When it comes to plumbing, most homeowners do not consider preventative maintenance. Learning how to avoid the potential cost of delaying plumbing repairs is simply a matter of routine checks to make sure everything is functioning properly.

Many individuals just do not think about the plumbing system in their home yet, they change the oil in their vehicle at regular intervals and would not think of taking a long trip without having their vehicle serviced to check for potential problems. Why is that?

Since plumbing problems, aside from a major leak or components failing, are not obvious; most do not give the plumbing in their home a second thought. This can be quite costly since there are no warning lights or red flags that pop up like the check engine light in a car. Having your plumbing system routinely checked can avoid major costly repairs for property owners.

Leaking Toilets

A leaky toilet, although not obvious, can waste up to 100 gallons of water each day. You do the math on the yearly cost for wasted water. This could add hundreds of dollars to your annual water bill and if you use a septic tank, this could mean more out of pocket expenses to repair.

A simple dye test to check for toilet leaks will let you know where the problem lies. By adding a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank and letting it sit for approximately 15-20 minutes, you will know that the culprit is the flapper valve if the dye has traveled to the bowl. A plumber can do this test in a matter or minutes or you can do it yourself for the cost of food coloring. Replacing the flapper valve can be done by the handyman or even the homeowner with minimal skills.

Leaky Faucets

Dripping faucets are more than annoying; they waste money. Three faucets dripping one drip per second would equal 17 gallons of water wasted each day. This amounts to 6,248 gallons per year. A plumber can replace a leaky faucet for a couple of hundred bucks, give or take.

Sometimes a leaking faucet can be the beginning of damaged pipes. If water is leaking in the pipes behind a hidden wall, this could amount to significant costs to remove the wall, repair the plumbing, replace the faucet, and replace the wall. Costs can increase if this is a bathtub with ceramic tile or a tub enclosure.

Maintaining Hot Water Heaters

Hot water heaters have a tendency to build up dirt and rust scale. This is why is is recommended that you have them cleaned yearly. These foreign materials can affect the pilot light or main burner and cause carbon monoxide to enter the home.

Having your home regularly inspected it not enough; you must get a Hamilton plumber, electrical, and other things around the house inspected as well. What looks fine to the naked eye may not always be the case. Knowing that your home is safe will give you a feeling of security inside and out.