Summer Plumbing Tips

Summer is the “home buying” season in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Tabb, Grafton, Smithfield, James City County, Richmond, Northeastern North Carolina, and throughout Hampton Roads.

Many new homebuyers find out too late that their dream home is riddled with water leakage or a poor plumbing system. To avoid such unexpected and costly problems, our plumbers recommend that you visually inspect any potential home for problems and offer these helpful tips:

Bathrooms

• Check around the base of the toilet for signs of water damage (i.e.; rolled vinyl, black or white stains).
• To check for a “soft floor,” stand straddled over the toilet and rock back and forth on each foot. If the floor feels spongy, it’s probably rotting or weakened.
• Check to see how fast the toilet flushes.
• Check for leaky or loose tiles by pressing on the walls where they come in contact with the bathtub. If the walls are soft, water may have created damage behind the tiles.

Water Supply Piping

• Our plumbers in Norfolk recommend turning on the water in the bathtub and in the kitchen sink. If there is a noticeable reduction in water volume, the piping in the house may need to be replaced because of calcium and mineral deposits.
• If the home has a basement, check exposed piping for signs of leaking or recent repairs and call a plumber if needed.
• Find the main line cleanout and ensure that it is accessible.

Water Heater

• Check the date of the water heater. The first four numbers of the serial number on the water heater are the month and year. Any heater over 15 years old is a candidate to be replaced.  Our plumbing company in Norfolk has replaced thousands of water heaters since 1987 and can help you too.
• A rusty water tank is a sign of pending problems and a water heater replacement may be due.

Miscellaneous

• Check to make sure that the garbage disposal and dishwasher connections are tight and leak-free.
• Survey the inside of cabinets (with a flashlight) for signs of water damage, warped cabinet bottom, or stains. Make sure that traps and supply tubes are not leaking.  If you see water damage, a plumber should be called.
• Check washing machine hoses for rupture. Turn valves on and off to test for leaks.

Standing Water

Standing water is another common problem resulting from leaky or broken pipes. Excess water in a yard may be coming from a damaged sewer line and may contain waste from the home. Standing water is not healthy for children or pets, and is a breeding ground for insects and germs. Inspect the yard for areas that are too wet and with unusual plant or grass growth.

More about our plumbers in Norfolk, Virginia Beach Richmond, Northeastern North Carolina and Hampton Roads

Since 1987, A1 Sewer and Drain has consistently served the commercial and home plumbing needs of satisfied customers in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Tabb, Grafton, Smithfield, James City County, Northeastern North Carolina, Hampton Roads, and Richmond area.  With over 35 years of work to our credit, our local plumbing company is extremely proud of its A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. 

Our Class A Contractor plumbing company has years of experience solving every plumbing emergency from a clogged kitchen sink to a water heater replacement, which means we’ve seen it all – the good, the bad and the ugly – and we will solve your plumbing problem with integrity and professionalism.