5 common plumbing issues for Real Estate agents (and what to do about it)

Having a robust plumbing maintenance strategy is crucial Real Estate agents, and indeed for anyone managing a portfolio of properties.

Whether it’s commercial buildings or residential homes you look after, let’s jump into 5 common plumbing issues, and to do about it.

1. Blocked toilets

A blocked toilet can be fairly common in residential properties. Things such as wipes or even too much toilet paper can cause a blockage. In this instance, a plumber’s go-to would typically be a plunger or a plumber’s drain snake.

If the toilet is overflowing, or the issue is getting worse, you may wish to turn the small tap off that’s located under the water line behind the toilet. This will at least stop it for now. If this doesn’t work, then turn off the main water supply.

2. Water heater issues

If the water has completely stopped working, a quick fix might be enough. If you have a gas heater, for example, the pilot light may have simply gone out and needs reigniting. On the other hand, if you’re heater is electric, you may just need to flick the switch back on in the box, as it may have tripped.

It’s a good idea to get a qualified plumber to check your water heater once a year as part of an ongoing maintenance strategy. This is also recommended by Australian manufacturers. Also, if the unit is more than 10 years old and causing regular problems, you might want to consider replacing it.

3. Blocked sewer

For Real Estate agents, a routine inspection from a trusted plumber is probably the best way to go with this one. A blocked sewer generally wouldn’t fall into the ‘DIY’ bucket, and these problems can become very expensive (and complicated) if they’re not dealt with in a timely manner.

In Australia, the overflow relief gully (ORG) acts as a relief valve in the case of a sewer blockage. These drains are located outside the home, usually at the side. Watch this video for more on that. Successfully locating and diagnosing the problem of a blocked sewer is going to be much quicker and easier for a qualified plumber.

4. Reduced water pressure

If a property is experiencing restricted water pressure you’ll first want to eliminate whether or not it’s a broader problem your water supplier.

Firstly, is it a particular faucet that’s experiencing the issue, or all of them? If it’s all of them, perhaps check if your neighbours have a similar issue before engaging a plumber.

One potential ‘quick fix’ is that the water meter valve isn’t open all the way, so you might want to check that as well. Professional fixes might include flushing out the water heater (manufacturer’s typically recommend doing this annually) or even replacing corroded pipes if it’s more serious.

5. Leaky fixtures

The cause of leaking fixtures/faucets is usually because a washer needs replacing. It may be worn down or dislodged. If you’re comfortable doing this yourself it will often fix the problem. If not, it’s best to give your plumber a call.

Whilst fixtures such as taps and showerheads are properly sealed when they’re installed, that seal will eventually deteriorate over time, and so the next likely scenario will be that the current seal either needs repairing or replacing it with a new one.

In addition to any potential mess it might make, leaky fixtures can significantly increase the water bill.

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