Increasing Your Home’s Value with Plumbing Upgrades 

If you’ve decided to sell your house, you are probably wondering how you can increase its resale value. Well, don’t worry because you aren’t alone. There are a couple of things you could do to improve your home’s value, whether you’re thinking about selling it in the next several years or within a couple of months. 

Plumbing upgrades done by a professional plumber Bergen County, NJ is perhaps one of the easiest things you can do. Here are a couple of plumbing upgrades that you can use to improve your home’s value: 

Add a Garbage Disposal 

Garbage disposals are not required. However, they’re an ideal selling point for possible buyers searching for eco-friendly approaches to lower their carbon footprint. Garbage disposal lowers the foul odors in the garbage and lowers the amount of garbage being sent to a landfill. You should call a plumber right away if you already have a garbage disposal but it makes weird sounds or gets clogged. Before you list your house for sale, you should ensure that every single kitchen appliance you have should be in ideal condition. 

Install a Dishwasher 

One of the most crucial parts of a house when it comes to selling it is the kitchen. One of the major selling points for possible buyers is having a dishwasher. Buyers need a kitchen that is easy to maintain, efficient, and clean. Thus, if you don’t have a dishwasher, the first thing that would come to mind is that the sink will be filled with dirty dishes that would add to the clutter. You can keep your kitchen appear updated if you add a dishwasher. It will also improve your home’s resale value. 

Check the Drains 

Having the drains checked, replaced, or fixed is another excellent way to boost the value of your house. This form of detail helps possible buyers know that backed-up drains are not something they’ll have to worry about. It results in long-lasting pipes if the conditions of the drains are great. This will offer peace of mind to the possible buyer when it comes to future repair expenses.  

Upgrade Fixtures 

You should replace broken and old plumbing fixtures with eco-friendly and updated fixtures. Aside from improving aesthetic appeal, it will also save possible buyers from future issues. It also helps in saving water and utility usage. A couple of eco-friendly fixtures to think about include toilets, showerheads, and faucets. For example, modern toilets utilize 1.5 gallons of water every flush. On the other hand, old toilets utilize 5 gallons every flush. Your home gets more attention if you include in the listing description that you’ve got eco-friendly fixtures.  

Remove Old Water Heater 

Nowadays, most people use tankless water heater. So, if you don’t have it, make sure you replace your old water heater with it. Buyers are searching for ways to save money on their new house. Thus, it will help boost the interest of the buyer for your house and improves your home’s value if you’ve got a tankless water heater. 

Plumbing Checklist When Purchasing a House 

It’s pretty obvious that you’ve got to check the house for any issues it might have when purchasing one. Usually, buyers check the property, its boundaries, and the titles. However, there might be things that appear fine but are really hiding an issue.  

One of these things is the plumbing. When it comes to selling a house, bad plumbing is one of the deal-breakers. Of course, nobody wants to purchase a house with plumbing issues.  

Because of this, you need to arm yourself with guidance and practical information when purchasing a house. With this, you might be able to find hidden issues and save yourself from the costs and hassles of hiring a licensed plumber near me to fix the problem.  

Here are a couple of things to look out for when buying a house: 

Sound 

You may also want to pay close attention to any weird noises when testing faucets. You should carefully listen for bubbling or gurgling sounds coming from the dishwasher, toilet, or sink.  

Do you hear any clanking, dripping, or whistling noise coming from the pipes? Do you hear banging or whooshing sounds from the pipes even if you aren’t using any faucets? This can be an indication of issues in the plumbing system. At this point, pipes might already be clogged or broken. 

Flow 

Unless there’s an issue, the flow of water should be smooth and steady. However, in general, it needs to flow out in a constant stream instead of trickling out of the faucet. This issue can be common in old houses with older plumbing system that hasn’t been properly maintained for many years. Over time, pipes can corrode, wear out, break, and leak. This could lead to the water intermittently flow out.  

Odor 

Almost every water treatment plant in states throughout the United States utilize chlorine to disinfect the water. To get rid of pathogens in the water, chlorine is added in controlled and safe amounts. Thus, it is safe for you to drink. It might change a bit the odor of water coming out of the faucet. A hit of bleach or chlorine is fine. However, the water shouldn’t have any offensive or strong smell. 

It is certainly a warning sign if you smell a foul odor that resembles rotten eggs. You shouldn’t neglect this. The unpleasant odor might mean a broken sewer pipe underneath the property or a damaged vent. Aside from being an expensive repair, it can also do a lot of damage to the home’s foundation.  

Color 

Water should be free from impurities. This means that it should be clear. It could only mean 2 things if the water has pieces of sediment in it or appears murky or brownish. First, there can be busted pipes. Second, the water supply from the municipal provider has problems that cause discoloration. There’s no way to repair the problem than to replace the damaged pipe if this is the cause. Pipes that are damaged can bring fresh water in your home and also carry with them dirt.  

 

Common Causes of Cold Shower 

Do you like having a cold shower? Of course, you do not want it, right? Nobody on the planet likes cold showers. There are a couple of things as frustrating and startling as stepping inside your shower and realizing the water is cold and it isn’t getting hot. Aside from being uncomfortable, it can also be an indication of a plumbing issue around your house.  

Obviously, if you’re having a problem with your shower, the best thing you can do is to call professional plumbers in Bergen County NJ for help. However, before you do that, here are a couple of things you should look out for first: 

Consider the Valve of Your Shower 

You know that the problem is specific to your shower if other faucets around your house have hot water. If this is your case, you might be dealing with a malfunctioning shower valve. For those who don’t know, the shower valve is the component of the plumbing system that combines cold water and hot water before it comes out of your showerhead. Small parts, such as the washer or O-ring can deteriorate over time. If this happens, it will cause the shower valve to stop properly working.  

Examine the Water Heater 

It is time for you to visit your water heater if the cold-water problem appears to be affecting your whole home. You’ve got to ensure that the heater’s pilot light is on. Also, make sure you set the temperature to around 120°F. This is the proper temperature for hot water. You’ve got to contact an expert plumber immediately if you notice any strange noises or leaks coming from the heater.  

Examine Other Faucets 

Also, it can be extremely useful to figure out if the cold water problem is affecting your entire home or if it’s simply limited to the shower. You should go around the house and examine every single faucet, such as sink faucet and tubs. The problem is probably just with your shower if the other faucets appear to be working fine. This means you’ve got to focus your attention on your shower after you perform this test.  

Check Hot Water Use 

Before getting worried too much, you’ve got to consider how much hot water was recently utilized in your house. There is a limited supply of hot water if you’ve got a tank water heater. This means that the hot water might have run out and it requires time to refill. You should wait a couple of minutes first and try your shower again if several members of your household recently used hot water.  

If you are tired of dealing with cold showers and you do not know what’s causing this problem, it is time for you to call a professional plumber to examine and repair your shower and water issue. A couple of homeowners might opt to perform DIY repairs. However, it is typically ideal to leave them to the experts. If you try to fix your shower yourself without the right tools, you might end up making the problem worse.