A proactive maintenance plumbing checklist should cover all the critical components of your plumbing system, including the pipes, valves, geyser and drains.
Active Leaks
Every proactive plumbing maintenance inspection should check for signs of active leaks, including water spots, moisture or puddles and the presence of mold or mildew. Unknown and unrepaired water leaks can waste thousands of litres of water a year.
Signs of Corrosion
The inspection should check for signs of corrosion on all visible plumbing pipes and the presence of limescale around water faucets and shower heads. The presence of significant corrosion could mean that your pipes are near the end of their useful lives.
Water Pressure
A building’s water pressure should be no higher than 80psi and no lower than 40psi. In building’s with multiple stories, higher water pressure is often found on the lower levels while lower water pressure can be found at the higher levels. Water pressure that is too low may cause resident complaints, while water pressure that is too high can damage your pipes.
Checking Valves for Correct Operation
All the safety and shutoff valves in your plumbing system should be tested for correct operation and any broken valves should be replaced. This ensures that you can to turn off the water to certain sections of the building, rather than turning off the building’s entire water system in the event of a major blowout.
Inspect Geyser
Your geyser should be inspected for proper temperature and any obvious leaks. The safety valves and overflows should also be tested. Safety issues should be repaired immediately.
Check Drains
All the drains in your home should be tested for flow rate. Slow drains or clogged drains should be power-rodded or hydro jetted in order to restore proper function. You may also want to consider a camera inspection of your drain lines to ensure they are in good working order and do not contain any root infiltrations and/or bellying in the lines.
Backflow Testing
All commercial buildings and large multi-unit residential buildings are required to have backflow prevention devices and annual backflow testing in order to prevent water in the system from flowing backward and/or being contaminated with other chemicals and substance.