With all that we have to do in life our plumbing in the house will not be at the forefront of our minds.

Yet, it should not be forgotten. It is human nature to wait until the obvious happens to notice a need. “The toilet won’t flush” “The faucet is dripping” and so on. There are things to look for besides the obvious. As an example: recently I received a call from a customer about a leak from the kitchen sink to the basement. Upon arrival I noticed that the wood under the old drain line was thoroughly soaked, almost soft to the touch. It seemed that this line had been leaking for quite a long time. It was only after the water actually started to drip that it was noticed. I had to change this entire line due to corrosion. When I opened the wall behind the cabinets, I found a hole in the lateral drain the size of a dollar- not a silver dollar- the size of a dollar bill! Now it is obvious that this hole right at the bottom of the pipe had been there for many months, perhaps a year or more. The fact is, it is very easy to miss such a leak if you don’t take the time to inspect the plumbing. This kind of leak can cause serious damage, even leading to termites etc.

        So what’s the point? Take time at least several times a year to look at the pipes and fixtures all through the house. If you see anything that looks troublesome be sure not to ignore it, it could be the start of a serious problem, fix it as soon as you can. Be sure to look at your pipes, they may not be pretty, although I’m sure you agree, they’re pretty important…

                              Thanks, JJ