As a homeowner, you probably don’t give a lot of thought to your plumbing unless there’s a problem. If the hot water is available when you need it, the basement is dry, the toilets flush, and the sinks drain as they should, then life is good, and you don’t need to spend a lot of time thinking about the plumbing. It’s when a plumbing problem arises that you suddenly notice all those pipes and their interactions, and you tend to learn a lot about your plumbing system in a very short amount of time.

The most common plumbing problems include leaky faucets, clogged drains and toilets, pipes that are leaking or have even burst (especially after a hard freeze), water heater issues, low water pressure, toilets that won’t stop running, sump pump failures, and slow-draining sinks, to name just a few. Some of these problems are little more than mild inconveniences, while others can cause significant damage if not addressed immediately. A burst pipe or sump pump failure are perfect examples. Both of these need to be dealt with right away before they lead to major water damage and expensive repairs.

If you don’t know a lot about your plumbing system, how can you help to prevent these kinds of plumbing-related disasters around the house? The solution is simple: Get a home plumbing inspection. The typical home plumbing inspection will include a dozen or more checks for problems such as water leaks, corrosion buildup, or damage to plumbing systems and components that may be preventing them from functioning as expected and may lead to more serious trouble down the road!

As part of the Davenport Service Company VIP Preventive Maintenance Agreement, a home plumbing inspection is FREE to members. We’ll take a look at your water heater, toilets, bathtubs and showers, sinks and faucets, hose bibs, pipes, and everything else that goes into your home’s plumbing system. We’ll warn you of any trouble that’s brewing and help you prevent more serious problems before they occur.

As a longtime Olathe heating and cooling company, we know that even a minor plumbing problem can potentially result in significant damage to your home. We also know that plumbing problems can be more than a little annoying, even if they don’t lead to major damage. We also know that these common plumbing problems can be difficult to discern with an untrained eye, so having an Olathe plumbing inspection performed by a professional is a must.

Here are a few of the things we’ll do as part of our comprehensive home plumbing inspection:

1. Check the general operation of your gas or electric water heater and recommend temperature settings.
2. Check flue drafting for the water heater.
3. Inspect the water heater gas line, if applicable.
4. Inspect all floor drains to ensure that they’re clean and operating efficiently.
5. Check all drain traps under sinks in both the kitchen and bathrooms.
6. Inspect all exposed water lines for potential leaks due to slow corrosion.
7. Investigate all outside faucets to head off leaks and ensure good operation.
8. Check the entire sump pump system, including termination areas outside.
9. Look over the sump pump check valve backflow preventers and clamps.
10. Ensure maximum water pressure for indoor faucets and aerators.
11. Check the main water pressure regulators and the overall water pressure.
12. Inspect the main inlet water shutoff valve to ensure that it’s operating correctly.

In addition to conducting these important checks, we will also provide overall recommendations for your home’s plumbing system and your home’s entire HVAC system. Naturally, a home plumbing inspection is obviously of great benefit to homeowners wishing to protect their homes from water damage (and themselves from inconvenience), but an inspection can be equally valuable if you are planning to buy or sell a home. Knowing what you’re getting into—or what work a home inspection might turn up—can save you time, money, worry, and hassle as you go through the process of buying or selling a home.

How often should you have a home plumbing inspection? It’s a good idea to have a professional come to you home for an Olathe plumbing inspection once a year. If your home is particularly new, you might be able to get away with doing it every two years, instead. As with any routine maintenance, you may be able to go a long time between inspections, but every time you do, you are running a big risk.

What should you do between inspections? The best thing you can do between home plumbing inspections is to follow the advice that was given to you by the pros who did your inspection the last time. This includes keeping an eye out for signs of possible problems, including leaks, slow drains, and more. When you see something, the best recourse is swift action. An ounce of prevention is, after all, worth a pound of cure. If you have a concern, give Davenport Service Company a call, and we can address the problem quickly before it turns into a much bigger problem!

Hopefully, we’ve convinced you of the value and importance of an annual home plumbing inspection, so perhaps now is a good time to schedule a plumbing inspection for your home. Fortunately, Davenport Service Company can help. What’s more, if you become one of our VIP Preventative Maintenance Agreement clients, you won’t have to worry about such things in the future. We’ll simply take care of them when we perform your other routine maintenance, including regular HVAC tune-ups and inspections.

We believe that home plumbing inspections are an important part of your home’s regular maintenance. Whether you’re already a VIP member or would just like to learn more, call Davenport Service Company at 913-441-2222 today!