Owning a home comes with some responsibilities. If you want to avoid plumbing emergencies, you need to be proactive by conducting regular inspections of your home’s plumbing system. Use this homeowners plumbing checklist to spot problems before they cause severe damage and to keep your plumbing system operating at its best.
Regular Plumbing Checklist
First, listen carefully to your plumbing fixtures when you use them. If you hear your toilet running or have a leaking faucet, have it repaired at once. Use the leak test recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Drop food coloring into the tank of the toilet and wait for ten to 15 minutes. If you see any coloring in the bowl, you have a leak, even if you don’t hear the toilet running.
Monthly Plumbing Checklist
Monthly inspections typically involve working rarely used plumbing fixtures to keep them from seizing from misuse and checking for minor leaks or drips. For example, if you have a guest bathroom that you don’t regularly use, cycle the tub and shower through hot and cold water. Also, if you have a whirlpool feature on a tub that you don’t often use, run it at least once a month to keep the machinery in good condition. Run water into sinks in to keep p-traps filled with water in rarely used sinks. Look at plumbing supply and waste pipes for signs of leaks such as dampness or dripping. Repair these at once.
Plumbing Checklist for Twice a Year
Check the water main cutoff valve works by closing and opening it. Also, verify that water circulation systems have a timer and that your water heater is set to no more than 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Water pressure throughout your home also should be 65 psi or lower. If you have low pressure or a problem with your hot water circulation system running 24 hours, contact a plumber for repairs. For your water heater, turn it down into the normal range. There should be a control on the unit that you can reach.
Annual Plumbing Checklist
Your annual plumbing checklist typically contains items that you may want to let a plumber do. For example, while we recommend manually snaking out your main sewer line, many homeowners don’t have the equipment for this. However, doing so can prevent a clog that can cause you to lose the ability to use your home’s plumbing system. Therefore, you should consider scheduling an annual inspection of your home’s plumbing so any minor repairs or chores that need special equipment can be done by a professional with the knowledge and tools to do them.
Get Help with Repairs or Inspections from Plumbing Concepts
If you need help making repairs from damage you’ve noticed when conducting your plumbing checklist items, contact us at Plumbing Concepts. Our plumbers have most equipment they need on their trucks to conduct inspections and make some repairs. Conducing regular maintenance and repair of your home’s plumbing can do a long way to saving you money by stopping leaks, reducing water use, and preventing emergencies.
