Your Plumbing Maintenance Checklist

June 24, 2017 Posted By Matt O'Brien

Ideally, homeowners should be regularly conducting maintenance tasks on their plumbing system to ensure that everything about it will be in fine working condition all year long. However, many homeowners don’t even have the slightest idea of where to begin checking. More often than not, they feel like they’re trying to find a needle in a haystack when checking their plumbing system.

If you’re one of those homeowners, here is a plumbing maintenance checklist that you can refer to in order to ensure your plumbing system is in tip-top shape.

Check for Water Leaks

Pipes and fixtures, no matter how well-made, will eventually suffer wear and tear over time and potentially spring leaks. To check for water leaks, look under your refrigerator, under sinks, the central A/C unit and all exposed pipes.

Check for signs of Corrosion

When you have metal pipes, corrosion is going to be a fact of life. So check for signs of corrosion, which would be pinholes in copper lines or green, yellow or orange stains on copper and brass pipes and fittings.

Check for Water Stains

If you find water stains on a wall or a part of the floor, then it’s likely that the pipes behind that wall and underneath that floor are leaking. Tubs and shower gypsums, both of which have pipes behind the tile, should also be checked for water stains.

Test Water Quality

You will need to know that the water that flows through your plumbing is safe not only for your pipes and fixtures but more importantly, for use by everyone in your household. That’s why you need to test your water and see if it’s free from microbes that could make you sick, or if it’s acidic or too hard.

Check Faucet Heads for Sediments

Over time, sediments collect in the filters of your faucet heads and obstruct the flow of water. To ensure proper flow, you need to unscrew them, check the filters for sediment and remove any that you find.

See if your Toilet Flushes properly

Your toilet is one of the most important parts of your plumbing system, and you must make sure that it flushes smoothly and properly. If it’s slow-draining, it’s possible that it might be clogged. Before calling a professional plumber, use a plunger first and see if it restores flushing to normal.

Check for Water Puddles on your Laundry Floor

Puddles of water on your laundry floor could mean that your washer and dryer may have sprung a leak. It’s also possible that a septic system blockage is also causing water to collect on the laundry floor.

Check for Cracks

Cracks on toilets, sinks, tubs, and showers can lead to a host of bigger plumbing problems in the future, so you have to make sure you detect a crack as soon as it occurs. If you find a crack, you can opt to patch it up with waterproof caulking, or you can replace the entire fixture or tile itself if the crack is beyond patching up.

Check the Water Pressure

Generally, normal water pressure at home should be between 40 and 60 PSI. Once you measure your water pressure and it’s in the normal range, you can then adjust it to a setting that is preferred by everyone in your household.

Check for Garbage Disposal Leaks

The garbage disposal is often overlooked come maintenance time, but they can also be a source of leaks. That’s why you need to include the garbage disposal in your plumbing maintenance checklist and see if it is showing signs of developing a leak. You would also do well to refer to the manufacturer for recommendations on maintaining your garbage disposal.

Check your Drains

Slow drains are almost always an indication of a blocked drain. If you notice that it takes some time for water to go down the drain or if you hear gurgling noises coming from it, it’s possible that there is a clog, which you can try to remove or dislodge by yourself. If plungers, drain snakes and bent hangers don’t work, it’s time to call a professional plumber.

When you go through your plumbing maintenance checklist and you see problems that you might need professional help with, just give us at Beez Neez Plumbing a call. With their level of skills and experience, our professional plumbers are capable of handling any and all kinds of plumbing problems.

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