In the beginning of an adult relationship, your partner may be very excited about the prospect of moving in together. This excitement may carry over into the planning stages and may seem like your partner is obsessed with everything being just so. However, this may not be a good sign if there is no room for creativity or compromise on things such as plumbing repair. If your partner is being extremely specific about things like where the toilet will be placed in the kitchen, how often you should flush the toilet and the location of the pipes leading from the bathroom to the main water supply, then there may be a problem. In other words, if your partner is micromanaging every aspect of your home and expecting it to meet his or her exacting standards, there may be an underlying issue that needs addressing before moving in together becomes inevitable. There are many ways to prevent plumbing repairs during homeownership. Here are some tips on how you can avoid needing plumbing repairs in the future:
The first step toward avoiding plumbing repairs in the future is to find a reliable plumber. If your partner is renting, the landlord may have already chosen a plumber for them. However, if you are buying a home, you will be responsible for any plumbing repairs that need to be done. The best way to find a reliable plumber is to call a few local businesses and ask about their experience, rates and recommendations. It is also best to find a plumber who works on both gas and water systems. You may not have to worry about this now, but if you ever decide to switch to natural gas or solar power in the future, you will need a plumber who can handle both systems.
If there is a problem with your main water supply, you will need to shut off the water to the entire house. The location of the main water shutoff will vary depending on the type of home and property you are buying. However, if you are purchasing a condo or townhouse, it is best to find the main water shutoff inside the home. In a single family home, the main water shutoff is typically located behind the water meter. However, if the home is on a septic system, the shutoff will be on the opposite side of the house from the water meter. The location of the main water shutoff is important because it is typically a large lever-style valve that is difficult to turn by hand. If you are having a hard time turning the shutoff, you may need a wrench or other tool. If you cannot find the main water shutoff, it is best to call a plumber to come out and shut off the water supply.
The location of the sewer main may not be as important as the main water supply, but it is still something to know. The sewer main is the main pipe that leads from the sewer into the street. If the sewer main becomes clogged and backed up, there may be no way to unclog it without digging up the street. Luckily, it is not common for the sewer main to become clogged. However, it is important to know where the main sewer is located so that you can clear out the toilet if it backs up. The location of the sewer main will depend on the type of home you are buying. If you are purchasing a townhouse or condo, the sewer main will likely be in a manhole located in the backyard or alley. However, if the home is a single-family home, the sewer main will likely be a large pipe that comes up from the street and into the backyard. You may want to mark the location of the sewer main with a piece of tape so that it is easy to find if there is a problem in the future.
It is easy to get into a pattern of making sloppy or sloppy-but-convenient choices when it comes to plumbing repairs. For example, you may be used to flushing the toilet every day or two, but if you are in a long-term relationship that is not a good idea. Instead, you may want to consider setting a schedule for flushing the toilet. However, if you have been flushing the toilet every day or two for years, you may need to replace your toilet’s internal mechanism. You can avoid this by slowly adjusting the flush schedule over time until it becomes inconvenient to flush the toilet every day or two.Another example is the location of the kitchen sink. It is common to place the kitchen sink close to the kitchen countertop, but this can be inconvenient if you have a large family. You can avoid this problem by purchasing a long kitchen sink. This will allow you to place the kitchen counter further away from the wall and create more usable space.
If you have been doing your best to avoid plumbing repairs, it is possible that you may have gotten lucky. However, if you are still having problems, you may want to consider consulting an electrician or plumber for a free estimate. It is common for new homeowners to overlook small issues that can be resolved by an electrician or plumber. However, if these small issues continue to cause problems, they will only get worse. A plumber can examine your home and offer free estimates on what repairs may be needed. This will allow you to decide if it makes sense to spend money on repairs or if you should wait for another problem to arise.
Plumbing repairs are inevitable, but many of them are preventable. If you know the location of your main water shutoff, you will be able to shut off the water to the entire house in the event of a plumbing emergency. You will also be able to find the location of the sewer main, so if the toilet backs up, you can clear out the toilet without having to dig up the street. It is also important to know the capacity of your pipes, so you can avoid running them too full and risking a pipe bursting. If you put these tips into practice, you should be able to prevent most plumbing repairs. However, if you do have to call a plumber, the tips above will help you communicate with the technician about the best way to fix your problem.