Summer Plumbing Tips, Part 1

Summer is the "home buying" season. Many new homebuyers find out too late that their dream home is riddled with water leakage or a poor plumbing system. In fact, 44% of consumers call a plumber within one year of purchasing a home. Whether you are searching for a new home or taking care of one you already own, we recommend the you do a thorough inspection and offer these helpful tips to avoid unexpected and costly plumbing problems:

Bathroom Plumbing Tips

• Check around the base of the toilet for signs of water damage (i.e.; rolled vinyl, black or white stains).
• To check for a "soft floor," stand straddled over the toilet and rock back and forth on each foot. If the floor feels spongy, it is probably rotting or weakened.
• Check to see how fast the toilet flushes.
• Check for leaky or loose tiles by pressing on the walls where they come in contact with the bathtub. If the walls are soft, water may have created damage behind the tiles.
• Provide a trash bin in the bathroom so the toilet isn't used as a garbage can. Never flush cotton swabs, cotton balls, hair, facial scrub pads, diapers, sanitary products or similar items down the toilet. These items will not easily dissolve and are responsible for most clogs.

Water Supply Piping

• Turn on water in bathtub and in the kitchen sink. If there is a noticeable reduction in water volume, the piping in the house may need to be replaced because of calcium and mineral deposits restricting water flow.
• If the home has a basement, check exposed piping for signs of leaking or recent repairs.
• Find the main line clean-out and ensure that it is accessible.

Water Heater Plumbing Tips

• Check the date of the water heater. The first four numbers of the serial number on the water heater are the month and year. Any heater over 15 years old is a candidate to be replaced.
• A rusty water tank is a sign of pending problems.

Call Roto Rooter Today

As those warm summer days approach and you have questions or concerns about your plumbing or appliances, call Roto-Rooter today at 908-756-8110.  Looking for more tips and savings on service?  Sign up for our Roto-Rooter newsletter by clicking here!