How Often Should You Check Your Plumbing?

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How Often Should You Check Your Plumbing?

People usually only call a plumber when there is an emergency. Such emergencies include:

  • Clogged or damaged pipes that won’t drain
  • Constantly running toilets
  • Overflowing sinks, showers, and bathtubs

Many plumbing emergencies can be avoided just by scheduling regular preventative maintenance.

If you know you need to schedule a plumbing system inspection, call Plumbing by Jake at (888) 628-5890 now. We’ll make sure everything is in proper working order and pinpoint potential issues before they become more expensive emergencies.

Why Your Plumbing Is Important

Your plumbing system has two major jobs:

  • To provide your household with a safe cold and hot water supply, and
  • To remove sewage and wastewater to a septic system or public sewer system.

Plumbers usually hear from people when their plumbing system is not doing its job. However, when you schedule a plumbing inspection (or check-up) about every two years, it can help you spot possible issues and prevent costly and extensive damage.

How a Plumbing Inspection Can Help

Here are some issues you can avoid with a regular plumbing inspection:

  • A plumbing inspection can help spot and stop small and otherwise imperceptible leaks that wastewater and cost money.
  • Slow-running drains can be indicative of growing clogs or even issues with your main sewer line. A plumbing inspection can help prevent a major pipe breakage and potentially save you thousands of dollars in emergency repairs, not to mention sparing you the mess of a sewage backup.
  • You can keep your water heater up and running with regular maintenance. No one wants to be left with an unexpected cold shower or a water heater leak.
  • If you’re considering any upgrades or remodeling to your kitchen, bath, or laundry area, a plumbing inspection can make sure it’s done right and that you save money in the process. Plumbers can even recommend energy- and money-saving fixtures and products like those from the WaterSense program.

When You Should Have a Plumbing Check-Up

Typical homes, for the most part, can benefit from an overall plumbing inspection about every two years.

For instance, your Plumbing by Jake expert will:

  • Inspect your pipes, looking for leaks or cracks
  • Use a professional camera to investigate any items or damage inside of drains and pipes
  • Check water and drain lines, valves, and vents
  • Study water flow and water pressure in sinks, showers, and bathtubs
  • Check toilets for leaks or excessive running
  • Scrutinize all appliances (such as washing machines and dishwashers) for proper connections, leaks, or damage

There are, however, some instances when you should have your plumbing inspected more frequently, such as:

  • A plumbing inspection can help you understand the path of your main sewer line through your property. If you have large trees over or around the main line, you should schedule an annual plumbing check-up to make sure tree roots aren’t causing cracks and creeping into the pipe. If you find these breaches when they are still small, they can often be repaired. Large, catastrophic breaks necessitating a full line replacement can perhaps be avoided with a simple annual inspection.
  • If your home is over 40 years old, its pipes and other vital plumbing components could be degrading. An annual inspection can help prevent breakage, bursting pipes, and even unhealthy elements in your water.
  • If you have recently purchased a new home, schedule a plumbing inspection. Licensed home inspectors often do not specialize in plumbing, so have a professional plumber take a look. Any major issues requiring repair may affect your home purchase or purchase price.
  • If you’re selling your home, you can avoid any surprises potentially derailing the sale by having a professional plumbing inspection.

After Your Plumbing Inspection

When your Plumbing by Jake professional completes the plumbing inspection, you will receive a comprehensive report sharing any issues identified. They’ll tell you what looks okay, anything that you need to keep an eye on, and items that may need repairing in the future. But, most importantly, they will tell you about any immediate problems and give you an estimate on what it will cost to fix them.

The most frequent critical issues we see are:

  • Water heater damage or a water heater near the end of its life
  • Leaking faucets
  • Slow-draining areas containing clogs
  • Leaking pipe joints
  • Leaking bathtubs and toilets (these may simply need to be re-sealed)
  • Degraded pipes that need to be upgraded to new material

Schedule Your Plumbing Check-Up Today

Contact Plumbing by Jake at (888) 628-5890 to schedule your home plumbing inspection. You can even take advantage of our annual home plumbing maintenance plan to save you money. We have several plans available to fit your specific needs and budget. All inspections are backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Don’t end up with a plumbing emergency that could have been prevented with regular inspections. Schedule your plumbing check-up today.