Month: June 2018

 

We understand you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your renter’s bathroom experience. We know it’s strange, but on some level, you’re responsible for ensuring they have a comfortable place to do their business. The plumbing in your investment home can be a real drain (pun intended) if you do not maintain it properly. After all, what separates an okay landlord from a great landlord is the way they maintain the property and their ability to fix problems when they arise. So, here are three plumbing tips every landlord should follow.

Educate Yourself On Basic Plumbing Repairs

How many times have you, personally, had a pipe leak or toilet clog? Now multiply that by how many rental properties you have. Even if you don’t have that many plumbing issues, chances are one of you renters will. So, when that happens it would be beneficial if you could fix the problem correctly and quickly. Know how to plunge a toilet and use a snake on tough drain clogs. This can be very beneficial, and your renters will be happy that their problem was fixed so quickly.

Give Your Renters Plumbing Tips

As a landlord, it is important for you to stay aware of any potential problems with your property. But, let’s face it, you can’t be everywhere at once. Along with your responsibility, your renters also have an obligation to take care of the space they are staying in. Don’t just assume your renters know how to care for a home or what NOT to do to their plumbing system. It is a good idea to give them some brief, friendly tips when they move in. For example, tell them to use strainers to protect the drains in the sink and showers, NEVER pour fats, oils or grease down the drain and educate them on how to avoid frozen pipes in the winter.

Know What To Do In A Plumbing Emergency

No, it’s not fun to think about. But, it is important to know what to do in the event of plumbing emergency at one of your rental properties. First of all, you should know exactly where the shutoff valve is. Then you should have a reliable plumber on hand. The professionals at Eastern Plumbing are available 24-hours to assist with any plumbing emergency. We offer fast and reliable assistance, and have been setting the standard in quality service of over 15 years. With locations in Greenville and New Bern, and servicing eastern North Carolina, contact Eastern Plumbing today for all of your plumbing needs – including repairs, remodels and installations.

 

Tiny houses are trending these days. People love the idea of downsizing, having more money to travel and just simplifying life. Many people opt to build their own tiny house and it is often a fun project. But, one part of building a tiny house that many people worry about is the plumbing. This is one big area where a tiny home is very different from a standard home. Normal houses have permanent access to water, whereas a tiny home is often built to be mobile – and there is no guarantee that you’ll always be near a water source that you can hook up to.

Getting Water To Your Tiny Home

One option for your tiny home is to have a tank and pump system. This is a practical option that will allow you the functionality of a normal home, but will also give you the freedom to live off-grid. This system involves putting a tank in your tiny home and using a pump to pressurize and circulate the water.

Tanks can take up a fair amount of space in your tiny home, so it is important to really think about what size of tank you may need. A bigger tank means you can go longer between fill ups, but it will take up more room and add weight to your home.

If you don’t plan to ever live off-grid, a hookup system may be another option. With this system, you can simply hook your tiny house up to a regular water supply, like the ones commonly found at campsites.

Hookup water source systems involve installing plumbing that can accept water through an RV hose. If you decide to use this system, your tiny home plumbing will function like any other RV.

Getting Water Out of Your Tiny Home

So now that we’ve covered options for getting water to your tiny home, what about getting water, or waste water, out of your home?

If you plan to live on the grid, the simplest solution is to hook up to an existing system. This can be a septic tank (more often in rural areas) or the public sewer system. With this option, you will need install a drainage system like the ones in normal homes.

Another option for getting waste water out of your tiny home is to collect it and dispose of it at dump stations. You could use a waste water holding tank – similar to the system a lot of RVs use. This isn’t the most pleasant or convenient option, but if you are planning to live off-grid you don’t have much of a choice.

To learn more about plumbing for your tiny home, or your normal-size home, contact the experts at Eastern Plumbing in Greenville and New Bern. We have knowledge of all plumbing systems and can help you with all of your plumbing needs.