Your Yearly Plumbing Maintenance Checklist

Plumbing is an important part of every home. When it’s working properly, it’s often taken for granted. That can lead to any number of issues cropping up that will require attention (and cost money). The obvious (and easy) solution is to perform yearly maintenance on your plumbing system and hire professionals to help when you need it. 

Once a year, you should take a good look at all the plumbing in your house. In addition to scheduling a routine maintenance visit with your local plumber, you’ll want to check the following items.

General Plumbing

• Check all pipes for signs of corrosion or damage
• Make sure drains are flowing properly (watch for blockages, backup, gurgling, etc.)
• Check for leaks in faucets and handles 
• Inspect the water heater for leaks or corrosion
• Flush the water heater annually 
• Test your water pressure (if you have or can get a pressure gauge)

Kitchen

• Check the garbage disposal for leaks, obstructions, and proper operation (unplug before inspecting)
• Check for loose tiles or backsplashes that could indicate leaks
• Check the dishwasher for leaks and potential damage

Bathroom

• Check the toilet tanks for proper operation
• Examine toilet bowls to check for cracks and leaks
• Clear bathroom drains
• Clean shower heads to remove calcium buildup

You’ll also want to check any outdoor spigots, sprinklers, or other plumbing that you have, as well as the proper draining of your washing machine, which could be related to plumbing or drain problems. 

Get an Expert Inspection, Too 

And of course, once you’ve taken a good look at everything yourself, you should have a plumber come in and perform an annual maintenance inspection and check-up. They will go through all of your systems and plumbing fixtures to check for proper operation, look for potential issues, and identify things that could stand to be upgraded or replaced, even if they’re not totally broken yet. 

This inspection should only cost a couple of hundred dollars, depending on where you live and what is done. And that little investment can save you tens of thousands of dollars on major plumbing repairs. This is one system where being proactive pays big time, so be sure to take care of your plumbing with routine maintenance like what’s listed here. 

With proper maintenance and care, plumbing can last a lot longer and cost a lot less in repairs and replacements. Contact Elk Grove Sewer & Plumbing to learn more!