I don’t think that you can go your whole life without ever needing a plumber. However, there are some things that you could do that might make the need for a plumber less frequent.
Starting with Quality Materials
First of all, if you have a well-built new system, you’re probably not going to need a plumber any time soon. When you’re building a new house, make sure that you hire a qualified plumber. This is an area in new homes where you definitely don’t want to skimp on the quality of materials. Like I said in my past blog post about setting the price of plumbing jobs, the materials are only a small portion of the overall cost. Paying just a little bit more for high-quality materials is probably going to increase the total job price by less than 5%. It’s really in everyone’s best interest to get quality materials to make sure the plumbing system will last a long time.
 Inspect Plumbing Before Buying New Home
If you buy an existing house or an older home, make sure you do your due diligence to thoroughly inspect the plumbing system. Pay attention to areas like the water heater and find out how old it is. The worst thing that could happen is to buy a home only to have the water heater go out right away. If you’ve just paid a large amount of money on the closing costs, the last thing you would want is an unexpected significant expense. It’s a good idea to hire a competent plumber to check the plumbing system upfront. A couple hundred dollars might end up saving thousands of dollars later. If you discover plumbing problems early, you might be able to use that information while negotiating the price of the home.
The underground sewer lines running outside are another area that’s often overlooked. Sometimes it might cost thousands of dollars to get them replaced. Make sure that the entire plumbing system from the water line in to the sewer line out is thoroughly inspected by a competent plumber (not necessarily a licensed home inspector). That’s a surefire way to minimize the need for a plumber as you move into your new home.
DIY May Not Be Best Option
Another way you can minimize the need for a plumber is by not working on your plumbing system if you aren’t qualified to work on it. We get so many distressed calls from people saying that a spouse or neighbor was trying to fix a plumbing problem. Now it’s leaking even worse and they need help from a professional to fix a bigger problem. In the beginning, it might sound like a great way to save money. But once someone who isn’t qualified causes the issue to snowball (or heaven forbid, cause extensive damage to occur in your home) you’ll realize why it’s a better idea to contact a qualified plumber.
When the Inevitable Happens
More than likely you won’t be able to completely avoid ever needing a plumber in your life. Because homes rely on plumbing systems every day, there will inevitably come a time when they need some attention. However, if you do the things I outlined here, you’ll minimize the need for a plumber. If you have any questions, contact us online or give us a call at 540-483-9382.
