We hope our recent series on how to protect your home from water damage, room by room, raised awareness about plumbing in your home.
You may be thinking, “I hate plumbing, I fear plumbing, but I know I can't ignore my plumbing, either. Is there such a thing as a quick checklist that I can run through every month to get it over with?”
Does this sound familiar? The licensed plumbers at Experts In Your Home thought so and put their heads – and wrenches – together to devise a plumbing safety check that virtually anyone can, and should, do every month. As always, if you find something amiss, call a Chico plumber right away. After all, the primary benefit of conducting a plumbing safety check is to find “five dollar” problems and fix them before they grow into bigger, more damaging problems that could cause thousands of dollars in damage.
Know thy Shutoff
Don't go any further without knowing where your home's shutoff valves are located and what they control. (If you're fortunate, you might even have a shutoff for each bathroom.) Before you begin any plumbing project – even one as small as tightening a pipe – you should take the precaution of turning off the water.
Most shutoff valves are located in the basement or behind access panels. Your home's main shutoff value is probably located close to where the main water line enters your home. If you're not certain what a valve controls, you'll have to undertake the process of elimination, close off a valve and start turning on faucets until the link becomes clear. If you'd rather, call Experts In Your Home and one of our Chico area licensed plumbers can help you.
Put that Shutoff Into Action
Turn off your water once a month and then methodically go through your home and check every pipe, in every cabinet, for drips or leaks. Check the surrounding areas, including the walls and floor, for signs of water damage, including warped or splintering wood.
This inspection can go faster than you think, especially if you split it up with someone else. If you find a leak that you cannot repair yourself, call Experts In Your Home, but by all means: don't ignore it. It will only get worse and could lead to mold problems that will cause you both health and financial setbacks.
Before you turn the water back on, put a few drops of dye in your toilet tanks. If the dye shows up in the bowl after you flush, there is a leak that ought to be repaired immediately.
Take Other Plumbing Safety Steps
- Check rooms directly adjacent to and below bathrooms. Check the walls and ceilings for water stains.
- Check the exposed drain pipes in your basement.
- Ensure that your sump pump works properly. Consider installing a back-up sump pump to protect your home from potential water damage.
- Check your crawl space for any signs of water leaks from first-floor plumbing.
- Fill a glass with water from a sink on every level of your home. Inspect the glass carefully for signs of rust in the water and call a Chico plumber immediately if you see any.
Sometimes, but not often, our plumbers have discovered a slow but persistent plumbing leak because a homeowner with sharp ears heard a dripping sound in the middle of the night. And other homeowners have asked us to perform a professional plumbing inspection because their water bills were steadily escalating even though their water usage remained consistent.
These are two other ways that you can remain vigilant about your home's plumbing all month long – and keep your home as safe and as healthy as it can possibly be.
Contact one of our expert Chico Plumbers today for help with your home plumbing.
