If you’re planning on becoming a landlord in the near future, or you’re already a landlord, then you’ll know that there are certain repairs that landlords are responsible for. One of them is plumbing. If your tenants report a problem with their plumbing, then you either need to fix it yourself or call someone out to do it for you.

But how can you save money and reduce the risk of needing to hire a plumber for your rental properties? There is one way, and it’s called plumbing maintenance. 

In this post, we’re going to help potential landlords understand what the best plumbing maintenance is to avoid costly repairs down the line. So, before you start googling ‘how to get an online rental application’ we suggest reading below!

Plumbing Responsibilities of a Landlord

So, what kind of plumbing is a landlord responsible for? Well, all of it! No matter where you are in the world, landlords tend to be responsible for providing a habitable home, and that means running water!

Though tenant rights and landlord regulations differ by state, you are generally expected to deal with any and all repairs that occur on your property. However, if you want to know the details of your state, you can look at local guidelines to ensure you’re not taking on more than you legally need to.

Top 5 Plumbing Maintenance Tips for Landlords

If you’re looking to avoid costly repairs for your rental property, then there are a few things that you (and your tenants) should be doing to ensure that all is in working order with the plumbing. These are as follows.

1. Create a maintenance schedule

To begin with, we wholly recommend making a maintenance schedule. This means creating a list of things to check and when to check them. While some aspects of your plumbing will only need spot checks here and there, you may need to do other things more often. 

If you stay on top of this schedule, you’ll likely catch any potential issues as early as possible and not have to worry about costly repairs in the long run.

We recommend adding maintenance checks to your calendar and conferring with your tenants to ensure you can access the property on the days when maintenance checks are necessary. Alternatively, you could ask tenants to do the checks if they would rather you weren’t on the property regularly.

2. Check for leaks

This probably seems like an obvious maintenance tip, but we don’t just mean obvious leaks. Check everything from pipes to radiators for leaks or signs of leakage.

Leaks can cost more money since they cause an increase in water use, and they can cause issues with the pressure of your plumbing system. If you notice a leak, fix it right away to ensure it doesn’t become a bigger problem down the line.

3. Keep the drains clear

If water has been going down the drain slowly, there could be an issue with clogging. If you or your tenants have noticed this, then unclogging them immediately can save you from bigger clogs and blockages later on.

While it can be tempting to throw a chemical unclogger down the drain immediately, consider using this as a last resort. Many chemical uncloggers actually have such harsh chemicals that they can cause damage to your pipes.

Instead, you could use a simple mix of water, vinegar, and baking soda or a physical unclogger, like an auger.

4. Check your water pressure

More often than not, issues with heating come from water pressure drops. It is important to ensure that your water pressure is at the right level at all times. Checking this will also give you a hint as to whether you have leaks or blockages in the system.

Standard water pressure is about 35 to 100 PSI, but you should be aiming for between 40 and 50 PSI in a home.

5. Schedule an inspection

Though you can do many checks yourself, scheduling a plumber to come around and check everything from the water heater to the drains to the pipes can ensure that everything is in working order.

They can also give recommendations if they notice any plumbing needing replacing soon and help out tenants if they’re doing the checks themselves.

While you may want to avoid plumbing costs, an annual inspection will ensure you avoid higher costs further down the line!

Who is Responsible for a Plumbing Bill: the Tenant or the Landlord?

Generally, a landlord will need to pay for repairs on their rental property if the issue is due to wear and tear. However, if a tenant damages the plumbing or it is caused by neglect, then there may be grounds for the tenant to pay for the repairs.  

Legally, landlords have to provide habitable accommodation, which means the onus is usually on them to ensure everything is in good working condition when it comes to the plumbing. If your tenant won’t pay for the damage they caused, you may want to seek advice for the next steps you should take.

Final Thoughts

If you’re already a landlord or about to become one, getting to grips with some basic plumbing repairs can save you in the long run. Make sure to create a schedule and stay on top of any small problems to avoid bigger ones in the future.

Guest Contributor: Megan Cruz