Why it’s important to build a professional relationship with a plumber…
When you bought your home, (and assuming it wasn’t a brand-new build) you likely didn’t have piping plans or know how old the piping was in the walls or roof. You likely didn’t notice the huge tree that had roots deep into the ground, running alongside and into your main water pipe or sewer pipe. You realize the house had extensions done over the years, and unbeknown to you, multiple plumbers worked there and now some rooms have hot water and others don’t. Your geyser burst and the insurance company sent out a plumber who noticed that the previous installation was non-compliant, and you are not covered. You decide to get a water tank installed but months later when the council water is out, you discover that only half the house gets water to the basins and the chap who did the installation has left the country. If any of this sounds familiar, you have likely asked yourself how things landed up like this?
Over many years, it’s quite likely that there had been many plumbers working on the water pipes and connecting new bathrooms or new water heating devices or creating new water connections. It is also possible that they had no clear understanding of the entire water system on the property or that not everyone who worked on the pipes was qualified to do plumbing work.
Much of the work that I get called to, involves having to trace pipes, remove defunct pipes and replumb parts of the house that have terrible water pressure or receive no water at all. When a qualified plumber gets to know your house, every time they are there, they will be able to diagnose and solve problems more quickly as they will be familiar with how your house has been ‘set up’. And at some point, they will be able to work on the older problems and ‘balance’ the water in your whole house, ensuring you have eg good water pressure, correct temperate set on your geyser, control of geyser electricity usage, control of water temperate and pressure from solar panels. The list goes on… But it takes having a knowledgeable, experienced plumber that you trust, to guide you on the journey of fixing historical issues.
When homes have multiple problems, it is good to have a ‘plumbing audit’ done upfront. Then, a property owner and their plumber can decide which issues need to be fixed immediately, which smaller things can be fixed by the homeowner, and what items can be fixed by the plumber in a more phased approach. This will save you both time and money in the long run.
Good plumbing is essentially about effective water reticulation in your home, allowing you to take a nice hot bath or powerful shower after a long day. It’s about having practical solutions and yet beautiful spaces in a bathroom, kitchen, or laundry area. Good quality plumbing underpins a luxurious experience, making it important to put aside the money for emergencies, preventative plumbing, and for your dream renovations!
A recent article talks about important questions to research and ask prospective plumbers. This can guide you on how to find a great plumber to work on your property.
And if you already have a fantastic plumber or plumbing company, hang on to him/her and never let them go! If you are delighted with their work, give them a review on their social pages or drop them an e-mail.
And should you decide to sell your home, it’s ideal to pass on your plumbers’ details. It will be of benefit to the new owners to have someone familiar with the homes’ plumbing who is able to advise them going forward.