The Importance of Regular Plumbing Maintenance and Inspections

Plumbing must be inspected at a minimum of once yearly to root out any possible issues, find out if it's functioning up to snuff, and keep it from doing anything too expensive or damaging in the future. If you have any way to measure "efficiency," regular inspections should help plumbing "systems" pass that test. And routine checkups are a good idea for "longevity," since you don't want to have to replace pipes any time soon.

How often you need to maintain your plumbing really depends on the age of your system, the local water conditions, and how you use your plumbing. A very general recommendation is to have your plumbing inspected and maintained by professionals at least once a year. Regular annual maintenance allows any potential issues to be found and dealt with early, before they become big (and usually expensive) problems. It also keeps your system working as efficiently as it can, which has got to be a good thing.

Routine plumbing maintenance is critical to avoiding major problems, and most tasks do not require professionals. Basic maintenance—that is, checking for leaks; ensuring that drains are clear; inspecting fittings and hoses; and addressing any clear signs of trouble—can and should be done by the average homeowner. But what happens when basic upkeep reveals more complex plumbing issues? When serious leaks are detected, when pipes are corroding, or when comprehensive inspection is warranted, it's best to call in the professionals. Their advanced training, expert knowledge, and superior tools will enable them to locate and address any number of potential problems, many of which might not even be visible to the untrained eye.

Ensuring a plumbing system continues to function properly takes more than just occasional repairs or replacements. The series of regular checks and actions undertaken to maintain the efficient operation, safety, and durability of the plumbing infrastructure demands the attention of qualified personnel. Individuals who understand the not-so-simple science and details of plumbing are necessary if buildings and their occupants are to be safe from the problems that can arise when plumbing systems are not kept in good order. Plumbing problems are not cheap to fix. They can cause all sorts of damage not only to the plumbing itself but to nearby structures (walls, ceilings, and so forth) and even to the foundations of buildings. And they can also cause fires, which is a problem nobody wants to deal with.

Regular inspections of plumbing systems are essential for several reasons: to keep them safe, to maintain their efficient operation, and to ensure their longevity. The safety of a plumbing system can be examined by inspecting it for early indications of corrosion or wear. If appropriate inspections are not made and if timely repairs are not enacted, then the next inspection may well reveal signs of serious problems, including hard-to-detect leaks. Such leaks may not only waste water but may also allow contaminants to intrude and to degrade the safety of the plumbing system.

At a minimum, have your plumbing inspected once a year as part of routine maintenance. This should allow any potential problems to be identified and addressed before they can turn into major issues. You should also conduct your own plumbing inspection when: - buying a new home - making major renovations - experiencing any plumbing-related signs of trouble, such as slow drains, leaks, or strange noises

Routine plumbing maintenance and inspections are vital for guaranteeing the plumbing system's efficient and safe operation. These plumbing checkups help identify potential problems—like leaks, blockages, and the kind of wear and tear that can lead to unexpected plumbing failures—before they escalate into major issues that require the kind of expensive repairs that can make a homeowner's wallet weep. That's why my husband and I perform routine plumbing inspections every six months. Thanks to some handy online resources, we've put together a kind of "plumbing checkup list" that has been helpful not only to us but to several friends who have also used it to avoid plumbing disasters. Here's what we look for when we're plumbing the plumbing.

The plumbing inspection consists of a check of the complete plumbing system to ensure that it is working correctly and that there are no potential problems in sight. The inspection usually includes the following: checking the water pressure; inspecting the pipes for leaks or signs of corrosion; checking the water heater; going through the drainage system; and ensuring that all of the plumbing fixtures are working efficiently. The inspection might also include looking for signs of water damage, going over the seals and gaskets to see if they are in good condition, and making sure that all of the valves and faucets are working properly. Finally, the inspector may use some specialized equipment, like a camera, to look inside the pipelines for any hidden problems.

The crucial role of pipe inspection in plumbing system health makes itself felt in the low frequency and intensity of system problems. These can include anything from slight leaks in joints or fittings, missing or degraded gaskets or seals, and minor pipe misalignments or sagging to serious corrosion, material degradation, or other structural threats to the system's integrity and future functionality. Of course, the problems we mention only begin to describe what might go wrong, and we haven't even begun to think about the possibilities for blocked pipes. A blocked pipe might otherwise behave as though it were just healthy and happy, but it does so only until it finds out there's no way for it to maintain the efficiency of a healthy plumbing system.

Safety, efficiency, and longevity are the three crucial aspects of plumbing and their systems that ensure a building's occupants are well-protected. "Quality work in plumbing (or anything for that matter) just gives you peace of mind, especially because you can't physically see the work later on," says Becky Brubaker, a project manager at L.E. Jespersen Plumbing & Piping in Portland. She goes on to say that cheaper, shoddily done work opens up all kinds of possibilities for problems later—like the kind of problems that just cost you more and more money as time goes on.