When you live in a rented home, it is vital to know that, even if the house doesn’t belong to you, you are partly responsible for its plumbing, says Real Property Management Talent. How you treat the plumbing in your rented home can affect your quality of life and cost you money (unnecessarily).
To help you avoid actions that may complicate your relationship with the owner due to violations of the lease terms, here are ten plumbing tips you should know as a renter. Following these tips will help to prevent plumbing emergencies in your rented home.
Take a tour a tour of the plumbing
Before you move in, have the landlord take you around to show you the most vital features of the plumbing. You want to know the location of the main shut-off valve; it will let you turn off the water supply to the entire home. Knowing the location of this valve will save you money if you ever have a burst pipe.
Know the forbidden things to flush into the toilet
Your toilet drain is only equipped to handle human waste and toilet paper. Many of the items that are labeled “flushable” will block your drains. Examples of things to never flush into the toilet include sanitary napkins, wipes, dental floss, diapers, pills, paper towels, and cigarette butts.
Never pour grease or oil down the sink drain
Never let the following get into your kitchen drain; fats, oils & grease (FOGS). These will thicken inside the pipes, creating a sticky surface that traps debris. Also, do not pour starchy foods (rice or mashed potatoes), coffee grinds, eggshells, and bones into the sink drain. Once inside the drain, starchy foods absorb water and swell to many times their normal size, obstructing the pipes.
Know the signs of potential plumbing leaks
The ability to tell when there is an issue with the plumbing can help you catch problems before they become expensive. Low water pressure, discolored water, higher water bills, and lukewarm water from the water heater are just a few ways to know if the home’s plumbing is leaking. Keeping track of these signs can help you save money, especially if you pay your water bills.
Use strainers on your drains
As innocent as it appears, hair is one of the biggest causes of drain blockages. It is impossible to keep your body from shedding hair while in the shower, but you can minimize how much hair gets into the drains. You extensively reduce the risk of blockages inside those drains by installing strainers over sink, shower, and bathtub drain openings.
Learn how to use a plunger and snake
As long as the blockage is close to the drain opening, you can remove it using a plunger or drain snake. These simple tools don’t cost a lot of money. They are easy to use and will save you the fees you would have paid to a plumber for a drain cleaning service. Note that you should have two types of plungers for the toilet and kitchen drains.
Keep pipes from freezing in the winter
If the winters in your area are very cold, you will have a problem with pipes becoming frozen and bursting during that time of the year. A few precautions can help you prevent this problem. Simple steps like keeping faucets dripping and leaving the door to under-the-sink cabinets open are a few ways to solve the problem.
Never use chemical drain cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners are a quick and convenient way to clear drain clogs, but you should never use them. That is because chemical drain cleaners contain corrosives that damage the pipes in a plumbing system. Regular use of chemical drain cleaners will predispose the drain to corrosion and blockage.
Do not hesitate to call a professional
Most plumbing repairs can be solved for a fraction of the cost a renter or landlord eventually pays for them. That happens because problems are not identified and dealt with on time. Failing to address problems with your home’s plumbing only gives the issues time to get worse. If the plumbing shows signs of trouble, reach out to a local plumber.
Communicate with your landlord
Endeavor to keep the owner in the loop on issues with the plumbing. Remember that the landlord knows the history of the plumbing and understands the system’s peculiarities more than you do. Letting the owner know when you have plumbing problems can help you avoid difficulties retrieving your security deposit after you move out of the rental.
In conclusion, before you sign the lease for a house or apartment, you must clarify the lease terms as far as the plumbing is concerned. Knowing where your rights end and your responsibilities begin versus where the owner’s rights begin and their responsibilities end will help you avoid most of the problems many renters encounter.