Emergency plumbing calls are expensive and stressful. Most of them are also preventable. In over a decade of plumbing on the Sunshine Coast, I've seen the same pattern over and over: a small issue ignored for a year becomes a major repair. A fifteen-minute annual check could have caught it.
Here's the checklist I'd use if I were checking my own home.
Hot Water System
- Check the temperature pressure relief valve (TPRV): This safety device should release water when tested manually. If it's stuck or corroded, replace it — a failed TPRV is a serious risk.
- Look for signs of leakage around the base of the tank, connections and relief valve outlet.
- Check the anode rod (in storage systems): This sacrificial component prevents tank corrosion. It should be inspected every 3–5 years and replaced when depleted.
- Consider the age: Electric storage units older than 10 years are approaching end of life. Gas continuous flow systems older than 12–15 years deserve attention.
Taps and Tapware
- Check all taps for dripping or seeping — any drip is a drip worth fixing.
- Check tap aerators (the mesh screen at the tip) for sediment build-up and clean or replace if blocked.
- Operate all isolation valves under sinks and at the water meter to ensure they turn freely. Valves that seize up are useless in an emergency.
Toilets
- Listen for a running toilet — a toilet that runs continuously or intermittently can waste 200+ litres per day. Often caused by a worn flapper valve, which is a cheap fix.
- Check the cistern water level — it should be at the marked line, not overflowing into the overflow tube.
- Check for any movement in the toilet pan — it should be solidly fixed to the floor. Any rocking can indicate a failed seal below.
Under Sinks and Around Appliances
- Open up all under-sink cabinets and check for moisture, staining or mould — a slow leak from a compression fitting can go unnoticed for months.
- Check the dishwasher and washing machine hoses — rubber hoses can crack with age. Replace with braided stainless steel hoses if they're over 5–7 years old.
- Check the overflow outlet on the washing machine and dishwasher hasn't become blocked.
Drains
- Run water through all drains and check for slow drainage — especially in showers and the laundry.
- Pour a bucket of water into floor waste drains that aren't used often — the trap can dry out and allow sewer gases into the home.
Gas (If Applicable)
- Check all gas appliance connections visually for any signs of damage or corrosion — don't touch or adjust them yourself.
- Know where your gas meter isolation valve is and how to turn it off in an emergency.
- If you notice a smell of gas at any time, act immediately — don't look for the source yourself.
Water Meter Check
This is the most useful single check you can do. Turn off every tap and appliance in your home, then look at your water meter. If the dial or digital display is moving, you have a leak somewhere. Call a plumber.
Roof Penetrations and External Plumbing
- Visually check around hot water system flues, vent pipes and roof-penetrating plumbing for signs of rust, cracking or unsealed gaps.
- After heavy rain, walk around your property and check for soft or saturated patches that might indicate an underground pipe issue.
- Check downpipe connections and make sure all stormwater is directed away from the house — not pooling against the foundation.
"Fifteen minutes a year spent on these checks has saved some of my customers tens of thousands of dollars. It's the cheapest insurance a homeowner can have."
If you'd like a professional eye on your home's plumbing, Wattle Plumbing offers property plumbing inspections that cover all of the above in detail, with a written report. Get a free quote to find out more.
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