How Often Should You Service Your Plumbing?

Most of us only think about plumbing when it fails. A yearly check is cheap and can prevent a lot of trouble.

Once a year

Look for drips under sinks, around toilets and at the hot water unit. Check hoses on the washing machine and dishwasher. Test the main tap and isolation valves so they do not seize.

Hot water

Test the pressure relief valve by lifting the lever briefly, per the maker instructions. Have gas units checked every couple of years.

Drains

Clean strainers. Pour hot water down the kitchen drain. Look for slow drains and gurgling.

Outdoors

Check taps, hoses, gutters, downpipes and stormwater pits. Clear leaves.

Gas

Have heaters serviced before winter.

Rentals and commercial

Landlords and businesses should keep a schedule and records.

Book a check

We offer maintenance visits and can fix small issues on the spot.

A simple room by room checklist

Kitchen: look under the sink for drips, check the dishwasher hose and test the taps. Bathroom: check the shower seal, run each tap and look for slow drains. Toilet: listen for running water and check the base for damp. Laundry: check the washing machine hoses and taps. Outside: check garden taps, the hot water unit and the gutters.

Things that wear out

Washing machine hoses and flexible tap connectors perish over time. Tap washers harden. Hot water relief valves can stick. Replacing them before they fail is cheap and avoids flood damage.

What a plumber looks at

During a maintenance visit we check pressure, test valves, look at the hot water system, inspect visible pipework and run the drains. We tell you what is fine and what needs attention, so you can plan rather than react.

Older homes need more attention

Homes with old galvanised pipes, clay drains or original taps need more frequent checks. A drain camera inspection every few years gives a clear picture of the sewer line.

Keep a log

Write down dates of service, repairs and part replacements. It helps the next plumber and adds value when you sell.

What a missed check usually costs

Most homeowners never book a plumbing check. They deal with a drip when it gets annoying and a blocked drain when it floods the laundry. The trouble is that plumbing failures tend to start quietly. A hose on the washing machine perishes slowly. A valve under the sink starts to weep into the cupboard base. A hot water system gets a little rust at the bottom of the tank. None of it is loud, and the first time you hear about it is when water is on the floor.

The cost difference is the point of a check. Replacing a braided hose before it bursts is a small job. Replacing a cupboard, flooring and a section of plasterboard after it bursts is not, and your insurer may ask whether the hose was past its age. A yearly look under the sinks takes ten minutes and costs nothing.

A realistic schedule that fits a normal household

You do not need a plumber every year for every part of the house. A practical split looks like this. Every few months, you look under sinks and around toilets, run the outdoor taps, and clear the strainers in the kitchen and shower. Once a year, before winter, you check the gutters and downpipes and look at the hot water system for leaks, rust and the pressure relief valve discharging. Every few years, you have the drains looked at if you have trees close to the house, and the gas appliances serviced if you use gas heaters.

Older homes and rentals need more attention than a house built in the last ten years. If the home has old galvanised pipes, old clay drains or a hot water system close to the end of its life, you are better off knowing early. Keep a note of what was checked and when. It helps the next plumber, and it helps when you sell.

Questions homeowners ask us about maintenance

Do I need a plumber if nothing seems wrong? Not every year, but a check every couple of years on older systems is reasonable, and more often for rentals. How do I know if a hot water system is on its way out? Look at its age, check for rust and water at the base, and listen for new noises. Is it worth flushing the hot water tank? Some manufacturers recommend it and some do not, so check the maker instructions for your unit.

What about the pressure relief valve? A small trickle from its pipe is normal when the system heats. If it runs constantly, get it looked at. If you are not sure whether something is normal, take a photo and ask a plumber before it becomes a bigger problem.

What it costs to skip checks

Small leaks turn into rotted cabinets and damaged floors. Hot water units that fail without warning can leave you without hot water at a bad time. A short yearly check is cheap protection.

A schedule you can follow

Every month: look under sinks and check the taps. Every six months: clear gutters and downpipes, test isolation valves, clean tap aerators. Every year: check the hot water relief valve, inspect hoses, and run a visual check of visible pipework. Every two to three years: service gas appliances and consider a drain camera check on older homes.

Signs you should not wait

Water stains on a ceiling, damp smells, a sudden rise in your bill, gurgling drains, unusual noises from the hot water, a metallic taste in the water or a change in pressure are all signs to call us promptly.

A yearly check you can do yourself, and what to leave to a plumber

Once a year, run every tap and look for drips, flush every toilet and listen for running, check under sinks for damp, look at your hot water relief valve for steady dripping, clear gutters and pits, and check the meter for movement with everything off. Write the date and what you found.

Leave gas work, hot water repairs, drain camera work and any pipe repair to a licensed plumber. A visit is also the right time to ask about the age of your hot water system, the condition of old pipes and whether any fittings should be replaced before they fail.

Talk to GSA Plumbing Services

We work across Geelong and Melbourne, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 0401 041 103 or use the contact page. Quotes are free and there is no call-out fee.