then professionals at Day and Night Plumbing Albuquerque NM 505-974-5797
Monitoring your home’s plumbing including sewer and water pipes is a wise policy to follow on regular monthly basis, particularly if the home is older. As time passes, from the beginning when a home is built and everything is brand new including all the plumbing, to years or even decades later, a home’s plumbing will show signs of wear or even real problems. If you don’t keep a watchful eye on your home’s plumbing system, you may not see or hear a plumbing issue, which could end up being a very costly to repair if the problem is not addressed. Monitor your home’s plumbing by inspecting areas where plumbing pipes and working systems are located. Each month inspect your home’s bathroom sinks, faucets, toilets and showers, its utility room, its kitchen sink, faucet and garbage disposal, its crawlspaces and its basement. When you make your inspection check for signs pipes and other working plumbing devices like supply lines and water valves see if there are any leaks or signs of water indicating repairs need to be made.
Here is a list of things to look for when you’re making your monthly home plumbing inspection:
1. Water Leaks
When your home has a water leak it is a signal that there is bigger problem with your home’s plumbing system that needs to be repaired or replaced quickly. Your home’s plumbing is usually the same age as the house. If there is a leak, it is most likely due to the system’s age and problems cropping up from wear and tear.
Be sure to look for mold when doing your inspection. Mold is normally found near water lines or anywhere in the home there is a plumbing, like the bathroom. If there is mold growing it is most likely caused by a leaky water pipe. Be sure to check for mildew as well. If it shows up in places other than your home’s shower, it is a sure sign there’s a big problem with your plumbing lurking somewhere nearby. Mold and mildew smells distinctly. If you smell it after you’ve cleaned your home recently, odds are there is a leak somewhere.
2. Copper Tubing Corrosion
Dimpling and flaking on copper pipes is a sign there is a lot of corrosion in your piping in that area. It should be replaced right away. Water with high-acid content and water pipes that aren’t used much are susceptible to corrosion as well. Be sure to check all your home’s visible pipes each month throughout the house.
3. Water Discoloration
When you happen to see discolored water coming out of your home’s faucets right away. Chances are the color is coming from rust in your home’s plumbing system. Rust is bad for a variety of reasons including the fact that it tastes bad, and because it hardens your water, which negatively affects washing your clothes because it prevents soap from washing out and because it will not come off of your dishes or your skin when rinsing off during a shower or bath.
4. Water Stains
Check your home’s wall areas below its faucets each month for water stains. If you happen to see odd colors or change in color on the wall in these areas, chances are there is a water leak. Be sure to look on both sides of any wall near water sources in your home like sink faucets, shower faucets and shower heads for water stains. The last thing you want to do is miss a water leak causing major damage to your home’s structure or creating a big mold and mildew problem. If you catch a leak early, it improves your chances of limiting the damage it can cause.
4. Bubbling Drywall Paint
Inspect the walls of your home in the bathroom and the walls of adjoining rooms to the bathroom for visible stains, bubbling or warping. If any of these things are happening, it’s sure sign there’s a water leak issue. The wall with the bubbling and warping going on is going to need to be remediated for ruined drywall and for mold. There is a leak that needs to be fixed by a plumber and a wall that mostly likely will need be repaired by a professional contractor.
After you have completed your monthly home plumbing inspection, if you find any of the problems described here the best course of action is to call a local plumbing company to schedule an appointment to come to your home, look at the problems and give you a repair estimate.
