Everything You Need to Know About Preventative Plumbing Maintenance

From smelly sewage to paying over $500 to hire a plumber, plumbing problems are almost always a headache. But if there’s one part of your home you want working well, it’s your plumbing. Luckily, there are some preventative measures you can take to limit the number of calls to your plumber and to lower plumbing costs during renovation projects.

Here are six money-saving preventative measures you should utilize in commercial or residential buildings:

Check for leaks.

You should check easily accessible pipes for leaks often. Some experts even recommend checking once per week. Easily accessible pipes can include pipes under sinks, pipes connected to washers and dryers, and other pipes you can see without having to move furniture.

Clean your plumbing.

Just like you clean your windows or counters, you have to clean your plumbing too. Make sure to scrub all showerheads and faucets to prevent leaks and ensure good waterflow. It’s also important to clean out your water heater every six months. When cleaning, first completely drain your heater of water and then clean it out.

Check pipes and water pressure.

Check your pipes and water pressure regularly. For water pressure, look at your water pressure gauge at least once per week to ensure it’s at a safe level and not fluctuating. Along with checking for leaks, investigate the quality of your pipes too. If your pipes show wear and tear, you might need to call a plumber. Checking pipes and water pressure is especially important during colder months.

Be careful about what is flushed in toilets.

This sounds simple, but it can prevent a lot of plumbing problems and headaches down the road. If you own a commercial property, you can create signs reminding employees and visitors what can and can’t be flushed.

Watch your drains.

Similarly, be careful what people are pouring down the drains. Avoid pouring anything reactive or acidic down them.

Faucet

Inspect regularly

Inspect your sewer drains every six months to make sure no tree roots or other blockages weaseled their way in. While you will most likely have to pay a plumber to properly do this inspection, hiring a plumber for a preventative measure will cost less than hiring them to fix your pipes in an emergency. 

Plumbing maintenance is about regularly checking the pipes, faucets, and other plumbing parts to ensure everything is working as it should. When you check regularly, you are able to prevent major disasters that could cost you thousands.

Carlton Building Services in Hampton Roads Virginia

Carlton Building Services specializes in repairs, maintenance, renovations, remodelings and build-outs for a variety of clients in Hampton Roads, Virginia. We have years of experience handling projects in the retail, office, and healthcare space and would love to work with you on your next project!

To learn more about our services, check out past project highlights or contact Carlton Building Services to see how we can help with your next project. 

JP Carlton

J.P. Carlton

J.P. Carlton is the founder of Carlton Building Services, a Hampton Roads-based construction company.