7 ways to extend the lifespan of your home’s plumbing

Moving to a new home is a happy occasion. However, there will be a lot of work to do besides settling in. One of the significant investments is plumbing. Many houses and apartments often have old plumbing that was never replaced. Also, there might be a problem that requires immediate intervention. If you are replacing the system and wish to extend the lifespan of your home’s plumbing, there are a lot of things you can do.

Train yourself to notice smaller problems before they turn into big ones

It is crucial to learn what kind of plumbing issues you may encounter in your home. Your plumbing system will send you hidden signs that something is wrong. You just need to learn how to listen. The most common symptoms you will see in case of a plumbing issue are:

• Discolored pipes;
• Unpleasant odor;
• Sudden weak water pressure;
• Unusual color of water;
• Higher water bill;

All of these and many others can signify that something is wrong, and you need to call a plumber immediately.

Do not resort to DIY fixes in case of a serious problem – always call a certified plumber

The prices of plumbing services are not always affordable. Because of that, you might resort to DIYing and try to fix the problem on your own. While that can work for some minor issues, if you try to fix something serious, you might cause a flood. It pays off more to hire a plumber than to spend money on fixing water damage around the house and eventually calling the plumber either way. There are many dangers of DIY plumbing projects, so think twice before attempting anything on your own.

Caption: Whenever you are not sure what the problem is, always call a certified plumber.

Alt-tag: A plumber fixing a sink in a kitchen.

Schedule regular maintenance of the entire plumbing system

Plumbing maintenance should be just like going to the doctor’s office. Do not wait for a problem to appear – try to prevent it proactively. Schedule plumbing maintenance every six months or once a year. If the plumber detects a potential problem, you will save a lot of money by fixing it while it is still a nuisance.

Stock up on the most used plumbing parts

To afford regular plumbing maintenance, you need to think about your finances. There are many ways to reduce the pluming bill, and good practice is to either stock up on some common parts or ask the plumber what they need to fix the problem. It is cheaper to go to the store and buy the parts yourself than to ask your plumber to buy them for you.

Caption: Buy the most common plumbing parts yourself. It is cheaper than asking the plumber to get the parts for you.

Alt-tag: A person holding plumbing parts.

Help your plumber be more efficient

Another way to help your plumber and reduce the bill is to prepare everything before the plumber arrives. They usually charge by the hour, so don’t wait for them to come so you can start moving the cabinetry or the washing machine so they can have access to pipes. Ask the plumber what they need to look at, and clear the space before they arrive. If you are doing major repairs and need to move some of the stuff out of the house, find professionals to help you. Local movers in NYC have storage units, and they can quickly come, take your stuff, and return it once the plumbing project is done.

Learn what you can do on your own

There are some easy plumbing repairs you can do on your own. If you learn how to do them properly, you can fix many minor problems as soon as they appear. Things you can fix around the house are:

• Low pressure due to limestone in the pipes;
• A leaky faucet;
• Running water in the toilet;
• Replacing the toilet flush handle;

These are easy fixes, and you can save a lot of time and money if you learn how to repair them. However, if you don’t want to mess with the things you are not familiar with, it is better to call a plumber, even if you have smaller problems like these.

Caption: A leaky faucet is something you can fix on your own as soon as it happens.

Alt-tag: A leaky faucet.

If you decide to do some DIY plumbing around the house, it is crucial to buy a plumbing toolkit. You need to purchase a pipe wrench, adjustable wrench, basin wrench, get a tongue and groove pliers, plumber’s putty and tape, a plunger, and a toilet auger. Furthermore, find quality gloves and some old clothes to wear when doing repairs.

Do not look for cheap workarounds – it is always worth investing in plumbing

Always purchase quality parts for your plumbing. You are investing in your home, and there is no need to go cheap. Furthermore, find a quality plumber, even if it costs a bit more. It is better to call a plumber once a year and pay him a higher fee than to call a plumber ten times in 6 months. You will pay a lot more money, even if it seems you are getting a better deal.

In conclusion

Do not brush off plumbing problems thinking there is time to fix them. If you follow these seven steps, you will successfully extend the lifespan of your home’s plumbing. Furthermore, these practices will also help you save money on plumbing fixtures. Just remember, it is better to call a plumber and pay them to fix the problem than to replace the entire plumbing or remodel your home due to water damage.

Meta description: Here are 7 efficient ways to extend the lifespan of your home’s plumbing. Learn the best practices today and save yourself a lot of hassle in the future.