Homeowners generally know when it’s time to paint the living room or replace the carpet, but many have little clue as to when the plumbing, drainage and hot water system were last inspected, or what state they’re in. And why should they? The plumbing, drainage and hot water systems in a home are usually hidden from view, located behind walls, beneath the floors and in corners of the house that no one normally visits.
Then, one day, disaster strikes. The pipes leak. The toilet overflows. The hot water stops working. And what could have been a simple and inexpensive maintenance job turns into an expensive emergency repair that includes a great deal of stress and inconvenience.
The pattern of behavior described above is true of virtually all homes, regardless of size, location, or age. Visible things get maintained. Invisible things get ignored. And why should they not be ignored? Why fix something that appears to be functioning properly?
However, the reality is that plumbing, drainage and hot water systems don’t suddenly stop working. Rather, they deteriorate over time due to normal wear and tear and begin to exhibit signs that can be indicative of impending failure. However, the vast majority of homeowners are either unaware of these signs or dismiss them as minor inconveniences until it is too late.
The Problem with Plumbing
Plumbing is a very similar example. Everything appears to be working properly – taps turn on, drains empty, toilets flush. What is there to maintain?
But behind this appearance of functionality lies a continuous cycle of degradation. Seals begin to fail. Mineral deposits build up. Connections between pipes loosen due to thermal expansion and contraction. And none of these events happen quickly. All of these events occur gradually over time and show warning signs that are often ignored by homeowners until they cross a threshold of functionality and the system no longer works at all.
In fact, the signs of impending failure in plumbing are there for all to see. Decreasing water pressure over several months. Slower draining of the shower, sink, etc. The need to turn the faucet an additional quarter turn to fully shut off the flow of water. Hot water that lasts shorter periods of time than it previously did. All of these are indicative of developing problems and yet they are so easy to accommodate without recognizing that anything is amiss.
By the time a homeowner realizes that something is seriously wrong with their plumbing system, the problem is almost always far advanced and cannot be easily corrected.
Early Detection Makes a Big Difference
Regular inspections by a professional plumber adelaide are crucial to detect developing problems that a homeowner may not recognize as such. An example of this would be the presence of a slight discoloration around a pipe connection. Or, perhaps the hot water system is making unusual noises. Or, maybe the drains are working but not as efficiently as they once were. All of these examples are representative of the types of developing problems that preventive maintenance identifies prior to a failure occurring.
The Hot Water System Nobody Remembers About
Hot water systems may be the least remembered appliances in the home. They sit in the garage, laundry area or outside somewhere, working silently every single day to provide hot water to the household. It is rare that a homeowner can even tell you how old their hot water system is, what type of system they have or when the last time the hot water system was serviced. And then one morning there is no hot water. Or, worse yet, water is everywhere because the hot water tank has ruptured.
Like all appliances, hot water systems have a defined lifespan. Typically, electric storage systems will last 8-12 years. Gas systems may last longer, 10-15 years, provided they have been properly cared for. Instantaneous systems may last longer, but like all appliances, components of instantaneous systems wear out over time. Therefore, it is possible for many households to have hot water systems in operation that are well beyond their designed lifespan. Without knowing the hot water system’s design lifespan, however, it is difficult to determine when maintenance is required.
Not only do aged hot water systems lose efficiency, but also they require more energy to produce the same amount of hot water. Therefore, the cost of operating an inefficient hot water system is greater than that of operating an efficient system. The difference in the operating costs of a well-maintained hot water system and an inefficient system can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per year. With that kind of money available to fund routine maintenance, it is surprising that more homeowners do not take advantage of the opportunity to have their hot water systems regularly serviced.
Identifying Warning Signs of Failure
As with plumbing, hot water systems also give warning signs that they are failing before they completely fail. These warning signs may include, among others:
- Longer times to heat.
- Unusual noises, such as banging or hissing.
- Discoloration in the water when first turned on.
- Occasional dripping from the relief valve.
Each of these warnings signals represents a developing problem that can be relatively easily corrected if addressed before the system completely fails. If, however, the system is allowed to completely fail, repairing it may be significantly more costly.
Drainage – Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Drainage systems are likely the ultimate example of invisible infrastructure. The function of a drainage system is to allow all of the waste water from sinks, showers and toilets to flow away through pipes that are not visible and therefore not thought about. Because the pipes are not visible, the drainage system receives no attention until it develops a blockage, or, in extreme cases, backs up into the house and causes a mess.
One of the most common causes of blockages in older drainage systems are tree roots. Roots find small cracks or joints in underground pipes and slowly grow into them. Eventually, the roots grow large enough to create significant blockages in the pipes. Over time, the homeowner may notice that the drains are not flowing as quickly as they once were. Or, perhaps the water level in the toilet bowl takes longer to drop than it used to. Or, maybe the sink drains a bit slower than they once did. In each case, the homeowner may attribute the slowness to normal wear and tear on the drainage system. However, by the time there is an obvious clog, the tree roots have grown sufficiently large to require extensive and expensive repairs to correct.
Pipe deterioration is another reason for blockages in drainage systems. While modern plastic drainage pipes are durable and resistant to breakage, older clay or cast iron drainage pipes are prone to cracking, collapsing and developing holes. Again, the homeowner may not recognize that the pipes are deteriorating until they finally fail and the homeowner discovers that there are problems with the drainage system.
Preventive Maintenance
The idea of plumbing maintenance is vague to many homeowners. What exactly would a homeowner inspect? However, a proper plumbing inspection involves evaluating many different aspects of the plumbing system. These evaluations include assessing the water pressure at various faucets to identify potential restrictions in the system. The inspector evaluates each faucet connection point for evidence of leaks. The inspector examines the hot water system to determine its overall condition and performs tests to evaluate its performance. The inspector evaluates the rate at which water flows through the drains and inspects for evidence of developing blockages in the pipes.
While these evaluations are not complex or time consuming for someone familiar with the systems involved, they are effective at identifying potential problems before they develop into major crises. Examples of the potential savings from preventive maintenance include:
- Replacing a worn-out washer versus replacing the entire faucet.
- Adjusting the pressure in the hot water system versus replacing the system altogether.
- Clearing a partially blocked drain versus digging up and replacing portions of the drainage piping.
The financial differences between performing preventive maintenance and waiting until a problem has developed to the point of requiring an emergency repair can be dramatic. In many cases, the cost of emergency repairs is 10 to 20 times more than the cost of preventive maintenance.
When Should You Have Your Plumbing Inspected?
Many homeowners wonder how often they should have their plumbing inspected. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, it generally recommended to have your plumbing inspected at least once a year. The frequency of inspections may vary depending upon the age of the plumbing, the volume of water usage and the quality of your plumbing system.
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