Homeowners in Las Vegas, whether they’re new to the area or have lived here their whole lives, should be familiar with residential plumbing. If you don’t want a plumbing emergency on your hands, it’s important to know what’s going on under your house. Many people are intimidated or overwhelmed with the idea of plumbing, but plumbing isn’t actually that difficult if you just learn about it.
This article will provide you with ten important facts about residential plumbing in Las Vegas so that you can be sure your plumbing is working correctly. It will also help you understand why plumbing repair is so important and what to do if you spot a plumbing issue.
1. Residential plumbing in Las Vegas is old.
Las Vegas was built quickly after World War II, around 70 years ago. This means that much of the plumbing under your house probably dates to the 1940s or 1950s, which is part of why plumbing problems are common here. Plumbing systems from those days weren’t as durable as those now designed for modern-day wear and tear. You can tell if your plumbing was installed or updated before the 90s by looking at how many 90 degree angles there are connected together in your plumbing system—if it’s more than four, this indicates an older model home and older plumbing.
2. Las Vegas plumbing repairs are expensive.
Those installed during the 1940s and 1950s were constructed with cheaper materials, meaning plumbing problems are both more likely to occur and costlier to fix. For example, leaking pipes are extremely common because pipe replacement may be required. Since plumbing is fairly complicated, this could mean hiring a professional plumbing company to do the job for you—an expense that will add up fast.
3. Repiping can save you money in the long run if done correctly.
If your plumbing needs work or repiping has been recommended by a plumber in Las Vegas, you should know about repiping (usually recommended when plumbing pipes reach over 40 years old). This process replaces all of your plumbing with new plumbing, saving you from plumbing problems in the future.
Repiping your home can save you a lot of money that would have been spent on plumbing repairs over the years, but it’s only recommended when done correctly. Make sure to hire a reputable plumbing company for this project so that the job is done right and you don’t have problems down the road.
4. Plumbing maintenance can prolong plumbing life
By checking things like pipes under your house every year or so, you may be able to avoid having plumbing problems at all. Since knowing about plumbing is half the battle, this knowledge will give you peace of mind as well as potentially save you some money. Most residential plumbers in Vegas recommend checking out your plumbing for problems once a year.
5. One plumbing problem usually leads to another and then another.
Following up on that, you should know that plumbing issues often lead to more plumbing issues. For example, if the plumbing in your house is old and falling apart, don’t expect it to run smoothly for much longer—plumbing problems almost always snowball over time. If you see an issue with plumbing under your house, such as a leak or clogged drain, this plumbing problem could mean there’s corrosion or even damage to pipes which will cause further problems down the road. And since plumbing is complicated by its very nature (it’s basically a maze of small passages), plumbing repairs can be extensive and expensive if one thing goes wrong that causes a plumbing problem.
6. Your plumbing will be the first to give you trouble if your house’s foundation is sinking.
In addition, plumbing problems can also signal that there are more serious issues going on with your home. For example, if plumbing starts failing in your house, this may mean that the foundation is shifting or that pipes were not installed properly years ago. Therefore, a plumbing issue could indicate a more extensive plumbing and the foundational issue at play under your home.
7. Some plumbing fixtures have short lifespans even when they’re “high quality.”
For example, toilets generally only last about ten years before needing replacement due to normal wear and tear from use. This can seem like a short lifespan for such an important fixture in your house, but plumbing fixtures simply do not last forever, no matter how high quality they are.
8. The plumbing in your home should be inspected at least annually for leaks or other problems by a professional plumber.
By hiring an experienced plumbing contractor, you can rest assured that the plumbing in your home—specifically under your house—is clean and functioning properly, saving you from potential plumbing disasters down the road. Remember that plumbing problems often snowball over time before you realize what’s going on, so it’s important to catch them early on (which is where the plumbing professionals come in).
9. The most common sign of water trouble is low water pressure or lack of hot water.
If you’re noticing low water pressure and/or a lack of hot water at your plumbing fixtures (such as in the shower or sink), this is often a sign that there’s an issue with your plumbing rather than something to do with your water heater. In addition, if you have problems with plumbing under your house, such as leaking trouble or clogged drains, this may cause mold or other serious plumbing issues—so it’s important to keep an eye out for these signs.
10. Plumbing repairs can definitely be expensive, but they’re worth it in the long run because plumbing problems will only get worse over time if left alone.
And lastly, even though plumbing repairs can be expensive when they happen, having plumbing issues repaired right away is more cost-effective in the long run. If you have plumbing problems, you’ll want to get them fixed immediately before they snowball out of control and become even more difficult or expensive to repair later on.
Be Sure to Always Hire a Plumbing Professional
For plumbing problems under your house, you’ll always want to hire a plumbing professional. This is because plumbing can be complicated, and plumbing problems are very extensive—in fact, you may need a large team of plumbing professionals to work on different parts of your plumbing system when there’s an issue.
If you put off having a professional perform preventative maintenance on your plumbing system, you risk:
– Plumbing problems becoming worse
– Expensive plumbing repairs down the road, which can be extensive and difficult to do for a plumbing beginner
– Mold/Other damage under your home due to plumbing issues over time
If you’re having plumbing problems in your house, don’t wait around—call an experienced plumbing contractor today! They’ll be able to assess what’s going on with your plumbing system and help you get back to not worrying about plumbing.
To summarize why residential plumbing in Las Vegas is important, homeowners should know that plumbing issues are often the first sign of bigger underlying house foundation problems. Homeowners should realize that plumbing fixtures have limited lifespans even when they’re high quality and that plumbing repairs can be expensive but are usually worth it in the end. This is because plumbing problems will only get worse over time if left alone.
With these ten important facts, homeowners should better understand residential plumbing in Las Vegas and the importance of hiring a licensed plumbing professional to perform maintenance services.