Inspecting a Larger House in Stoney Creek and Hamilton: Pools, Mechanical Systems, Septic and Wells
A house over $1 million usually has more systems than an ordinary house, and several of them sit outside what a home inspector is required to look at.
This guide covers what a standard inspection leaves out, which specialists to consider, and how to leave time for them in your offer. For the basics, see our home inspection guide.
Why one inspection is often not enough
The Ontario Association of Home Inspectors standards of practice say an inspector is not required to inspect swimming pools, wells and well pumps, water quality, private septic systems, water treatment equipment, lawn sprinkler systems, the inside of chimney flues, a furnace heat exchanger or outbuildings. Some offer a few as extras. Ask what is included, in writing.
Ontario passed the Home Inspection Act in 2017, but as of October 2026 it has not been proclaimed into force, so the province does not license home inspectors. That is why we provide reputable inspectors who our past clients trust.
Who inspects what
| System | Who inspects it | What to ask the seller for |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming pool | Pool inspector or pool service company | Pool enclosure permit, opening and closing records, age of liner and heater |
| Furnaces, air conditioners, boiler, in-floor heating | Heating contractor registered with the TSSA | Age of each unit, service records |
| Wood-burning fireplace or stove | WETT-certified professional | Earlier WETT report, chimney cleaning records |
| Septic system | Qualified septic contractor | Permit, tank and bed location, pump-out records |
| Private well | Well contractor and a water lab | Well record, earlier water test results |
| Home elevator or lift | Elevator service company | Installation and service records |
| Large or complex roof | Roofing contractor | Age of the roof, repair invoices |
Swimming pools
A pool inspection looks at the shell or liner, the pump, filter and heater, and the safety cover. A pool closed for winter is hard to judge, so opening and closing records matter more then.
Hamilton's Pool Enclosure By-law (16-184) covers private outdoor pools that can hold water more than 0.6 metres deep. It requires a City permit before the pool is built, an enclosure at least 1.5 metres high, and City approval of the enclosure before the pool is filled. Older pools may fall under an earlier by-law. Ask the seller for the permit, and plan for this inspection if you are looking at houses with pools in Stoney Creek.
Heating, cooling, elevators and fireplaces
A larger house often has two or more furnaces and air conditioners, or a boiler with in-floor heating, plus a backup generator, water treatment and irrigation. Ask for the age and service records of each one.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) regulates natural gas, propane and fuel oil in Ontario. A TSSA-registered contractor can examine a furnace, boiler, pool heater or gas generator more closely than a home inspector.
The TSSA's elevator rules do not apply to a lift in a private house used only by the occupants and their guests, unless the owner asks in writing. Do not assume a regulator has checked it. Ask for installation and service records.
A WETT inspection of a wood-burning fireplace or stove is done by a professional certified through Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT). No government requires it, but insurers often ask for one. Confirm with your insurance broker.
Septic systems and private wells
Rural and estate lots often rely on a septic system and a private well. Septic systems are regulated under Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code, and in Hamilton the City's Building Division enforces it. Before you buy, have a qualified person pump out and inspect the tank and locate the tank and bed. Ask for the permit and pump-out records. Replacing a failed system is expensive.
Public Health Ontario tests private well water free of charge for E. coli and total coliforms, two indicators of bacterial contamination. It does not test for chemicals, so use an accredited private lab for other parameters. Consider a flow or recovery test to see whether the well keeps up with a large household. Ask for the well record. Ontario publishes a searchable map of well records, although not every well is on it.
Roofs, sewers and radon
Flat or low-slope sections, multiple valleys, skylights, and stone or stucco cladding all add places where water can get in. A roofer's inspection or a drone survey is an option where the inspector cannot get a close look. A sewer camera inspection is worth adding on an older house, and a radon test in any house.
Fitting this into your offer
Specialists rarely come on the same day. Include an inspection condition with enough days to book them, and on a rural lot add separate well and septic conditions. Our guide to making an offer on a house over $1 million covers conditions.
Who should be careful
- Buyers of rural estate lots. The well and septic system are yours to maintain and replace.
- Buyers of houses with pools or older heating systems. Add the likely replacements to what the house costs to own.
- Anyone waiving the inspection condition. A larger house has more that can be wrong, and you take it on unseen.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does a home inspection include the pool?
Usually not. Book a separate pool inspection.
Are home inspectors licensed in Ontario?
Not as of October 2026. The Home Inspection Act, 2017 has not been proclaimed into force.
Is well water testing free in Ontario?
Public Health Ontario tests private well water for E. coli and total coliforms at no charge. It does not test for chemicals.
Who regulates septic systems in Hamilton?
The City of Hamilton's Building Division, under the Ontario Building Code.
Do I need a WETT inspection to buy a house with a fireplace?
No government requires it, but insurers often ask for one.
Want to talk through the inspections for a specific house? Get in touch and we will go through it with you.
This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or technical advice. By-laws, codes and programs change, so confirm details with the City of Hamilton, your inspector, your lawyer and your insurance broker.