Benefits of a Whole-House Plumbing Inspection
A homeowner’s work is never quite finished. However, with an already crowded schedule, plus family and work, it’s simple to see why some household maintenance projects are put by the wayside. Although it may not appear as such, when you consider a listing of all the functioning parts that allow your house to carry on its “duties” without difficulty, your to-do list will fill up rapidly.
We admit, keeping atop your home maintenance checklist can be intimidating at times, but there are specific items that cannot be ignored, and plumbing is certainly one of them.
It turns out plumbing is one of your home’s more indispensable features that should never be overlooked. Things like clogged drains may appear unimportant at the time, but, in actuality, they can snowball into much bigger predicaments if they remain on that to-do list.
It’s important to schedule routine plumbing inspections and put to use any preventive measures to keep your home’s plumbing system functioning efficiently and correctly.
Let’s take a look at why plumbing inspections are so critical and what you should anticipate when having your plumbing inspected.
Why plumbing inspections are so important
A professional plumbing inspection has several major advantages when comparing it to your struggling to perform an inspection yourself. You can depend not only on a plumber’s experience and know-how if they happen to discover something amiss, but you can also count on their being attentive to those items you almost certainly don’t want to deal with.
For most homeowners, those items they cheerfully pass on to the professional plumber involve matters such as checking under the house or annoyances like toilet flappers and slow-draining sinks. Or, for those who might not object to the smaller jobs but aren’t at ease undertaking larger problems, professional inspectors will make sure that things such as checking and flushing your water heater on a regular basis or assuring your exterior pipes are well insulated. Top to bottom, a quality inspection can avoid any number of such headaches.
Also, keep in mind that a plumbing inspection covers more than simply ensuring your pipes have no leaks or are not undergoing corrosion. Inspections also take in the major appliances you use routinely that can experience substantial stress throughout the year.
For instance, your water heater is a part of regular plumbing upkeep. Water heaters need to undergo regular inspections and fine-tune to make certain they function cost-effectively and properly. Let’s face it, you’ll need a water heater replacement much earlier than you’ll require new pipes, and plumbing professionals will be able to recognize when it’s time to retire your existing unit.
One more incentive for thinking about an annual plumbing inspection is that the after-effects of breakdowns in the water or sewer line can be immense. These are problems you’ll absolutely want to avoid if at all possible since they can cause major damage to your home, and the repair work is often extensive as well as costly and time-consuming.
As a prime example, regular inspections will usually catch any small problems with either the water or sewer lines on your property so you can fix them before they become larger problems.
Here are some of the benefits that can come from having a plumbing inspection performed.
A home plumbing inspection could save you money
The money you “save” by avoiding routine plumbing inspections will wind up aimed at expensive repairs, replacements, and your monthly utility bill. Each leaky faucet, each pound of added water pressure, and every bang, clank, or the rattle of your pipes can add a few extra dollars to your water bill.
It also adds to the unnecessary risk of creating severe, near-irreparable plumbing difficulties that wouldn’t have been as widespread or as expensive if they had been fixed two or three months earlier.
The truth is, it can cost thousands of dollars to repair a broken sewage pipe. The repair alone will probably cost $1,000 to $2,000. Furthermore, you’ll have to pay out several thousand dollars to have the property cleaned. A cracked sewage pipe can leak into your lawn for weeks before you even spot the problem. All of a sudden, you’ll notice your lawn has become a swamp composed of sewage. Moreover, you’ll have a smelly yard that makes you feel embarrassed and nauseated at the same time.
Cleaning a sewage-filled yard demands quite a bit of preparation and safety materials, and the tab for a proper clean-up will add up rather quickly.
If you have a routine plumbing inspection, your plumber will detect that the sewage pipe exhibits signs of deterioration. Rather than allowing the pipe to break and trigger a gigantic mess, you can have the plumber correct the problem under controlled conditions.
Remember the old saying that the longer you leave a wound to fester, the higher the risk of infection? This is so true for plumbing as well. If you don’t tackle issues ASAP, you may very well wind up having to amputate, while a simple bandage applied a month or two sooner would have been sufficient.
A home plumbing inspection helps save time
This is connected to the first point: cost. If it gets to the point where your pipes or appliances need replacing, you’re not just wasting money; you’re wasting time. Let’s say a pipe in your basement burst, leading to minor flooding. The pipe is well past repair at that point. To stop the flooding, you’ll need to purchase a new pipe (or pipes) and get it installed.
Believe it. This isn’t as easy as buying a replacement table or chair. You’ll have to recognize the kind of plumbing you’re buying (so that the new pipe fits with the old) and hire a licensed plumber in your area, set up an appointment and turn off the main water supply in the course of installation.
