The HVAC and Plumbing Preventative Maintenance Checklist for Your New Home
When a new home is built, home contractors will work with many types of professionals. Plumbers are professionals who are responsible for installing and assisting with the maintenance of pipelines that carry water, gas and other fluids in and out of a house. Plumbers need to work with septic companies to facilitate the ability to use the plumbing system. Septic systems are installed outside the home, while plumbing pipelines are indoors.
You may wonder, “How much to plumb a new house?” According to Forbes Business, installing plumbing pipelines in a new building can cost between $4.25 to $5.25 per square foot. If you have plumbing issues after buying a house, the same professionals who assisted with plumbing installation can help with repair of the pipelines or work with the fixtures.
When your pipelines become too old for safe use, plumbers can help with replumbing house pipelines. Replumbing a house involves removing all the old pipes. After the old pipes are removed, a professional plumber can install new pipelines in the home. The plumbers will also help with any plumbing maintenance issues that arise in the future.
At any construction site, some of the group of professionals involved are likely to be plumbers. Plumbers are responsible for installing and maintaining pipelines or other apparatuses to transport water, gas, or other fluids. Today’s modern plumbing systems require the services of workers who have the training to install them properly. Any responsible home contractor would include one or more plumbers on their team.
What is a Master Plumber?
Regarding residential construction plumbing, each team member’s training determines the team’s success. Any plumbing project would benefit from including a master plumber on the team – especially at the beginning of the project. Master plumbers have extensive training and experience and are considered the top workers in that trade. The master plumber could produce a plumbing diagram for house construction that other plumbers could follow.
About Industrial Plumbing Projects
Some plumbing companies specialize in industrial plumbing work. An industrial plumbing project would not only be larger, but will often be more complex. A large industrial building complex may feature plumbing systems requiring a coordinated design. Companies that work on industrial projects will be prepared to offer various solutions to any plumbing dilemmas.
When plumbing troubles strike unexpectedly, having a reliable plumbing company on standby is invaluable. Consider a service that offers 24-hour emergency repair, ensuring your home is safeguarded no matter the time or day. Emergencies don’t take holidays off, even on Christmas Day. That’s why knowing an emergency plumber available during the holiday season is crucial. Whether it’s a sudden leak, a clogged drain, or any plumbing mishap, having access to a plumber open on Christmas can save the day and keep your festivities uninterrupted.
In situations demanding immediate attention, like clogged drains, finding ‘a 24-hour drain cleaning near me’ is essential. Quick and efficient solutions to prevent water damage or inconvenience are paramount, especially during emergencies. Keeping with 24-hour emergency repair options gives you more options and greater flexibility to get your plumbing needs taken care of.
Prioritize your peace of mind by choosing a plumbing company that offers round-the-clock services, including emergency repairs and Christmas availability. Having access to an emergency plumber, especially during holidays, ensures that your home stays comfortable and hassle-free, no matter when unexpected plumbing issues arise. You can find services from an emergency plumber on Christmas day if you know where to look!
Access to clean water, fresh air, humidity, and temperature control are just some of the conveniences of an HVAC and plumbing system in good working condition. Consequently, any faults in your HVAC and plumbing systems and poor maintenance habits will have the opposite effect. You’re just settling into your new home. You’re not looking forward to problems with your plumbing, heating, air conditioning systems, or water damage expenses. Avoid the common pitfalls of home management using the following plumbing preventive maintenance checklist.
1. Trust the Professionals
You can’t run your home effectively without a working plumbing system. You’ll likely encounter problems with your water supply line over time, so you shouldn’t wait before hiring a professional plumbing service for routine maintenance. Before attempting a DIY plumbing fix, consider the bigger picture. What you’d consider a ‘small leak’ may be part of a larger problem with your plumbing system. You, therefore, need a licensed plumber to assess your plumbing system.
Plumbing companies have plenty of industry expertise and can offer valuable insights to help you develop a conclusive plumbing preventive maintenance checklist. You can find affordable rates, from minor and major plumbing repairs to routine maintenance. Then, there’s access to professional plumbing tools and equipment, which do the job quicker. Remember that DIY plumbing repairs also pose health and safety risks.
Without the right safety gear, you could expose yourself to toxic and flammable substances. A DIY plumbing fix could worsen the problem and lead to expensive repairs. Please work with your local plumber to spot plumbing issues in their early stages, pay less for minor repairs, and keep your plumbing system in good condition.
