Plumbing Services in Suwanee, GA

Most of the repairs Alpha Plumbing and Sewer handles through its plumbing services in Suwanee gave some warning first: a damp cabinet floor, a toilet that refills on its own, a pressure reading that crept up. Plumbing does not need much attention, but it rewards a little.

Every month: a quick look and listen

• Open the cabinets under the kitchen and bathroom sinks and run a hand along the pipes and the cabinet floor.
• Look at the floor or drain pan around the water heater for moisture or rust.
• Listen for a toilet that refills when no one has used it.
• Compare the water bill with the same month last year; an unexplained jump is worth a second look.

None of this takes more than a few minutes, and it catches slow drips before they swell cabinet bottoms or stain a ceiling.

Every few months: clean the small parts

Unscrew faucet aerators and rinse out the grit that collects in their screens. Soak showerheads in vinegar if the spray has become uneven. Pull bathroom sink stoppers and clear the hair wrapped around them. Run water into any drain that rarely gets used, such as a guest tub or a basement floor drain, so the trap stays full. If the kitchen has a disposal, clean the rubber splash guard, where food film builds up and smells.

Twice a year: test what you rely on in an emergency

Turn every shutoff valve under the sinks and behind the toilets closed and open again. Valves that sit untouched for years can seize, and you only find out when water is spraying. A valve that will not turn or drips at the stem is a quick fix through faucet and valve repair. If the house has a sump pump, pour water into the pit and make sure it starts and empties the basin; sump pump service covers one that hesitates. Check the washing machine hoses for bulges or damp fittings, and confirm the outdoor sewer cleanout cap is intact.

Once a year: the water heater and the pressure

Tank water heaters benefit from yearly attention. Many manufacturers recommend draining some water from the tank to clear sediment and testing the temperature and pressure relief valve, following the steps in the heater's manual. On an older heater that has never been serviced, an old relief valve may not reseal after testing, so be ready to replace it. Gas units should also have their venting looked over. These jobs fall under gas water heater service or electric water heater service, depending on the type.

Put a pressure gauge on an outdoor hose bib once a year too. A reading that has crept upward since last time suggests the pressure-reducing valve is wearing out, and PRV service can reset or replace it before it strains everything downstream.

Every few years: the bigger checks

The anode rod inside a tank heater wears away as it protects the steel, and inspecting it every few years tells you whether it needs replacing. Washing machine hoses should be replaced on the interval the appliance maker suggests. In an older home, or one with large trees near the sewer route, a periodic sewer camera inspection catches roots or sags while they are still developing, before they cause a backup.

Keep a simple record

A single sheet of paper, or a note on your phone, makes the routine easier: the water heater's install date and model, the date the shutoffs were last tested, the last pressure reading, and any repairs. When something does go wrong, that record gives a plumber a head start and helps you decide between repairing and replacing.

When upkeep turns into a permitted job

Most of this routine involves no paperwork at all, but replacements can be different. Suwanee's building permits page calls for permits on changes to plumbing systems, water heater replacement included, though not for minor repairs, and the city's inspections staff can tell an owner whether a project needs one. When a new heater goes in, ask the installer to handle the permit and have the work finished before the inspection is booked.

Questions about plumbing upkeep in Suwanee

Does the plumbing need anything before winter?

A little. Disconnect garden hoses so outdoor spigots can drain, insulate pipes in a crawlspace, garage or attic, and know where the main shutoff is in case a pipe splits during a hard freeze. If the house has an irrigation system, have it drained or blown out according to its maker's directions before the first freeze.

How often should shutoff valves be tested?

Turning them closed and open a couple of times a year keeps most valves from seizing. Older multi-turn valves are the most likely to stick or start dripping at the stem after being moved. If one fails during your test, it is better to find out then than during a leak, and replacing it with a quarter-turn valve makes future tests easier.

Is it safe to test a water heater's relief valve myself?

Many manuals describe the test, which involves briefly lifting the lever so hot water flows out the discharge pipe. Keep hands and feet clear, since the water is scalding. On older valves, the main risk is that it will not seal again and keeps dripping, so if your heater is old, consider having the test done during a service visit.

Make upkeep easier

If you would like help setting up the routine or a once-over of the water heater, shutoffs and pressure, give Alpha a call at (404) 409-4448.