How often do you check your home’s plumbing system?

[albionplumbing]

I had a small scare last week, came home to find water pooling near the baseboard in my laundry area. It turned out to be a slow leak that had been there for weeks. The weird part is, there were no visible signs until the flooring started warping.

After getting it fixed, I realized I’ve never really done a proper inspection of my home’s plumbing. I always assumed if the taps worked and drains were fine, everything else was okay.

A plumber in Emeryville I spoke with mentioned that slow leaks and pressure issues are common in older Bay Area houses because of mineral buildup and worn-out joints. He suggested doing a full inspection every year, checking behind appliances, around the water heater, and even the main valve.

Now I’m curious, how many of you actually do this kind of preventive check? Or do you wait until something breaks before calling someone in?

[nejici]

What routine practices do homeowners follow to inspect and maintain their plumbing system — including checking for slow drains, subtle leaks, water pressure changes, or hidden clogs — and how often do you think these checks should be done to prevent costly repairs?

[CarlosPand]

The biggest mistake I made was waiting too long to deal with a slow drain, thinking it would somehow fix itself. At first it was just a little slower water flow, but soon the sink started backing up at the worst moments. I tried basic home solutions, but they only helped for a short time. Instead of guessing again, I decided to look for clear local information about proper drain cleaning and how these problems are usually handled. While reading through practical explanations and common causes, I found https://bens.plumbing/areas/queen-anne/drain-cleaning/ and decided to actually use their service. The process was straightforward, they showed up on time, explained what caused the blockage, and cleared it without rushing. After that, the drain worked normally again and hasn’t caused trouble since. Now I pay attention to early signs like slow drainage or odd sounds. My advice is simple: when a drain problem repeats, professional cleaning saves time and stress.