2. Clean Your Septic
Another important factor to consider in your plumbing preventive maintenance checklist is your new home’s drainage system. Installing a septic system is a great way to dispose of and manage wastewater, especially if you’re situated in a rural or remote area. However, your septic tank must be maintained regularly, or it could lead to several plumbing issues. Cleaning your septic tank should be a key area in your plumbing preventive maintenance checklist.
Generally, cleaning should happen every three to five years. Still, how often you clean your septic tank depends on your tank’s size and the amount of wastewater flowing into it. When your septic tank is clogged or full, you’ll start noticing problems with your plumbing and drainage and unpleasant smells around your home. Since the wastewater can’t flow out, it backs up your drainage and could contaminate your water supply.
Untreated wastewater creates a significant problem for your home and the environment. Your septic tank could also fail to work completely. You’ll be left with no choice but to consider a septic overhaul, which will cost you a lot.
Play it safe and include professional septic inspection and cleaning as part of your new home’s maintenance schedule. A septic tank is cheaper than installing drainage pipes that access your municipal sewer line. A well-maintained septic tank also increases your property’s value.
3. Incorporate Other Systems
Running your new home using clean, renewable energy has never been more affordable. Solar technology has rapidly progressed, making solar-powered equipment cheaper and more energy-efficient. If you’re looking for more ways to reduce utility bills without sacrificing comfort and convenience, consider how much you’d save with solar installation. Utility grids are unreliable and expensive in the long run. This is a good reason to incorporate solar power into plumbing and HVAC systems.
Invest in a solar well water pump system and note its impact on energy savings. Solar water pumps run on Direct Current. They are also modular, so you can upgrade to a better pump model or install more solar panels and batteries to maximize pumping performance.
Solar water pump systems have few mechanical parts and are easy to maintain. Accordingly, if you have one, include your solar water pump in your plumbing preventive maintenance checklist. Contact a trusted water well pump service to inspect your solar pump and assess water distribution efficiency.
On a similar note, HVAC systems powered by solar were previously utilized by commercial buildings. They’re now becoming popular in residential housing. Solar-powered HVACs use thermal energy directly or convert solar power into electricity. Due to the rising cost of conventional fuel sources, accessing utility grids, and climate change, solar is a cheaper and more reliable alternative to powering your HVAC throughout the year. You’ll possibly pay more for initial installation, but the returns on investment are worth the trouble.
4. Get Your Own Water
When was the last time you had access to fresh, clean water at minimal cost? You’ve possibly depended on water from a municipal source all this while. But as you’ve moved into a new home, it’s time you seriously considered the benefits of having your own water source.
Straightaway, having a private well in your new home sets the standard for convenience and a healthier lifestyle. A constant supply of clean water for your everyday needs: drinking, cooking, washing, and cleaning. A natural water source is a great resource for any homeowner.
Despite the initial cost of using local well drilling services to install a water well, including maintenance and occasional repairs, don’t let it discourage you. Owning a well has high returns on investment. You won’t have to pay huge water bills every month. Well water is also readily accessible, healthier, and tastes better.
Well water is generally safe. However, you must install a water filtration system to eliminate microbes and minor impurities. It’s, however, worth the extra expense when you consider the harsh chemical treatments that municipal water undergoes. The treatments remove essential minerals, though these minerals are abundant in well water.
Maintaining your well is vital to your plumbing preventive maintenance checklist. Sometimes, wastewater released from septic tanks or chemicals like lead leaking from plumbing lines can contaminate your well water through surface runoff. To this end, you must schedule maintenance for your well, test your water for chemical impurities, and warrant its safety.
5. Store Equipment in the Garage
Storage space is one of the main reasons homeowners seek new homes. All the same, it’s easy to bring old storage habits into your new home. You’d hardly notice, but poor storage affects indoor air quality, humidity, and temperature control. Plumbing issues will also be difficult to spot until it’s too late.
Some home designs have water supply lines running through commonly used storage spaces, like attics and basements. So, water leaking from a loose or burst pipe can extensively damage your home’s interior and possessions. In this case, your garage stands out as an excellent storage space.
A well-organized garage offers ample space to store all your home’s equipment and keep them safe, particularly those with electrical and mechanical parts. Install cabinets and overhead storage to maximize your garage’s floor space. Choose a suitable garage door design to store and access your home equipment easily and consult with professional garage door contractors.
