For the most part, corroded pipes, blocked drains, water leaks, and other plumbing emergencies don’t just appear out of nowhere. They first show themselves as smaller issues, such as changes in water pressure, drain rates, and the quality or taste of your water. By catching and addressing these signs of wear quickly, homeowners can not only avoid full-blown plumbing emergencies but also keep their utility bills and home maintenance costs from skyrocketing.
The best way to ensure the functionality, efficiency, and longevity of your home’s plumbing system is by receiving regular plumbing inspections. At Quality Plumbing of Gainesville, Inc., we recommend that all Florida homeowners receive a professional plumbing evaluation at least once a year. This plumbing maintenance checklist details everything our professional plumbers look for during their annual inspection visits. Continue reading to learn more!
Our Annual Plumbing Inspection Checklist
Delaying your annual plumbing inspection is a surefire way to increase your plumbing maintenance costs for the following year. The following detailed checklist outlines all of the fixtures and appliances that are covered by our annual plumbing inspections.
Water Heaters
Even in sunny Florida, residential water heaters receive heavy use throughout the year. Whether that’s to fuel hot showers or baths, to run loads of laundry or dishes, or to cook a delicious meal, hot water is a commodity in all kinds of Florida homes.
When neglected, water heaters can become inefficient and even dangerous, costing you a fortune on utility bills and emergency plumbing repairs as a result. Things like sediment build-up, fault pressure relief valves, leaks, and internal corrosion can slow your water heater down over the course of a year.
To avoid these problems, our plumbers recommend flushing and inspecting your residential water heater annually. These services keep your water heater clean, safe, and easy to use, and limit the risk of sudden leaks, ruptures, or cracks from forming throughout the year.
Toilets
Without regular maintenance, your toilet can cost you in unforeseen utility bills and repair costs. In fact, toilets are the most common source of leaks in most residential properties. Whether it’s due to a structural deficiency or a worn-down part, bathroom leaks can be hard to detect without the help of a professional plumber. Annual inspections make homeowners aware of these problems before it’s too late.
Shut-Off Valves
Shut-off valves, usually located just outside your home or yard, give homeowners the ability to cut off their home’s water supply at any given moment. While this is regularly used by residential plumbers during routine maintenance visits, these valves are also important safety features that can prevent excessive flooding and water damage in the case of large water leaks, burst pipes, or malfunctioning appliances.
To protect your property from unforeseen damages, it is important to include shut-off valve maintenance in your yearly plumbing inspections. If your valve is difficult to turn, does not work properly, or is in a hard-to-reach area, repairs may be necessary.
Other Appliances
Other household appliances, such as garbage disposals, dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators, can all develop leaks in hard-to-reach places that would go unnoticed without regular professional inspections. Some appliance parts, such as washing machine and dishwasher hoses, are prone to bursting if they are not made of high-quality materials or replaced regularly.
Water Lines
Even large leaks can hide in plain sight for long periods of time, especially in Florida, where high humidity is expected indoors. Leaks in attics, basements, garages, and behind large appliances can be difficult to spot with an untrained eye. Plumbers know exactly what to look for when searching for damaged or leaky pipes: mold growth, exposed pipes, patches of moisture, etc. Catch your leaks early by scheduling your preventative maintenance visit today!
Drains
Slow drains can signify anything from a small clog to a stubborn blockage or a more serious problem within your sewage system. While regular drain cleaning solutions sometimes do the trick, tough, recurring blockages should always be evaluated by a professional plumber. Yearly inspections are the perfect time to address any concerns about slow or stuck drains without having to book a separate service visit.
Infrequently Used Fixtures or Appliance
Perhaps your Florida home has a gas fireplace that went unused last winter, or there is a bathroom all the way in the back corner of your house that no one ever uses. Regardless, it is important to closely monitor the conditions of every plumbing fixture in your home, even those that are rarely used.
Some fixtures and appliances, such as toilets, rely on rubber seals that won’t work as well if they are allowed to dry out for an extended period of time. Lack of use can also cause the P-traps in your drains, fixtures, and appliances to dry up, allowing unpleasant sewage smells to back up into your home.
While many of these issues can be avoided by making a point to use every appliance, fixture, and drain in your home, a professional opinion is always warranted. In fact, Quality Plumbing of Gainesville, Inc. recommends that all homeowners inform their plumbers of their least-used plumbing features so that they can properly evaluate their home’s plumbing system in its entirety.
How Our Gainesville, Florida, Plumbing Company Can Help
If you are on the hunt for a reliable Florida plumbing company, look no further than Quality Plumbing of Gainesville Inc.! We have years of experience installing, repairing, and maintaining plumbing systems in all kinds of residential homes. To learn more about the services we provide, reach out today!