How Routine Plumbing Maintenance Can Save You Money

Identifying and repairing problems while they are still small and manageable is one of the major financial benefits of having your plumbing system regularly maintained. A small drip from a faucet can turn into a gusher. A loose connection can go completely haywire, resulting in an unexpected disaster. But if you catch these and other potential problems early on, you can avoid big bills for not just plumbing repairs but also the kinds of expenses that accompany plumbing disasters: replacing ruined furniture and appliances, repairing walls and floors, redesigning and redoing spaces, and expending untold amounts of time and energy dealing with the aftermath. And speaking of energy: All of this takes energy, too, which means that saving on plumbing repairs also saves on the costs of the energy we use to do all this work.

Your plumbing system's maintenance frequency could depend on how old it is, the style of plumbing it uses, the water quality in your vicinity, and your household's individual usage patterns. Plumbers, however, have a general recommendation: They say you should have them come out once a year to do an inspection and maintenance check. That might seem like an unnecessary step when everything is working properly, but look at it this way: Paying for the yearly checkup is bound to save you money in the long run compared to paying for all the services of a plumbing system that's had several minor problems escalate into big ones.

The ideal method for covering the costs of plumbing repairs is to set aside part of your paychecks into a home maintenance savings fund specifically for plumbing. This would be your dedicated "plumbing fund." You can build up that savings fund at a rate that is comfortable for you. If you can stuff more money into the fund while you are in the "working" stage of your life when you receive regular paychecks, then try doing that. And once you reach a comfortable financial point, don’t forget to keep funding the plumbing repairs savings fund after you reach that financial point.

Preventing plumbing repairs that cost a lot of money can be achieved by maintaining the plumbing system with respect to its routine functions. The tasks performed during routine plumbing maintenance can catch problems that are developing and address them before they become much bigger problems that necessitate a lot of repairs. When a plumbing system is well-maintained, it works more efficiently. That means it uses less water, which translates into lower water bills. It also means that the system has fewer problems that necessitate calls to a plumbing service, which saves money.

Several factors make plumbing work pricey. To start, the know-how and specialized skills that professional plumbers possess tend to come at a high rate. This field requires a type of intelligence and aptitude that is not commonly found, even among those working in the construction trades. Plumbers follow a path that only a few are able to navigate, and they use a set of tools that—well, by law and practice—few others are allowed to handle. And those tools? Many of them are simply not found in the kits of other contractors, a fact that signals the second reason why plumbing work is so expensive: the price of materials.

Your plumbing system will run more efficiently and save you money if you maintain it on a regular basis. To begin with, check for leaks and drips (that is, any water that is not where it is supposed to be, which can also include corroded pipes and fixtures) Routine checks for leaks, corrosion, and the like, can help you avoid losing not just water but also pressure in your system. Strain every drain. Install strainers to keep debris (like hair) out of your system and use them in such a way that you (and other users of your plumbing) will not be able to make a mess in the system. You also might consider using a tablet made of a mixture of vinegar and baking soda every month to keep your system clear. Inspect your water heater. Your water heater must be in good shape to do its job efficiently. Check for leaks. If there are any, get the heater replaced. If no leaks are found, check the sediment level in the bottom of the tank and flush the tank thoroughly if more than an inch of sediment is present. Inspect your toilets. More than your other fixtures, your toilets are likely to develop leaks. As with the tank on your water heater, the tank on your toilet is a good candidate for experimentation with food coloring.

The price of a plumbing job can vary a lot, depending on the kind of work and how intricate it is. "Routine plumbing maintenance can save you money," says Jeff Teal, president of St. Louis-based Teal Plumbing, as well as the plumbing maintenance expert for the Home Improvement broadcasts of the TV show "Ask This Old House." He explains that doing some plumbing maintenance is like doing some routine maintenance on your car. It can keep small problems from turning big. Teal also stresses that doing plumbing maintenance is not really about saving money, although you often do save money.

Due to the specialized skill set and expertise required to carry out their jobs effectively, plumbers are paid well. They receive extensive training and serve long apprenticeships to learn the ins and outs of plumbing, a complex system that is anything but straightforward. They learn to ensure that what they are doing is safe, that it complies with building codes, and that it will function as intended for the duration of its designed lifespan. They also learn to troubleshoot problems, handle emergencies—like a major leak or a pipe that has burst, both of which can prevent very large and nasty damages from happening if the plumbing system were allowed to function undisturbed—and maintain the essential infrastructure that plumbing constitutes. And for that, they are paid pretty well.

You can save money over time by preventing costly repairs and plumbing problems. Regular inspections can identify minor plumbing issues like leaks or blockages before they worsen and necessitate major repairs. If you keep your plumbing system well-maintained, it will operate far more efficiently, which should reduce your water bills. Moreover, well-maintained plumbing systems have a significantly longer lifespan, so maintaining yours well will almost certainly save you the expense of replacing fixtures and appliances that you use in conjunction with the plumbing system.

Routine plumbing maintenance can prevent costlier repairs by catching issues early, like leaks or blockages, and not letting them become significant water damage or plumbing system failures. It can also enhance the efficiency of your plumbing system and do so in a way that can actually reduce your water bills. And the thing is: plumbing maintenance, for an average-sized house in this country (around 2,000 sq ft), costs less than all of this: 1. It costs less than emergency repairs. 2. It costs less than ignoring the little problems and letting them become big problems. 3. It costs less than replacing plumbing components in a system that you could have extended the lifespan of, at least until the next to-do item on your plumbing maintenance list.