Plumbing Checklist Preventive Maintenance
Plumbing Checklist Preventive Maintenance
Fresh water and safe drainage are important to your families health and well being, and the longevity of your home. The items listed below should be checked at least once per year.
Plumbing checklist
1. Exposed pipes outdoors. These are the plumbing entries into your home, or extensions such as outdoor faucets. We recommend learning where your water supply meter is located, and becoming familiar with it’s operation in case of problems, and also learning where you main drain line clean out is located if you don’t know this already. Check for things like wet spots, puddles, or corrosion on outdoor pipes.
2. Exposed pipes indoors. Most exposed pipes indoors, are under sinks, or behind the toilet. Check for wet spots, drips, and other moisture problems. Look for excessive oxidization on fittings and connections. These can be a sign of a small leak, and severe corrosion can cause leaks.
3. Reduced water pressure. Low water pressure at the faucet can have several causes. It can be a leak, which is bleeding off pressure, or, it could be a blockage, such as sediment in the nozzle of the fixture. Check for obvious things like water bubbling up from the ground, and hissing sounds. You can also turn off all water fixtures in the house, and see if the meter is still turning. If it is, a leak is probably the cause. If not, start with simple things like removing the splash screen from the offending faucet. If there is sediment inside, clean it, or replace it with a new one, and reinstall. The same thing should be done for slow shower heads.
4. Drains. Check drains for the speed with which they empty out. If it seems to take too long, you may have a partial clog. Such clogs in kitchen and bathroom sinks can usually be removed by removing the “p trap” and cleaning it out.
5. Vents. Vents are a part of your homes drainage system, and are in place to allow air to replace draining water to avoid poor drainage through vacuum lock. Check the vents visually, most vent problems are related to the vent becoming covered, or clogged. We have run across vents clogged by birds nests, and other natural occurrences.
6. Valves and valve handles. Valve handles should be checked for tightness. Look for seepage around the handles.Toilet handles should be checked for proper movement and play.
7. Tile and caulking in tubs and showers. Broken bathroom tile, and missing caulking can allow water to damage your walls and floors. They can also be a sign of damaged plumbing. Check and repair.
8. Mold and mildew. Fungus can be a problem itself, and can point to other problems. Most fungi grow in the presence of water, if you find any, try to determine why it is growing in that particular place. Clean the area thoroughly with bleach, or other suitable products.
9. Check for solid connections on fixtures. Fixtures should be snugly attached to their bases. Tighten as needed.
10. Hot water heaters. Check the top pop valve to be sure that it is not allowing water to bypass. If it is bypassing, replace it, or have a plumber replace it for you. Look for rust and corrosion, as these could be a sign of other problems. When dealing with hot water heaters, it is a good idea to have a gas or electric expert do the work.
11. Washing machine connections. Washing machine supply lines should be leak free, so check for good connections, check the condition of the hoses as well. The washing machine drain should be checked for proper position and drainage.
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