As a homeowner in the Macon, GA, area, protecting your plumbing with regular inspections and maintenance is important to prevent leaks and other expensive repairs. At Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, we offer our customers an in-depth, comprehensive plumbing inspection to identify potential problems before they get out of hand. Learn more about what our plumbing inspections include, their many benefits, and common issues we find here in Macon.
What Is a Plumbing Inspection?
A plumbing inspection is a comprehensive check of your home’s entire plumbing system performed by a licensed plumber. On average, a plumbing inspection takes between one and three hours to complete. If you have a large home or a lot of appliances and fixtures, it could take up to four hours or longer.
The purpose of a professional plumbing inspection is to find potential issues like corrosion, blockages, clogs, or leaks before they become more expensive problems later. The inspection also helps identify damage to pipes, fixtures, and appliances, such as your water heater and sewer line. Ultimately, the purpose of the inspection is to confirm your plumbing system, including drains, sinks, faucets, toilets, and the main water supply, is all operating as it should.
Here are some more facts about how we perform our plumbing inspections:
- One of our skilled plumbers begins with a visual inspection to look for obvious signs of damage.
- The plumber checks water pressure and runs water through fixtures to look for issues.
- In some cases, we may also use a high-tech camera to perform a more in-depth visual inspection of underground pipes and sewer lines.
Key Benefits of Regular Plumbing Inspections
Consider getting regular plumbing inspections to receive these important benefits for your home:
- Preserve water flow and pressure: A plumbing inspection is a smart way to maintain good water flow and pressure in your system. This allows water to flow smoothly and prevents damage to your pipes while also giving you the pressure you need for showering, cooking, and other household tasks.
- Find problems early: With regular inspections, our plumber can identify small issues early before they become major problems. If you don’t get your plumbing regularly inspected, you could end up with major leaks, clogs, and other issues that may pose a risk to your property.
- Prolong the service life of appliances and fixtures: Your plumbing, fixtures, and appliances can break down due to corrosion, clogs, or general wear and tear. With an inspection, you can find various issues and fix them to keep everything in your home running smoothly for longer.
- Reduce water bills: A thorough plumbing inspection helps you find leaks that could cause your water bill to be higher than normal. When you have proper water flow and healthy pipes and drains, your appliances and fixtures run more efficiently to prevent waste.
- Fight odors: A clogged drain may lead to foul odors inside your home. However, when a plumber identifies and removes blockages during the inspection, it prevents those nasty odors from affecting your household and daily life.
- Save money: Aside from helping you save on water use, regular plumbing inspections save you money on repairs caused by leaks and damaged fixtures, pipes, or appliances. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that your home’s plumbing is in good condition.
Common Issues Detected During Plumbing Inspections in Macon
Here are some of the most common issues we detect during our plumbing inspections for Macon homeowners:
- Leaks: A leak is one of the most prevalent issues we find during plumbing inspections. Leaks are typically caused by cracked or corroded pipes, major blockages, or faulty connections.
- Clogs: We often run into clogged drains or sewer lines, which are usually caused by grease, hair, food particles, debris, or tree root intrusions.
- Rust or corrosion: Older homes in Macon may have galvanized steel pipes, which often become rusted or corroded over time, leading to leaks and a reduction in water flow.
- Incorrect pipe slopes: An incorrectly angled or sloped drain pipe can lead to major drainage issues that need correction.
- Faulty water heaters: A malfunctioning water heater may be due to a leak, rust, or issues with the thermostat, which are all commonly found during plumbing inspections.
- Low water pressure: This issue is usually caused by faulty valves, a clogged pipe, or problems with your water pressure regulator.
- Drainage problems: Poor or slow drainage is important to identify and correct since it can lead to water damage or structural issues if it’s not addressed.
How Often Should You Schedule a Plumbing Inspection in Macon?
We recommend getting a plumbing inspection in Macon at least every one to two years. If you live in a newer home, every two years is usually enough. However, older homes should have an annual plumbing inspection due to increased wear and tear, which is common with older pipes and sewer lines.
If you recently moved into a new construction home, we recommend getting a plumbing inspection after you move in. More frequent plumbing inspections are also recommended if you have large trees near your sewer lines so we can look for root intrusions.
Call Ricky Heath for Your Plumbing Inspection in Macon, GA
Don’t leave the plumbing in your Macon home to chance. The experienced team at Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling provides comprehensive plumbing inspections, repairs, and more to give you peace of mind. If you want to learn more about our many services or would like to schedule a plumbing inspection, contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the inspection finds issues with my plumbing?
If we find any issues with your plumbing during the inspection, we’ll start by troubleshooting to find the cause. Then, we’ll provide you with an accurate diagnosis and recommend the next steps to get the problem repaired.
Can I perform a plumbing inspection myself?
You can do a basic visual inspection of your plumbing to look for corrosion and signs of leaks and to confirm that important valve connections are tight. However, only a licensed plumber can perform an accurate, comprehensive plumbing inspection to find and address more serious problems that you can’t see with the naked eye.
