Small plumbing issues left unchecked can lead to costly calamity — here’s how to spot them. Photo: onurdongel.
A Canberra plumber of 25 years of experience is urging homeowners to take simple steps to ensure their happy holiday doesn’t turn into a costly plumbing nightmare.
Rydeau Plumbing managing director Ben Stapleton has seen it all, and says most plumbing disasters stem from simple, preventable mishaps.
One of the most common sources is in the laundry.
“A washing machine hose will burst and literally run until you come home to water seeping out of your front door,” he says. “It might sound dramatic, but it happens, and it can do plenty of damage.”
Turning off the water at the meter when you leave on holiday seems the obvious way to avoid the worst-case scenario, but it’s not a forever fix.
As Ben can attest firsthand, a plumbing problem can strike at any time — even while you’re home — and it doesn’t take long to cause extensive damage.
“Realistically, are you going to remember to turn the water off every time you leave the house?”
He recommends a yearly check and says summer is a great time to run a diagnostic on your household plumbing.
Not only do the holidays carve out more time for life admin and maintenance, but water usage can surge significantly, putting extra pressure on pipes.
Start with a check of any flexi hoses, including those “out of sight, out of mind” under sinks.
“You’re checking for rust spots and fraying — that’s the weak spot where it will burst,” he says. “At the first sign, you want to replace them.”
Rydeau Plumbing’s Ben Stapleton says a once-yearly diagnostic could reveal signs of impending disaster. Photo: Ben Calvert.
Summer is also a good time to clean gutters and downpipes. Importantly, this can help reduce the risk of your home going up in flames should bushfires hit.
From a plumbing perspective, if you have big downpours, clogged gutters and downpipes can lead to major blockages and runoff — possible precursors to big trouble.
“This is the classic example of little things turning into big things, because while you see leaves and debris in the gutters, it’s a different story underground, where build-up starts to undermine your plumbing infrastructure,” Ben says.
“If it causes a burst pipe underground, and water is in the ground under and around your house, you could be looking at structural damage.
“What’s worse, if damage to your home is found to be the result of poor maintenance, you might come up against issues with your insurance.”
It’s not all about avoiding disaster. Some preventive measures yield financial and/or environmental benefits.
Ben says for this reason, some people might be tempted to turn the power off on their hot-water system to avoid unnecessary power usage while they’re away. For hygiene purposes, this is not recommended.
“You’re then causing the water in the system to stagnate, and E. coli can build up in that environment,” he says.
And if you notice your water bill has crept up, and you can’t find the cause, check your irrigation.
Ben says Rydeau has seen clients’ water bills double due to leaks that aren’t easy to spot if you don’t know where to look.
“Nine times out of 10, it can be due to irrigation, which isn’t obvious to the homeowner,” he says.
You may fall into what Ben says is a common category of people who call in the plumber to give their home a once-over when they first move in, then forget about it.
“Plumbing maintenance is not set and forget. It should be done annually,” he says.
“If in doubt, get the pros in. Most will be happy to do a plumbing inspection, do some pressure tests, and report on any issues you might have before they become a big deal.”
For more information, visit Rydeau Plumbing.
