How often should you get your home's plumbing inspected?

It’s a good idea to have your plumbing system inspected by a PHCC San Diego member on a regular basis to make sure things are functioning properly and identify any potential problems. As it is with most home repairs, being proactive and watching for issues before they arise can make a big difference. When left unchecked, leaks in the plumbing system can lead to major disasters and expensive repairs.

Most professional plumbers agree that a home’s plumbing system should be checked at least once every 2 years. There are instances when an inspection should happen more frequently…here are a few examples:

• When living in an older home – Older homes built before the 1960’s may have plumbing systems that include steel pipes. Back in those days, steel was used because of its strength. Little did builders know that those steel pipes could actually begin to deteriorate over time. This can lead to leaks, bursts and lead in the water supply.
• Properties with mature trees – Large trees that have been growing for many years have an extensive root system underground that is not always easy to see or track. Growing roots can be very powerful and push right through underground plumbing pipes. Should a root cause a small leak, it may take years for you to notice, whereas a plumber would know exactly what to look for.
• Moving into a new home – If you just recently purchased a home, it’s probably a good idea to have a thorough plumbing inspection by someone other than a home inspector. It’s the little things that can be easily overlooked and cause problems down the road.

When choosing a plumber to provide a thorough inspection of your plumbing system, be sure you choose a PHCC San Diego member who has experience to back up their reputation. You’ll want a plumbing company that is qualified and familiar with the techniques and tools necessary to deliver a top-notch inspection. Contact PHCC San Diego at 858.693.3855 for a list of several excellent PHCC plumbers in your area. 

Not only will an experienced plumber be able to identify potential problems in the system, but they will also check that your plumbing is up to code and using parts of appropriate quality. Some people will try to handle plumbing fixes on their own, successfully buying time with a temporary fix, but one that is full of code violations. If you were to purchase a home from someone who had attempted to do all of their own plumbing repairs, a thorough plumbing inspection would help to identify these issues so you could have them fixed correctly.