When thinking about your plumbing system, you need to first realize the number of appliances and pipes that are included in the system.

• Look for signs of leaks in exposed pipes, where pipes run through the walls or the foundation of your facility. Signs of a leak include puddles of water and watermarks.

• Look for signs of corrosion. Corrosion of pipes can cause leaks and bad pipe connections if not corrected. A sign of corrosion is green stains around brass and copper fittings and on shutoff valves.

• Test the water pressure on sinks.  Low water pressure can be a sign of sediment build up in the faucet. There also could be a problem with the water line itself.

• Check each sink drain for the speed of drainage. Slow drainage usually indicates a clog in the drain or a blocked vent pipe. Your drains should have a full swirl when they are draining. If bubbles appearing is usually a sign of a problem.

• Check the handle and the inside parts of the toilet. Flush each toilet to make sure that it is flushing properly. Check the parts inside the tank of the toilet to see if any parts are broken, rusted, and or missing. Make sure the toilet water does not continue to run after flushing.  Make sure there is no sign of water on the floor around the base of the toilet.

• Look for cracks around the sinks or near water pipes in the facility. Loose tiles can be a sign that there is, or was, a leak that has caused rotting underneath or behind the tile.

• Check the caulk around the sink.

• Check for standing water that may have dried up, that can cause mildew.

• Check each toilet in the facility to see if they are loose.

•  Check the burner chamber of the facilities water heater. See if there are any flakes of rust inside of the chamber. Also, check the flame of the water heater, which should be a blue color with no signs of yellow in the flame. If you see a yellow color, this may mean that the jets are dirty and need to be cleaned.

•  Drain the water heater to remove any sediment that may have built up over time.

• Check all of the faucets in your facility to see if there is any water coming out of the handles and valves when you turn them on.

Having and going through a checklist on a yearly or sixth month basis, you can guard your facility for plumbing issues or potential plumbing issues. Attending these issues on a monthly or bi-monthly basis can help you prevent any problems that may become worse, which can also save on more damaging projects in the facility. Therefore, taking the time to inspect your plumbing system is worth it in the long run.

*The above information and instruction of Preventative Plumbing Maintenance is informational only.  Any work or care should be done by a trained professional.*