Keeping a plumbing system in good condition is a bit harder than it seems. This is mostly because plumbing issues are subtle, and don’t give off warning signs until they’re pretty far along. Discovering that you have a plumbing problem after the upper floor of your house has flooded is hardly the ideal time. There are a number of steps that you can take to keep your plumbing system in good shape for as long as possible, though.
Schedule Annual Maintenance and Inspection
Because it’s not a good idea to rely on noticeable symptoms before calling for repairs, the best thing you can do to catch problems early is to schedule preventive inspection and maintenance appointments. These give your plumber the opportunity to closely examine your plumbing system, locate any developing problems, and resolve them before they have the opportunity to develop too far. This is the best way to keep your plumbing repair costs low, and extend the lifespan of your plumbing system as long as possible. Preventive maintenance can reduce the odds of a serious issue developing in your system by up to 90%, and can increase the operating efficiency of the system as well.
Because plumbing systems don’t really have a time of year when they’re put under more strain, like air conditioning and heating systems do, there isn’t really a time of year when they benefit more from preventive maintenance. If you want to get the most out of your system, though, you should at least try to schedule maintenance at the same time every year to keep things evenly covered.
Know When to Call for Repairs
Preventive maintenance and inspections can reduce the likelihood of problems cropping up significantly. However, they are not a guarantee that your plumbing system will always be healthy. There are still ways for issues to crop up in the system between maintenance appointments, and you need to know what to look for in case that happens to you. Common signs of plumbing problems include dropping water pressure, higher than usual monthly water bills, visible signs of water damage, and unusual rushing or thudding noises every time you open a tap. You should also check your water meter every once in a while, with all of your plumbing appliances turned off, to see if it’s still running. If so, that could indicate a leak in the system.
The symptoms above are just a few of the many ways that plumbing issues could manifest themselves, some of which are more noticeable than others. As always, it is better to be safe than sorry in situations like this. If your plumbing system is acting unusual in any way, it’s better to call a plumber than to ignore something potentially serious. If your system is doing something odd, contact a professional plumber you trust to take a look at it for you.
Murphy’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning offers comprehensive plumbing maintenance and repair services. If you need a plumber in Media, PA, contact us today for an appointment.
