subject: Plumbing Maintenance List -- Averting Plumbing Issues [print this page] While regular plumbing and heating maintenance will not prevent every single problem, it does help people to uncover issues that could create difficulties later on. You cannot just expect your home's plumbing and central boiler to function flawlessly continuously without regular maintenance checks. Below, you'll see some checks that you can do to see if there is something that must be addressed with an appointment with a local plumber.
There are numerous different parts of a home's plumbing, including sinks, toilets, drainpipes, washing machines, dishwashers, central heating systems, boilers, and radiators. It's an extensive list and one problem might quickly become a substantial, pricey mess. You will need to think about all the areas of your house that a local plumber would address if they were called for service.
Leaks are among the easier issues to deal with, but can also result in thousands of dollars in water damage. Look over the floors, walls, and ceilings where you know there are pipes. Watermarks can be fairly easy to spot, but if it is found in a ceiling or a wall, the leak might have existed for some time.
Corrosion on pipes can end up creating leaks, so search for green stains around brass and copper fittings and yellow or orange stains on older steel pipes. These pipes need to be replaced before they break. The shutoff valves are typically where a lot of corrosion occurs, so check this area carefully.
Check to see how quickly each drain in your home drains. That means every sink, tub, and shower. There should really be a full swirl of water when draining. If there are bubbles when draining a sink or tub, there is probably a blockage building up.
For the commodes, hunt for any indications of leaks. Check the commode tank by putting in a few drops of food colouring in the toilet. If you can see the colouring in the bowl without having to flush, then you need to contact a local plumber to switch out your tank. You should also find out if the commode moves back and forth. If so, get in touch with a plumber to repair the problem as it could wind up resulting in leaks beneath the floor.
Central heating systems and boiler maintenance need to be left to the professionals. A lot of plumbing providers will advise you to arrange an appointment when the weather is warm, as you will likely get faster service this way. These types of scheduled appointments might reduce the chances of some of the problems people experience when turning their furnace on for the first time in the colder season.
