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A Checklist for Proper Maintenance

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Melbourne Plumber

Serious plumbing problems generally don’t happen overnight. Instead, they develop slowly and it’s up to you to figure out how to fix them after they’re present. That’s why it makes sense to look out for problems, so that you can catch them before they are too serious. Here are a few common problems that you should look for to detect problems before they are too serious.

Looking over Pipe Insulation

Burst pipes are a serious issue that you want to avoid at all costs. The issue isn’t very common as long as you have a heated home, but it does still happen if your pipes aren’t insulated properly. It’s important to look at the insulation on the pipes throughout your home. Take a good hard look and verify that the insulation is still intact and that it isn’t falling off anywhere.

Water Heater Leaks

In most homes, about a quarter of the entire utility bill is dedicated to heating water. That will go up or down depending on how often you shower, run the dishwasher, clean your clothing and do things of that sort, but it’s usually pretty close to that figure. When you consider that fact, it’s easy to see how devastating it could be to have a leaky hot water heater in your home. That’s why you should take the time to look at your hot water heater from time to time. Make sure that it isn’t leaking so that you don’t run into issues where you are wasting a whole lot of money.

Slow Drains

Pay attention to how water drains around your home, because slow drainage is a sign of clog problems every single time. If you notice that your bathtub, shower or sink is draining much slower than it used to, you have a clog that needs to be dealt with. Sometimes you can use liquid drain cleaners to solve the problem, but in other instances you’ll have to clean out the pipes manually, or get in touch with a professional to have them come and clean out the pipes for you. It’s important to tackle the problem as soon as you can, to avoid running into serious clogs that are more problematic than the partial clog is.

Check for Minor Leaks

Major leaks are easy to see and usually stand out enough that you notice them almost immediately. That’s not the case for less serious leaks. That’s why it’s up to you to investigate your plumbing on a monthly basis to look for water spots, puddles and other signs of a slow leak somewhere in your home.

While it’s good to have a plumber out to inspect your home on an annual basis, it’s also a good idea for you to look over your home in between those yearly inspections. Most of the time you’ll notice a problem before it becomes serious, and then you can hand it over to the plumber to fix it.