Owning a home or managing a building is often seen as a great thing. You make your own decisions and organize your living or working space to suit your needs. But, while being in charge of your home or building is exciting, it does come with a set of responsibilities. To enjoy your home for as long as possible, you will need to know how to maintain it properly. Things like electrical, the HVAC system, and plumbing can all significantly impact how well your home or building functions. And each of them individually requires a fair bit of knowledge to maintain decently. So, we will use this article to give you a couple of tips to expand the lifespan of your plumbing system.
Different ways to expand the lifespan of your plumbing system
Before we start, it is essential to note that the plumbing system is not only a simple set of pipes. It is a full-fledged system made up of interconnected elements, each of which is responsible for its proper functioning. Therefore, if you haven’t so far, make sure to take maintaining your plumbing system seriously and do whatever is necessary to keep it in good condition.
Notice problems before they become too big
While a plumbing system can be affected by numerous issues, most of the more serious ones take time to accumulate. Massive, costly issues may take weeks to take full effect. But, instead of waiting for them to cause damage, you need to learn how to notice problems in their infancy. The common indicators that something is wrong with your plumbing include:
- Unpleasant smells
- A sudden drop in water pressure
- Discoloration of water
- A higher water bill (due to seemingly higher water usage)
- Discoloration of pipes
- Frequent sewer stoppages
- Discoloration in the sheetrock
- Loud noises in the plumbing equipment
As you can see, none of these present significant problems on their own accord. But, they are an excellent reason to check your system and see if there is a bigger problem to prevent. Know that doing so is far cheaper than waiting.
Schedule regular maintenance
Even if there is seemingly nothing wrong with your home, you should still have a plumber check your system every six months. Just because you don’t detect any issues doesn’t mean there are none. And again, it is hard to overstate the importance of discovering plumbing problems while they are relatively small. Some can become worse and worse at such a slow rate that you barely notice. Therefore, do yourself a favor and have a plumber check your home regularly.
Avoid DIY solutions
One of the things you quickly learn when dealing with plumbing is that some projects can be expensive. This is why many homeowners choose to learn the basics of DIY plumbing and tackle smaller issues by themselves. And while this is a good option for minor problems, it isn’t something you should always rely on. There is a good reason why plumbers charge so much; it’s not as easy as it looks, one wrong part could make an entire system fail, it’s not the cleanest of jobs and it’s easy to make a mistake and open a new can of worms. After all, their job requires ample skill and knowledge. So, if there is a plumbing issue and you are not sure how to fix it, don’t shy away from hiring professionals.
Buy plumbing parts in advance
An excellent way to lower the cost of plumbing services and make DIY plumbing easier is to stock up on spare parts. Learn which parts of your system are most prone to issues, and get spare ones in advance. That way, if there is a problem, you won’t have to waste precious time by going to the store and risk them not having the part. Furthermore, you can negotiate a lower cost with your plumber by providing your own spare parts. Just note, that most contractors will not provide a warranty on parts they do not provide (Rayne Plumbing included)
Help your plumber
Just because you are paying for plumbing services doesn’t mean that you should sit back and relax while they do the work. Keep in mind that most plumbers charge you by the hour. So, it can be noticeably cheaper if you help your plumber work faster. Make sure to clear the area where they are supposed to work and clearly outline the issues. If you have larger items in the way, you can store them somewhere else until the plumbing is done.
Learn what you can do
The great thing about helping your plumber is getting tips from them about maintaining your system. Simple issues like leaky faucets or clogged toilets don’t really require professional help. But you need to know what tools to get and how to use them. While working with your plumber, have them explain what they are doing and what you can do to maintain your system. The more you learn, the better.
Be cost-effective with your fixes
Cost-effective and cheap are two entirely different terms. Cheap means that you spend as little money as possible on plumbing repairs. Cost-effective means that you try to get the best value for your money. Whether you are hiring a professional to help you or trying to tackle plumbing on your own, it is important to compare quality vs. cost and make a cost-effective decision. Keep in mind the long-term implications of your fixes as a well-done fix will serve you much better than numerous cheap ones.
You should keep this cost-effective mindset in mind whenever you plan on implementing various home improvements. Whether you are trying to repair or refresh your home for little money, it is essential to understand that quality does come at a cost.
Final thoughts
If you do what we’ve outlined so far, you’ll effectively expand the lifespan of your plumbing system. Of course, no plumbing system is eternal. This is why, if you plan on buying a new home or building, it is paramount that you check the plumbing as you might need to replace it. But, even if you have a top-notch system, the only way to ensure that it serves you long and well is to maintain it properly.
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