The fixtures in your home that involve plumbing are important elements with sinks, toilets, and showers allowing for cleanliness and convenience. When they work, they are great and you think you do not have to worry about them at all but when they stop, it leads to frustration and a homeowner having to spend significant amounts of money on repairs.
While the plumbing fixtures in your home may be working at present, they can stop working sometimes without notice and problems that you were unaware of can present themselves. Consequently, it is beneficial to consult with a plumber for periodic plumbing inspections.
1. Water heaters
Having showers, cleaning dishes, and doing laundry can be problematic when you do not have hot water so having periodic inspections on your water heater is crucial. Water heaters typically last anywhere from 7 to 14 years so if yours is over 10 years old, it is essential that it is inspected annually. Minerals and water can leave sediment in your tank, leading to decreased water flow and the heater having to work harder to push the water through.
Leaks can result in less hot water available and any issues with elements will inhibit the heater’s ability to heat up enough water if at all. An inspection will check for these issues with your water heater and ensure it is working with the efficiency that it should. It will check for smaller issues that can be repaired before they turn into larger ones, increasing the lifespan of the heater which is key especially if you own the unit as opposed to renting it.
2. Toilets
Toilets that back up, leak, or do not flush can be a homeowner’s worst nightmares. Loose fittings can cause a toilet to rock when it should be fastened tightly to the floor. This can cause injuries and eventual leaks as water will eventually find its way into spaces between the bottom of the toilet and the floor. Cracks in a toilet will also eventually lead to breaking and water leaks. Dripping pipes can result in costly renovations to the bathroom or living space beneath the bathroom as water will eventually leaks through downstairs ceilings.
Issues with the hardware of the toilet such as the flapper and the stick can cause a toilet to run constantly, resulting in you wasting water and receiving higher water bills. If you have a well, this can potentially lead to it running dry if the issue is not noticed quickly enough. A plumbing inspection can discover problems such as cracks and leaks and will determine whether any aspects of the toilet itself require attention, so your toilets can operate the way they should.
3. Bathtubs & sinks
Faucets on sinks and bathtubs can drip and lead to costly water bills not to mention they can be extremely annoying. If your sink or bathtub is slow to drain, you could have a clogged pipe that will eventually lead to the inability to drain at all or a burst pipe that will be messy and costly. Hard water can leave minerals and sediment around your faucets that can be extremely unsightly, restrict water flow, and may even lead to damage to the fixtures themselves.
A plumbing inspection can inspect all pipes attached to your sinks and bathtubs and check for leaky ones that could be damaging down the road. They can identify any clogs that are the cause of slow draining and will make the repairs needed that will have you taking showers and cleaning dishes without issue in no time at all.
