Keeping your home safe and secured should always be a priority and there are different ways to do this. Many are quite obvious, as in the case of keeping your roof in good shape so they can withstand extreme weather and checking the door locks to ensure that they are still working. a Plumbing Inspection
Others, meanwhile, are not readily seen and at times, are not done regularly. A good example of this is your home’s plumbing system. Many homeowners hardly check their water pipes until they notice that there’s something wrong. Yet, a regular plumbing inspection should actually be considered if you want to keep your home safe and sound.
What is a Plumbing Inspection?
Plumbing fixtures, like all other household items, are susceptible to wear and tear. Some parts may need to be replaced, repaired, or maintained, but this can be a bit difficult to determine. Routine plumbing inspections can make the process easier.
As the term implies, a plumbing inspection is designed to examine your plumbing system more closely. Delaying this inspection means putting your health and your property in danger. This is because you have no idea of the actual condition of your piping system. If it’s poor, this can impact your home’s structural integrity and consequently encourage the growth of bacteria, germs and viruses.
Benefits of a Plumbing Inspection
Routine home plumbing inspections can provide you with the following benefits:
- Better Water Flow
After an inspection, you can expect a better flow of water in your home. Good water flow allows the pipes to last longer and helps prevent early or premature damage.
- Safer Water and Better Indoor Air Quality
Plumbers who make regular inspections of water filtration systems help ensure that water from your showers and faucets is safe. Home plumbing inspections can also improve indoor air quality by identifying and fixing any leaks or other issues that could lead to mold growth.
- Longer Lifespan for Fixtures
Poorly maintained plumbing fixtures will likely suffer from premature deterioration. Conversely, they will reach their maximum lifespan if they are properly maintained by an experienced plumber.
- Reduced Risks of Plumbing Emergencies
Plumbing emergencies can strike when you least expect them and cause untold damage to your property and even threaten your health. Routine plumbing inspections can reduce the likelihood of emergencies like sewage backups, valve failures, and burst pipes, among others.
- Lower Water Bills and Increased System Efficiency
Regular inspections will save you money over the long-term. Plumbers will not only repair and replace leaking faucets and damaged pipes but also improve the efficiency of your plumbing system. This reduces incidences of water and power wastage, and this results in lower monthly costs.
- Lower Risks of Costly Repairs
Like the organs in our bodies, plumbing systems are interconnected. When one part is damaged, the functions of the other parts are affected. Only a regular examination of your plumbing system can identify which part is problematic.
Without this checkup, the piping system could suffer more serious damage and you’ll probably have to face the prospects of a major and expensive repair. With regular maintenance, however, the likelihood of this happening is significantly low.
What is Involved in a Plumbing Inspection?
A home plumbing inspection includes the following:
- Water Pressure Test
The aim of the test is for plumbers to determine if you have the appropriate water pressure, given your home condition. Pressure that is too low can damage your plumbing fixtures, while pressure that is too high will lead to unwanted leaks.
- Plumbing Fixtures Examination
Plumbers inspect plumbing fixtures such as the supply lines and the drain system in order to identify problems with water flow.
- Kitchen Sinks and Drains Inspection
Because kitchen sinks and drains are prone to clogging, they are normally subjected to a thorough plumber inspection, so any potential problems can be easily identified.
- Faucet Inspection
Leaky faucets and running toilets are the two main causes of high monthly water bills. Undoubtedly, they need to be inspected to locate the source of the leak.
- Appliance Inspection
Washing appliances like clothes washers or dishwashers can sometimes waste water. Plumbers will normally include them in their plumbing inspections.
- Upgrade Requirements
Apart from inspections, plumbers will look at recommendations for upgrades of selected plumbing fixtures. These include shut-off valves and filtration system installations.
The Risks of Running Poorly-Maintained Plumbing Systems
If you have a poor and an uninspected home plumbing system, you could suffer from the following:
- Structural Damage
Leakage and excessive moisture caused by poor plumbing maintenance can infiltrate the structures of your home, including beams, slabs, foundations, columns, and load bearing walls. These reinforcements can expand and corrode until they weaken, putting your property at risk.
- Health Hazards
Poorly maintained plumbing will make your fixtures susceptible to disasters like floods and sewage backups. These, in turn, can bring germs, bacteria, and viruses that can cause diseases like:
▪ Diarrhea
▪ Cryptosporidiosis
▪ Hepatitis A
▪ Gastroenteritis
▪ Encephalitis
▪ Giardiasis
▪ Dengue Fever
▪ Leptospirosis
▪ Salmonellosis
▪ Shigellosis
▪ Typhoid Fever
▪ Poliomyelitis
▪ Yersiniosis
▪ Paratyphoid Fever
▪ Methemoglobinemia
How Often Should a Plumbing Inspection Be Done?
The condition of your home and your current plumbing system will determine how often you need to have plumbing inspections done. Experts recommend annual and scheduled inspections, but it is possible to have this more frequently if your house is older or if you have the budget for maintenance. Meanwhile, new homes should be inspected more often during the first few years.
Key Takeaway
Many homeowners hesitate to have their home plumbing systems inspected mainly because of the costs involved. They fail to realize that without an inspection, they will not know the actual condition of their water pipes and there lies the danger. A pipe could suddenly burst without warning and cause damage to your property.
Plumbing inspections are often comprehensive and will help ensure the continued safety of your home. Many plumbing companies in Denver offer this service on a regular basis and homeowners would do well to consider them so they can enjoy the benefits that plumbing inspections can provide.
