So you’ve just bought your first house, and you and your family are looking forward to moving in, furnishing and decorating it, and turning it into a real home.

Even through the excitement, you know it’s going to be a learning experience with potential mishaps along the way. One thing that’s inevitable with any home, whether you bought a newly constructed home or an older fixer-upper, is that sooner or later you’re going to have a plumbing problem of some kind.

However, if you take the time to recognize some common plumbing issues and learn the basics to remedy them, you can avoid more serious, and costly, situations.  Knowing how to fix some minor ones before they turn major is part of being a responsible homeowner.

Plumbing Tips For New Homeowners

• Get a plumbing inspection. If you’ve purchased an older home, it’s a good idea to hire a professional plumbing service to perform a complete inspection. They can use their experience along with special equipment and cameras to find potential problems with your system before they worsen and cause serious damage requiring expensive repairs.
• Prepare for winter weather. If you live in a region that experiences freezing temperatures in the winter, you’re at risk of your water pipes freezing and bursting, causing serious leaks and water damage. Learn the steps to take to prevent this and consider protecting your water pipes with foam insulation and/or heat tape.
• Learn to spot leaks. Some water leaks are obvious and make themselves known through spraying or standing water, but many leaks are slow and subtle, causing damage that you don’t notice until it’s extensive. Keep an eye out for stains on the ceilings and soft spots on the walls, dripping noises, moldy smells, and increased water bills. Inspect cabinets and around fixtures regularly.
• Keep a plumbing emergency kit handy. Make sure you have some basic tools and materials collected in an easy-to-reach location, including a plunger, bucket, drain snake, paper towels, sponges, pliers, hammer, and a screwdriver.
• Know where your main shut off valve is. Every home has a main water shutoff valve to turn off the water flow to the entire house, but they’re not always located in the same places. It might be in the garage, basement, or even outside. You need to know exactly where it is in case you experience a major water leak.

Knight’s Mechanical is always at your service whenever you need a plumbing professional. Contact us for a free consultation and quote.