Avoid Costly Plumbing Problems
How Tony's Drain and Sewer Cleaning Can Help You Avoid Costly Plumbing Problems
Summer is the season of home buying, but don't let your dream home turn into a plumbing nightmare. Water leaks and poor plumbing systems can be costly and unexpected problems for new homeowners. In fact, 44% of consumers call a plumber within one year of purchasing a home. To avoid such issues, Tony's Drain and Sewer Cleaning recommends visually inspecting any potential home for problems and offering these helpful tips:
Bathroom Plumbing Tips
Tony's Drain and Sewer Cleaning recommends checking around the base of the toilet for signs of water damage, such as rolled vinyl or black and white stains. Additionally, it is important to check for a "soft floor." Stand straddled over the toilet and rock back and forth on each foot. If the floor feels spongy, it is probably rotting or weakened.
To check for leaky or loose tiles, press on the walls where they come in contact with the bathtub. If the walls are soft, water may have created damage behind the tiles. Lastly, provide a trash bin in the bathroom to discourage using the toilet as a garbage can. Never flush cotton swabs, cotton balls, hair, facial scrub pads, diapers, sanitary products or similar items down the toilet. These items will not easily dissolve and are responsible for most clogs.
Water Supply Piping
The water supply piping is another important area to check when inspecting a potential home. Turn on the water in the bathtub and kitchen sink to check the water pressure and volume. If there is a noticeable reduction in water volume, it could be a sign of restricted water flow due to mineral or calcium deposits. If the home has a basement, check the exposed piping for signs of leaking or recent repairs. It's also important to find the main line cleanout and ensure that it is accessible. This will make it easier to access the main drain if it needs to be cleared out.
Water Heater Plumbing Tips
Checking the water heater is another important step in ensuring that the home's plumbing system is in good condition. Check the date of the water heater. The first four numbers of the serial number on the water heater indicate the month and year of manufacture.
If the water heater is over 15 years old, it's a good candidate for replacement. A rusty water tank is a sign of pending problems, and the water heater should be inspected by a licensed professional to ensure that it is functioning properly.
Miscellaneous Plumbing Tips
There are a few additional plumbing tips that can help you ensure that the home's plumbing system is in good condition. Check to make sure that the garbage disposer and dishwasher connections are tight and leak-free. Survey the inside of cabinets (with a flashlight) for signs of water damage, a warped cabinet bottom, or stains. Make sure that traps and supply tubes are not leaking. Finally, check the washing machine hoses for signs of rupture, and turn valves on and off to test for leaks.
Standing Water
Standing water is another common problem resulting from leaky or broken pipes. Excess water in a yard may be coming from a damaged sewer line and may contain waste from the home.
Standing water is not healthy for children or pets and is a breeding ground for insects and germs. Inspect the yard for areas that are too wet and have unusual plant or grass growth. This can indicate a problem with the sewer or drainage system.
Sewer Inspection
If you are planning to purchase a home, doing a video inspection of the underground sewer pipe may be a good idea, especially in older homes with clay or concrete sewer pipes. The inspection will reveal any flaws with the sewer before you buy the property and inherit a problem.
The cost of repairing or replacing an underground sewer can run into thousands of dollars, making a relatively inexpensive camera inspection a good investment.
In conclusion, taking the time to visually inspect a potential home's plumbing system can save you time, money, and headaches in the long run. By following these seasonal plumbing tips and checking for any signs of water damage, leaks, or drainage problems, you can help ensure that your dream home doesn't turn into a nightmare. Remember to hire a licensed professional from Tony's Drain and Sewer Cleaning to fix any plumbing problems that you may encounter.
Avoid Costly Plumbing Problems Written by Tony's Drain and Sewer Cleaning
Summer is the season of home buying, but don't let your dream home turn into a plumbing nightmare. Water leaks and poor plumbing systems can be costly and unexpected problems for new homeowners. In fact, 44% of consumers call a plumber within one year of purchasing a home. To avoid such issues, Tony's Drain and Sewer Cleaning recommends visually inspecting any potential home for problems and offering these helpful tips:
Bathroom Plumbing Tips
Tony's Drain and Sewer Cleaning recommends checking around the base of the toilet for signs of water damage, such as rolled vinyl or black and white stains. Additionally, it is important to check for a "soft floor." Stand straddled over the toilet and rock back and forth on each foot. If the floor feels spongy, it is probably rotting or weakened.
To check for leaky or loose tiles, press on the walls where they come in contact with the bathtub. If the walls are soft, water may have created damage behind the tiles. Lastly, provide a trash bin in the bathroom to discourage using the toilet as a garbage can. Never flush cotton swabs, cotton balls, hair, facial scrub pads, diapers, sanitary products or similar items down the toilet. These items will not easily dissolve and are responsible for most clogs.
Water Supply Piping
The water supply piping is another important area to check when inspecting a potential home. Turn on the water in the bathtub and kitchen sink to check the water pressure and volume. If there is a noticeable reduction in water volume, it could be a sign of restricted water flow due to mineral or calcium deposits. If the home has a basement, check the exposed piping for signs of leaking or recent repairs. It's also important to find the main line cleanout and ensure that it is accessible. This will make it easier to access the main drain if it needs to be cleared out.
Water Heater Plumbing Tips
Checking the water heater is another important step in ensuring that the home's plumbing system is in good condition. Check the date of the water heater. The first four numbers of the serial number on the water heater indicate the month and year of manufacture.
If the water heater is over 15 years old, it's a good candidate for replacement. A rusty water tank is a sign of pending problems, and the water heater should be inspected by a licensed professional to ensure that it is functioning properly.
Miscellaneous Plumbing Tips
There are a few additional plumbing tips that can help you ensure that the home's plumbing system is in good condition. Check to make sure that the garbage disposer and dishwasher connections are tight and leak-free. Survey the inside of cabinets (with a flashlight) for signs of water damage, a warped cabinet bottom, or stains. Make sure that traps and supply tubes are not leaking. Finally, check the washing machine hoses for signs of rupture, and turn valves on and off to test for leaks.
Standing Water
Standing water is another common problem resulting from leaky or broken pipes. Excess water in a yard may be coming from a damaged sewer line and may contain waste from the home.
Standing water is not healthy for children or pets and is a breeding ground for insects and germs. Inspect the yard for areas that are too wet and have unusual plant or grass growth. This can indicate a problem with the sewer or drainage system.
Sewer Inspection
If you are planning to purchase a home, doing a video inspection of the underground sewer pipe may be a good idea, especially in older homes with clay or concrete sewer pipes. The inspection will reveal any flaws with the sewer before you buy the property and inherit a problem.
The cost of repairing or replacing an underground sewer can run into thousands of dollars, making a relatively inexpensive camera inspection a good investment.
In conclusion, taking the time to visually inspect a potential home's plumbing system can save you time, money, and headaches in the long run. By following these seasonal plumbing tips and checking for any signs of water damage, leaks, or drainage problems, you can help ensure that your dream home doesn't turn into a nightmare. Remember to hire a licensed professional from Tony's Drain and Sewer Cleaning to fix any plumbing problems that you may encounter.
Avoid Costly Plumbing Problems Written by Tony's Drain and Sewer Cleaning