Plumbing Checklist | Plumbing in Fort Worth

If you are a homeowner, you likely already know maintenance can take up a lot of your time. The plumbing in your home is only one of the numerous components of the home that requires routine inspection, and sometimes repairs. It is easy to overlook an item, for example, have you ever inspected the ventilation that is a part of your plumbing? Don’t feel bad if you haven’t, a large number of homeowners never do. Use the following checklist to identify problems with your plumbing in Fort Worth. Early identification and repair really can prevent potentially costly damage to your home.

Of course not every homeowner has the time or knowledge to provide a plumbing inspection. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing will be glad to provide an inspection of your plumbing in Fort Worth for you.

• Check for leaks in exposed pipes. Exposed pipes include those that run through the walls or floor or through the foundation of the home. Signs of a leak may be pooling water, wet pipes and water stains.
• Inspect metal pipes for corrosion. Corrosion can lead to leaky pipes and connections. Signs of corrosion in aging steel pipes are yellow and orange staining. Copper pipes and brass fittings will exhibit green stains on your plumbing in Fort Worth.
• Showerheads are vulnerable to hard water and sediment buildup. Over time, this can clog the showerhead leading to reduced water pressure. In addition, you may have noticed water spraying in an erratic manner when you shower. Remove the showerhead and check for sediment and buildup.
• Check the drainage of showers, sinks and tubs. Slow drainage can be a sign of a clogged drain or plumbing vent pipe. Bubbles or gurgling is a sign of a problem with a drain or vent in your plumbing in Fort Worth.
• Flush each toilet to ensure a proper flush, and that it cuts off. Inspect the parts inside of the toilet tank for signs of rust, wear, breakage or deterioration. Check around the toilet for any signs of water leakage. You can check for leakage of the flapper from the tank to the toilet bowl by dropping some food coloring into the tank water. If the color appears in the bowl the flapper is leaking.
• Test the water pressure. Water pressure is the amount of force water exhibits when leaving faucets and showerheads. Low water pressure may indicate sediment or buildup within a shower head or faucet aerator. It may also indicate a problem in a water line, or other causes.
• Check the caulking on bathroom fixtures are broken, cracked or loose caulking can lead to water damage to floors and walls, as well as mildew and mold.
• Inspect tiles in the shower, around sinks or walls near water pipes for cracked or loose tiles. This can point to a water leak that has led to damage or rot behind the tile. If leaks have occurred on upper floors, stains on the ceilings of the rooms below are likely to be visible.
• Check toilets to ensure they are firmly fastened to the floor. Be gentle, if there is any “give” in the floor surrounding a toilet on a wooden floor, rot may be present.
• Inspect the washing machine hoses for signs of cracking, brittleness, wear or leakage.
• The water heater should be drained each year at the minimum to remove sediment.
• Inspect the interior of the gas water heater burner chamber for rust or holes. The flame should be blue in color with no presence of yellow. If yellow is present the safest choice is to have a plumber to inspect it.
• Inspect around the hot water heater for any signs of a leak, such as water on the floor, water stains or water visibly leaking. An unusually elevated electric or gas bill can indicate a problem with the hot water heater.
• An unusually high water bill may indicate a water leak is present in your home’s plumbing in Fort Worth.
• Inspect plumbing vents, which are typically located on the roof. Look for blockage by leaves, bird or squirrel nests. Look for vent cap damage.

An annual or bi-annual inspection of your plumbing in Fort Worth is important for reducing the likelihood of leaks and damage to your home. If you prefer an experienced plumber to provide an inspection and plumbing service, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing will be glad to inspect your plumbing in Fort Worth, or the Arlington region and provide any necessary plumbing repair.