Long story short – it’s a frustrating process that might have been sidestepped if the cracks had been dealt with earlier.
Always keep in mind, your inspection will involve much more than looking at drainage pipes for would-be clogs. Professional plumbers will also check your entire home to make certain all your plumbing works properly. By having someone carry out an inspection, your day won’t get disrupted by plumbing problems.
Improve air quality
This may seem a rather odd thing to bring in a discussion about plumbing, but what most homeowners are unaware of is that a home’s plumbing system has a direct bearing on its indoor air quality. Such issues as cracked pipes, water pressure concerns, valve glitches – all these can be the forerunner to water leaks which, when left to fester, will produce quite an appealing breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria.
As you can imagine, not any of these issues bring about wholesome (or clean) air quality. Poorly maintained, leaky pipes can lead to mold growth which may well end up damaging the health of your household members.
Planned plumbing inspections can grab hold of would-be plumbing problems before they produce water leaks and the predictable mold, mildew, and germs.
Maintaining property value
Taking proper care of your home, in general, can boost the property value when the time to sell arrives. Would-be new homeowners will be delighted to pay for a property in sound shape, without having to be concerned with the dishwasher backing up or the tub overflowing because the property has been well looked after. You’d most likely experience little or no difficulty securing the market price for it because a well-maintained house and plumbing system is completely worth the money. Any experienced realtor would agree.
Okay, how often should I get a whole house plumbing inspection?
Most professional plumbers agree that a home’s plumbing system should be checked at least once every two years.
There are instances, however, when an inspection should occur more frequently. Here are a few examples:
- When residing in an older home. Older homes constructed prior to the 1960s may have plumbing systems that contain steel pipes. Back in the days, steel was employed because of its strength. Little were builders aware that those steel pipes might actually begin to deteriorate over time. This can lead to pipe leaks and bursts and even lead in the water supply.
- Properties with older trees. Large trees that have been growing for a number of years have a far-reaching root system underground that’s not always easy to observe or track. Growing roots can be quite formidable and push completely through underground plumbing pipes. Should a root bring about a small leak, it may take years for you to notice, although a professional plumber would know precisely what to look for.
- Moving into a new home. If you just recently bought a home, it’s undoubtedly a terrific idea to have a detailed plumbing inspection by someone other than a traditional home inspector. It’s those little things that can be easily unnoticed by someone other than a professional plumber and cause problems down the road.
What will the plumber check?
Here are some of the items to anticipate during your home plumbing inspection:
- Check the water filtration systems
- Examine all fixtures, supply lines, drains
- In-depth investigation of all above-ground exposed plumbing, including shut-off valves and traps under kitchen, bathroom and laundry room sinks
- Inspect all sinks, showers/bath, toilets
- Inspection of bathroom, kitchen and laundry room draining and venting systems
- Inspection of the conventional storage water tank or tankless water heater
- Shut-off valve inspection
- Sump pump and discharge inspection, if applicable
Camera inspection option
Bringing in a professional plumber to handle a camera inspection is perhaps the most proactive thing you can do with your home’s plumbing.
Cameras are capable of reaching into almost every nook and cranny in your home and actually getting behind its walls to identify potentially unsafe circumstances for you and your home.
These cameras can also spot mold growth and rusty pipes in spaces you’d by no means would be able to look – unless you took out a wall and walked through those spaces in your home, which we categorically don’t endorse.
Having a professional plumber conduct these camera inspections is a small price to pay in order to dodge bigger problems in the future.
What to do in between inspections
Homeowners can be pre-emptive by carrying out regular leak checks to any visibly accessible plumbing. Also, pay close attention to utility bills and take note of any strange noises. If you spot any leaks, call a professional plumber as soon as possible.
Water can be the single most destructive force on the house and must be tackled without delay.
If signs of moisture are present, contact the plumbing team at J&A South Park for a professional leak detection. Water leaks not only trigger water damage but accelerate mold growth and can eventually cause structural damage to the walls if not dealt with.
Otherwise, prevention is the best medicine. As an example, follow your plumber’s guidance in insulating exterior pipes, so you aren’t hit with a frozen pipe in the winter. Understand that fixtures, washers, and sealers all have a limited life expectancy. If your home hasn’t had any upgrades in your lifetime, begin planning now about what you might do in case something does break down. As the Scouts would say, Be Prepared.
So, are you convinced?
Simply contact the plumbing professionals at J&A South Park to schedule your plumbing inspection. It will give you the peace of mind knowing that your plumbing system is in order and ready to perform as intended.