A routine plumbing check usually includes testing that the stopcock and isolation valves work, looking at visible pipework and joints for leaks or corrosion, checking taps, toilets and showers for drips or wear, and seeing how well sinks, baths and showers drain. The aim is to spot developing problems early, so they can be planned for rather than discovered in an emergency.
What is included can vary with the property, the number of fixtures and any problems you have had before.
Valves and Water Supply
The stopcock is one of the most useful things to check, because you need it to work in an emergency. A plumber can test whether it turns smoothly and shuts the water off fully, without forcing it if it is stiff.
Isolation valves under sinks, by toilets and on appliance supplies can be checked in the same way. Valves that are seized or missing can be noted for repair or fitting.
Water flow at the main taps may also be looked at, to see whether anything has changed since the last visit.
If your home has a cold water tank in the loft, its condition, lid and the pipes around it may be checked too, along with any insulation on pipes in cold spaces.
Pipework, Joints and Fittings
Visible pipes under sinks, in airing cupboards, lofts and behind bath panels where accessible can be checked for drips, damp, corrosion or poor support. Joints with crusting or staining may be marked as ones to watch.
Taps can be checked for drips or stiffness, toilets for running water or slow refilling, and shower hoses and connections for leaks. Appliance hoses for washing machines and dishwashers can be looked at for cracks or bulges.
Signs of past leaks, such as stains under sinks, swollen cupboard bases or marks on ceilings below bathrooms, can be noted as well. They may not mean there is a current problem, but they help show where to keep an eye on things.
Drainage and Outside Areas
Basins, baths, showers and sinks can be run to check they drain freely and do not gurgle. Slow drainage can be an early sign of a build-up that is easier to deal with now than later.
Outside taps, overflow pipes and visible pipework exposed to the cold can also be looked at, especially before winter.
Hot water and heating appliances are not usually part of a plumbing check like this. They need an appropriately qualified engineer.
What a Check Cannot Do
A routine check looks at what can be seen and reached. It cannot see inside walls or under solid floors, and it does not prevent every plumbing fault. If hidden leaks are suspected, a separate leak detection visit may be needed.
After the check, ask for a short summary of what was found, what needs attention now and what can be monitored.
If you would like your plumbing looked over before small issues grow, our routine plumbing maintenance visits in Oxford can check the main valves, fittings and visible pipework and give you a clear picture of their condition.