Is your home?s plumbing up to date? Is it working as efficiently as possible? Is your entire plumbing system as risk of failing? Many homeowners are unable to answer these questions, because they simply do not know anything about their current home?s plumbing. When you purchase a home, you are often not provided with extensive information regarding the plumbing, and general plumbing inspections can only provide you with limited information. You can learn more about your current plumbing system in the following methods.

Schedule only licensed plumbers for a plumbing inspection
Low cost and affordable plumbing services may be tempting to save a couple of bucks, but you are unlikely to get the best evaluation of your plumbing without hiring licensed plumbers. Licensed plumbers are generally more experienced and thus, are better able to give you a thorough evaluation of your current plumbing needs. Most states have varying requirements to become licensed. For example, in order to obtain a plumbing license in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Health requires individuals to pass a state licensing exam after working under a licensed plumber as a licensed apprentice for a 48 to 72 month period.

Utilize trenchless visuals
Indoor plumbing dates back to at least 2500 B.C. This means that your plumbing system could be entirely updated, or it could be extremely outdated. Fortunately, you no longer have to dig up your entire yard to get a look at the current plumbing. Trenchless methods have been created to provide plumbing repairs underground without the use of digging, but can also be used to get a better view of the system. The best local plumbers are likely to offer these advanced services.

Look for common household water problems
Minor household water problems can also be an indication of a plumbing problem. Some common problems include clogged drains, water backing up in the shower, and dripping faucets. While some of these are simply small problems that can be fixed in a matter of minutes, some of them do require more advanced of plumbing work. If you find that you are regularly drain cleaning because of clogs, it may be time to schedule a plumbing inspection.

Additionally, fixing these small water problems throughout the household can reduce your water bills significantly. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10% on their water bills. When you add this percentage up over a year, or over a couple of years, you may end up saving thousands!

Have an emergency plumber on call
If you have never had any plumbing problems in your current home, it is likely that you do not have a preferred plumber on call. However, if your plumbing system is likely outdated or you are unaware of its current condition, it may also be beneficial to have an emergency plumber on call. Plumbing problems cause a lot of damage, in a very short period of time. Water cost expenses quickly rise into the thousands of dollars and can take many months to remediate. The quicker that you are able to get an emergency plumber to correct the problem, the less amount of damage that is likely to occur.

Purchasing a new house can come with a lot of surprises. The plumbing system may be one of the biggest surprises that you come across. It is best to prepare for any potential plumbing problems ahead of time. Understand your current plumbing system by scheduling a plumbing specific inspection with licensed plumbers, keeping an eye on constant minor plumbing problems, using trenchless viewing to get better images, and having an emergency plumber on call at all times. The more that you know about your plumbing system, the more prepared that you can be for any plumbing problems.