When you purchase a home, you do your very best to make sure you know what you’re getting into. An inspection is required. You try to think of all the questions you could possibly ask. But especially for first-time homeowners, it’s impossible to think of everything.
A general inspection won’t be done by a specialist in any particular area, such as plumbing. And with the home’s plumbing mostly concealed behind walls and under floors, how can you tell whether there’s cause for concern?
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or someone with a lot of experience in home ownership, whether your house is brand-new or listed by your town’s historical society, there is always the possibility that a poor job was done with the plumbing. There are several signs you can be aware of that will help you determine whether you should call in an expert in plumbing services in Albuquerque, NM, to help you diagnose the problems and navigate solutions.
Leaks
The first item on our list may seem the most obvious, but you can’t always spot a leak if it’s in a concealed location. Keep an eye out for water damage. Also, a surprisingly high water bill is a sign that you’re paying for water that is simply leaking away and not being used.
Clogs
The layout of plumbing is important, and frequent clogs of sinks, toilets, and other drains can be a sign that the layout did not allow for wastewater to flow easily from your home’s pipes to your town’s sewer.
Noise
Water has a lot of power behind it. To control the shockwaves that happen when a faucet is shut off, water chambers are installed by skilled plumbers. If this was not done, or was done wrong, a loud rattle or bang can be heard when water is turned off.
Smells
There are a lot of ways that poor plumbing can cause unpleasant smells. First, a problem with the sewer vent can allow sewer gas to back up in your system and come out of your drains. Not only does this smell terrible, it poses a serious health hazard and needs to be addressed immediately by a skilled professional. Another possibility is cross-contamination between water lines and sewer lines, allowing what should be your fresh, clean water to become polluted with fecal bacteria. Less-alarming possibilities include leaks raising your home’s humidity, which simply amplifies unpleasant smells around the home. That humidity can also allow for something else to develop: mold.
Mold
If you have visible mold growing in your home, it can help to indicate not just that there is a plumbing leak, but also give a clue to the general area where the leak is occurring. If you can’t see the mold but smell a musty, mildew odor, there is mold growing somewhere.
Chilly Water
If you simply can’t get enough hot water, or can’t get hot enough water, it probably indicates that the water heater installed in your home was not sized properly. A larger tank water heater, or perhaps a tankless water heater, could solve the problem completely.
These problems are all distressing, but they are fixable. If you’re concerned about the quality of the plumbing in your home, a member of our team would be happy to discuss your options with you.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
