10 Plumbing Issues A Real Estate Agent Should Know
Plumbing problems can cause a lot of stress for buyers, sellers, and agents in the real estate industry. As a real estate agent, it's important to be familiar with common plumbing issues and have some useful tips to help your clients feel comfortable and confident during the process.
Real estate agents should be aware of the three main plumbing issues:
A minor leak in a pipe or fixture, even if it's slow and small, has the potential to cause significant harm to a structure. This can also result in the attraction of bugs, which may create unease for the buyer and cause distress for the real estate agent.
Exposed plumbing lines in cellars and basements are common in older structures, with a greater variety of piping used.
As a real estate professional, familiarizing yourself with common plumbing issues and solutions can help ease your buyers' concerns. While a licensed plumber is the ideal solution, having the proper tools and guidance can allow for successful maintenance and repairs to be done.
The cause is a washer that is torn, worn, dislodged or stuck. By turning off the water source below the sink, dissembling the faucet and replacing the washer, the drip should disappear.
Food scraps and grease congeal cause blockage in kitchen sinks. Any clogged drain may yield to baking soda and vinegar poured into the opening. With some energetic wrist action, you can use a plunger to unblock a drain or employ chemical clog removers.
Be careful with chemicals as they can damage pipes — and always wear rubber gloves and goggles.
Hair and soap scum can build up over time and slow the effectiveness of any drain. Again, the use of baking soda and vinegar, a plunger, and/or a plumber auger or “snake” will open the drain. After unclogging, a drain guard will prevent future issues.
Paper and solid waste can clog toilets, in addition to flushing other items such as wipes down the drain. The combined use of a plunger and a plumber’s auger or snake, available at any hardware store, can open the drain.
It’s wise to remember that toilets are made of fired ceramic and can crack if you use too much force.
Water running continually in a toilet tank can waste 200 gallons a day. A faulty flapper is usually the culprit, and a kit is typically available at a plumbing supply store or hardware store that will repair this annoying issue.
If hot water stops abruptly, the pilot light under the hot water heater may need to be reignited, or the thermostat may need adjusting. If a pool of water is under your hot water heater, it’s leaking and will need to be replaced.
Hot water heaters will have a date of manufacture on their label, or a serial number will indicate the age if you inquire with the manufacturer.
This can be as simple as the hot water heater’s shut-off valve not being entirely open or as complicated as a blockage in the pipes. Low water pressure is sometimes caused by sediment in a showerhead. Soaking the showerhead in vinegar or replacing the showerhead will result in a stronger flow of water.
The reset button under the sink is the simplest and most effective way to solve garbage disposal concerns. If the reset key is not available, an Allen wrench can help you make adjustments.
Tape, compounds or filler can provide temporary relief, but it is more likely that the pipe should be replaced.
The crucial question is the location of the blockage. A professional plumber can determine if the issue is from the main sewer line or in the plumbing within the responsibility of the homeowner. These repairs can be costly and involved, so it is wise to act quickly.
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