unblocking her sink. It was a problem that it took the plumber less than a minute to remedy.
The technology in this industry is changing and evolving almost monthly, with recent introductions like the infusion of Carbon Fiber which adds extreme strength, and some pretty nice looking colors, this makes this worth a closer look than in the past.
Finally, at the beginning, take the time to get quotes from several plumbers and potentially on non-emergency, lower cost jobs. Get a feel for the plumbing company and see how well they fit with your needs. Meet the plumbers in person. Then, when an emergency plumbing problem arrives, you will have a much better solution when time is of the essence.