6. Invest in the Outdoors, Too
Your HVAC, indoor plumbing, and drainage systems undoubtedly take first place in your plumbing preventive maintenance checklist. Yet, you can’t rule out the importance of effective outdoor drainage in your new home. When rainwater accumulates to form pools of water in your home’s landscape, it loosens the topsoil and causes soil erosion. Poor outdoor drainage could also create surface water runoff, contaminating your well water. It’s a sure sign you need a proper drainage system to channel water away from your home.
Investing in a gutter system is one way to fix your outdoor drainage problem. Rain gutters are ideal for redirecting rainwater and snowmelt from your home’s rooftop and emptying it through gutter downspouts. However, this water still needs somewhere to flow through. Otherwise, it will accumulate underneath your downspouts and damage your walls’ exterior. In this case, gutter drains can remove the excess water and channel it to a catch basin or a dry well.
French drains are also a great option and help drain pools of water that form after heavy rainfall. Further, rainwater carries a lot of debris and could block your drainage. Look for drain cleaning services to inspect your outdoor drainage for any blockages and perform routine maintenance.
7. Inspect your HVAC
Next on your maintenance checklist is inspecting your HVAC unit and ensuring each component operates smoothly. Start by inspecting your thermostat control system. It monitors temperature and humidity changes and controls your HVAC’s heating and cooling components. Without a working thermostat, your furnace and air conditioner can’t switch on and off. Depending on your HVAC unit’s model, you’ll have to troubleshoot your thermostat control and determine if it’s working correctly.
Modern thermostat controls have interactive features that make it easier to program your HVAC unit. Adjust your thermostat to a desired temperature level to see whether it works fine. If your HVAC unit doesn’t respond quickly or fails to start completely, replace the thermostat control system’s batteries.
Your thermostat control must also be calibrated to enhance performance. Contact your local HVAC technician to run a diagnostics test, replace old sensors, calibrate your thermostat control, and detect any hidden flaws in your HVAC. Perform routine cleaning and maintenance on other key components of your HVAC, including air filters, vents, ductwork, furnace and heat exchanger, and refrigeration unit.
8. Check Connection Points
In some modern home layouts, plumbing and HVAC systems are usually connected at the main sewer line. When your HVAC’s drain line redirects the condensed water formed in the cooling process, this condensation flows out through the sewer line, which is part of your plumbing system. Because of this connection, any problems with your plumbing could affect your HVAC unit. For instance, a clog in your sewer line could prevent the condensed water from channeling out your drain line. The backed-up moisture causes extensive water damage to your ceiling, attic, and floors.
The excess moisture also creates a conducive environment for the growth of algae and mold, which affect your health and incur costly home repair expenses. When left unchecked, your drain line could rupture at the connection point and need replacement. As you review your plumbing preventive maintenance checklist, inspect your connection points for cracks or broken joints. Condensation lines are similar to your home’s water supply line. They are made of PVC tubing, so a licensed plumber is a suitable fit for repairs.
9. Check Your Condensation Unit
When your HVAC is switched on and working properly, the condensed water formed by your HVAC’s cooling components drips into the condensate drain. The steady drips indicate your air conditioning unit is extracting moisture from the surrounding air and is in good condition. However, failure to see any drips despite your HVAC running shows a drainage problem. Check your HVAC’s condensate drain pan to figure out what’s wrong. If water has collected in your condensate drain pan, it confirms your earlier suspicions.
When condensed water isn’t drained properly, it can cause the formation of rust on your condensation drain pan. The growth of bacteria, mold, and algae also puts your health at risk. Avoid rust by replacing your condensation drain pan with a rustproof and more durable one. Always check your condensation drain pan to ensure no blockage in your drain line.
10. Check for Water Damage
While leaks in your home’s water supply line could cause water damage to your home’s interior, so too can the moisture in your HVAC’s condensation line. Like your water supply lines, condensation lines have pressure, so any cracks or tears cause moisture to seep into your flooring, walls, and ceiling. Does your flooring show signs of warping or bulging? Check for water stains on your walls and ceiling, around the base of your toilet, faucets, and plumbing appliances. Musty smells and dampness also point to water damage.
Your preferred plumbing service will offer suggestions you may have forgotten in your plumbing preventive maintenance checklist. Check your water bills for sudden spikes. Your home appliances should be inspected as well.
Moving to a new home has its perks and challenges. Putting everything into perspective as you settle in may seem an overwhelming task. It sure helps to have a working plumbing and HVAC system throughout the year.
There’s no doubt your plumbing preventive maintenance checklist is a handy guide. It will keep you up to par with maintenance routines, help you solve problems, and find better ways to be more energy efficient. You’ll also spend less on utilities and repairs while preserving your new home’s integrity.
