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Common Plumbing Issues That Beaverton Landlords Must Be Aware Of

Property Management and Tenant Placement

Common Plumbing Issues That Beaverton Landlords Must Be Aware Of

beaverton landlords

Plumbing is one of the biggest maintenance problems that Beaverton landlords face and these problems can range from mild to extreme.

Thankfully, landlords in Beaverton can be prepared for plumbing issues before they arise by preparing in advance for those issues before they occur.

Common Plumbing Issues Beaverton Landlords Should Watch For

Clogged Drains – The #1 plumbing issue that Beaverton landlords should watch for because homes of all sizes are bound to have at least one clogged drain during the year.

Clogged drains can occur for a variety of reasons including flushing too much toilet paper down the drain or flushing other things that may be causing the toilet to clog.

The key to success with avoiding plumbing issues at a rental property is to take preventative measures now to prevent clogged drains.

  • Tell tenants flushing toilet paper and other items is prohibited.
  • Have the rental property mainline cleaned at least once a year.
  • Invest in over-the-counter drain cleaners every 6 months to dump down every drain in the house
  • Purchase a high-quality plunger for each toilet in the home so that tenants can plunge toilets themselves to remove clogs.

Leaky Faucets – Let’s face it, leaky faucets often don’t seem like they are a big deal but the reality is that one leaky faucet, or toilet that’s running all the time, can result in a high-water bill for the tenant.

When a rental property has a leaky faucet, the landlord should deal with it immediately because, it’s not uncommon for a leaky faucet to lead the landlord to other plumbing issues that need to be resolve.

Leaky pipes should also be fixed immediately as well because one leaky pipe can cause severe damage for the entire house if it’s not resolved quickly.

Tenants should be made aware of where the water shut off valve is located for their rental property so that they can easily shut the water off themselves instead of having to dry their property out when the leak has been resolved and also face tens of thousands of dollars in damages.

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What Should Tenants Do When there’s a Plumbing Emergency?

Unfortunately, Beaverton landlords have to count on tenants to report any plumbing issues within the rental home. Sometimes, this means that they aren’t reported or taken care of right away, which can lead to damage within the rental. That said, it’s essential to clearly state maintenance protocols in your lease agreement so that someone can take care of them promptly.

So, how should tenants typically handle a plumbing issue? Here are a few steps to take as soon as an issue arises within your rental.

  1. Identify the Plumbing Problem
  2. Contact Your Landlord Immediately
  3. Clean Up Any Water Puddles or Leaks
  4. Refrain from Running Water Until it’s Fixed
  5. Wait for Maintenance to Come and Fix the Problem

Tenants may be able to solve plumbing issues on their own sometimes. However, if the problem is too out of hand, it’s crucial to call in a professional maintenance team for assistance. Otherwise, you may end up with more damage than you started with.

How Landlords Can Quickly Take Care of Plumbing Issues

Some Beaverton landlords don’t live near their rental properties or aren’t available to come and fix plumbing issues at any time of the day. So, how can landlords take care of maintenance issues quickly and efficiently? Luckily, you don’t have to be present for your plumbing problems to get fixed.

The first step to finding a reputable maintenance company is finding a top-notch rental property team. With a trusted team by your side, you don’t have to worry about calling maintenance for every tenant concern.

  • Tenant Screening
  • Move-In/Move-Out Reports
  • Monthly Rent Collection
  • Eviction Services
  • Lead Paint Law Compliance
  • Rental Registration
  • Monthly and Annual Financial Statements

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10 Signs Your Rental Home May Have Plumbing Issues

1. YOUR HOUSE STINKS.

If you wake up in the morning or get home in the evening and smell a foul smell in your home, like rotten eggs, human excrement or sulfur, you may have a major plumbing problem. These are signs of sewer gas seeping into your home, which is harmful to human health if it is inhaled for an extended period of time. The smell of rotten eggs is also indicative of a gas leak. In order to determine the source of the smell, you’ll need to call our plumbers so that they can come out, diagnose the problem and repair it.

2. YOUR WATER IS DISCOLORED.

If you turn on the faucets in your home and see yellow, green or brown water, your pipes may be seriously corroded and about to leak or burst. Having yellow or brown water can be the result of rust in your water pipes. Having green-colored water indicated excessive corrosion in copper water pipes.

3. YOU HAVE MULTIPLE DRAINS THAT ARE SLOW.

One slow drain isn’t usually a problem. This can indicate a hair clog, especially if the slow drain is a bathtub or shower, but having multiple slow drains usually indicates that you have a partially blocked sewer line that needs to be cleaned out.

4. YOUR PLUMBING PIPES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF WEAR.

Most homeowners don’t regularly look under their sinks and check the visible pipes in their basements, if they have a basement, but all homeowners should visually inspect all the water pipes they can see at least twice a year for discoloration. Copper water pipes that have white or green discoloration, especially around joints and seams are corroded and slowly leaking. Cast iron and galvanized steel pipes that show red patches are rusting and about to burst.

5. YOU HAVE LOW WATER PRESSURE.

Home wide low water pressure can indicate a problem with the municipal water supply, or it can indicate that you have a leak on your water main. If your home’s low water pressure is occurring alongside a high-water bill, discolored water or signs of damage on your walls, it’s time to call a plumber in order to find the causes of your low water pressure and fix the problem.

6. YOU SEE DISCOLORATION AND/OR DETERIORATING PAINT OR WALLPAPER.

Most water leaks don’t result in a sudden gush of water. Instead, they are usually slow leaks that allow water to drip constantly onto other surfaces. If you see dark rings and/or yellow, black or brown spots on your ceilings or walls, you probably have a water leak. Other signs of a hidden water leak behind a wall include peeling or bubbling paint or wallpaper.

7. YOU HAVE AN UNEXPLAINED PUDDLE IN YOUR YARD.

If you haven’t had any recent rain and notice a puddle, soft spot or sunken spot in your yard, it usually indicates that your sewer pipe has partially or completely collapsed. In this instance, you will have to have your sewer pipe replaced by a professional plumber.

8. YOUR WATER METER IS RUNNING FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

When no water is flowing in your home, your water meter’s needle or digital output should not be moving or changing numbers. If you’re home alone with all the water fixtures and water-using appliances off and you check your water meter to see that it is running, you have a water leak somewhere in your system and should call a plumber to locate and repair the leak.

9. YOUR CARPET OR FLOOR IS WET OR SAGGING.

If no one has spilled any water on your floors or taken a shower recently and you notice wet spots in your carpet or that your floor is sagging, it usually means you have a slab leak. In homes with concrete slab foundations, the water pipes and drain lines run under and through the slab. If one of those pipes is leaking, the concrete wicks up the water and deposits it on your floors from beneath your home. This can lead to mold, mildew and extensive flooring damage. If the leak goes on long enough, it can even damage your home’s foundation.

10. YOUR WATER BILLS HAVE INEXPLICABLY INCREASED.

If your month-to-month water bills are increasing exponentially, and you haven’t changed your water usage, you probably have a leak somewhere in your system. In this instance, it is best to call our plumbers so that they can come out to your home and check for any leaks that may be causing an increase in your water bills.

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Contact Rent Portland Homes – Professionals

At Rent Portland Homes – Professionals, we specialize in local property management for the Beaverton area.

Our team will save you the time and money of maintenance and manage your rental property yourself.

To learn more about the services we can offer you, contact us today by calling (503) 447-7735 or click here to connect with us online.

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