When it comes to calling a plumber, many of us tend to think of it as something we only do when we know that there’s something wrong, such as a clogged shower drain or a toilet that won’t stop running. While we might not think to call a plumber when everything seems fine, it’s actually a smart idea to have your home’s plumbing regularly inspected. These routine maintenance visits can improve the quality of your home’s plumbing, prevent costly bills and maybe even save you money on your monthly water bill. Here are the nine reasons why regular plumbing inspections are essential.
1. Prevent Costly Repairs or Plumbing Emergencies
One of the biggest inconveniences is a sudden plumbing emergency, especially if that emergency results in an overflowing toilet or a leaking pipe. When you have your plumbing regularly inspected, professional plumbers can detect any potential problems and fix them while they’re still minor. Not only does this prevent plumbing disasters where you might experience damage to your home and belongings due to excess water, but it also prevents you from having to pay a lot of money for a costly repair.
2. Ensure You’re Getting the Best Water Possible
Over time, your pipes can build up with a lot of rather undesirable substances, from rust to calcium to lime. When these substances are left to accumulate in your pipes, it can negatively affect the quality of water that you and your family use and consume on a daily basis. Aside from not wanting to drink that water, you really don’t want to bathe in it. This “hard water” can cause dry hair, itchy skin and exacerbate existing dermatological conditions like eczema and keratosis pilaris. During a routine plumbing inspection, a plumber can detect any areas where your pipes may need to be cleaned or replaced due to buildup.
3. Check Your Water Pressure
If you’re experiencing inefficient water pressure, you need to have it addressed for two reasons. First, to put it simply, it’s an annoyance. Trying to shower with poor water pressure takes forever, and you might step out of the shower with the uncomfortable feeling that you didn’t efficiently get all of the soap off of your skin and out of your hair. Second, poor water pressure can actually lead to you paying more in monthly water bills as you need to run faucets for longer to get the same amount of water you would if you had better water pressure. Issues with low water pressure can be detected during a routine inspection. A professional plumber can make recommendations on how you can remedy the problem.
4. Detect Potential Health Hazards
While we don’t often think about our plumbing system as having the same potential for hazards as our electrical or gas systems, it’s important to remember that anytime you’re dealing with water, you’re dealing with the potential for mold. Not only is mold hazardous to your health, but if left undetected with the potential to grow and spread, it can be incredibly damaging to your home. Sadly, there have been homes that needed to be essentially torn down because of untreated mold that was past the point where anything could be done to remove it. This is why it’s a good idea to get regular plumbing inspections. Treating a small amount of mold is easy whereas treating a large amount of mold can be a costly nightmare.
5. Find the Little Leaks That Could Be Costing You Money
Tiny leaks that remain undetected might not drip enough water to cause any serious damage to your home, but they can cause serious damage to your wallet by increasing your monthly energy expenditure. Little leaks can mean higher water bills, which can cost you a lot of money over time. It’s considerably cheaper to hire a plumber for a routine maintenance visit, where these small leaks can be patched and sealed. If you’ve been avoiding having your plumbing inspected because you think it’s an unnecessary expense, consider what a truly unnecessary expense it is to pay extra each month due to leaks.
6. Prepare for the Next Season
It’s always a good idea to schedule your home’s plumbing inspections right around the time when the seasons are changing. This is especially true before winter, as cold weather can cause pipes to freeze and burst if they haven’t been properly maintained. During an inspection, a plumber can detect any potential problems that may occur when the weather drops and make recommendations on how to remedy the issue to avoid these problems. Just as you’d ensure your home is well-insulated before winter, you should ensure that your pipes are ready to withstand drops in temperature and harsh weather conditions.
7. Ensure That You’re Compliant With Local Regulations
As a homeowner, you want to ensure that you’re in compliance with local regulations and ordinances. Failure to do so can result in costly fines and the need for rushed repairs. During an inspection, a professional plumber can locate any issues with your plumbing that might no longer be compliant with local regulations even if they once were. While dealing with these rules can seem like an annoyance, it’s always better to fix the problem yourself before the city decides to get involved.
8. Get Recommendations for How to Make Your Home Better
Everyone wants to enjoy their home, which often means making periodic updates and upgrades. If you’ve been considering remodeling your bathroom or installing a new appliance, a professional plumber will be able to make recommendations during an inspection about whether your existing system would be able to accommodate these upgrades and what changes would have to be made. Even if you’re not sure if you want to proceed with any new plumbing project, you can get a sense of what it would entail while having your existing system inspected and checked for any problems.
9. Provide a Sense of Peace From Knowing Everything’s Working Properly
If for no other reason, get your plumbing regularly inspected so you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that everything in your home is in good working order. Being a homeowner can be stressful, as you’re always worried about potential problems or unexpected costly repairs. When you have your home’s plumbing regularly inspected, it becomes one less thing that you need to worry about when it comes to the wellness of your home and family.
At We Care Plumbing, Heating, & Air, our team is enthusiastic about regular inspections to prevent bigger problems. There’s nothing better than finding a repair that we know would’ve turned into a much costlier problem for the homeowner had it been left unattended. We also recommend regular inspections and routine maintenance for your HVAC and air quality systems.
We offer services in Southern California, including Temecula and Murrieta. Call us today to book a maintenance appointment so that you can experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing everything in your home is in good working order.
