What are new home owners biggest plumbing problems?

There's a lot to think about when buying a new home. You'll no doubt have a survey done, by this won't pick up on most plumbing issues.

So what are the most common problems I hear about from new home owners?

The boiler isn't working properly.

This can be anything from hot water and heating being intermittent, right through to it not working at all, or making loud and concerning noises. It's always a good idea to have a thorough look at the boiler yourself on viewing the property, and if anything doesn't seem right, get someone Gas Safe registered to take a look before buying.

It's also a good idea to have it checked that it's been installed correctly, and therefore safe. CO leaking is a big concern, and something that's very quick to check. you should also find out when the boiler was last serviced, and if it's been over a year book it in straight away. The photo below show's how much debris can collect in a boiler over time, which is all removed during a full strip and clean service.

My house isn't getting warm enough.

You might have checked the boiler, and it's modern and in great condition, but is the rest of the system up to scratch? If the house has old radiators, and not fitted with thermostatic valves, or if the radiators are undersized, you might not get enough heat for the size of your house.

A bath takes ages to run, and the shower is slow.

This could be down to water pressure, it's a good idea to get the pipe work checked, but if all is well, you might need to contact your local water supplier.

I've got a gas fire, but my bills are enormous!

Unfortunately gas fires are just costly to run. They use a lot of gas and most of the heat goes up the chimney. It might be worth considering a replacement if the bills are outrageous.

There's a funny smell coming from my kitchen / bathroom.

This is usually a sign that a drain is blocked somewhere and your waste water isn't draining away properly. It's possible there might be a leak on the drainage pipe.

My toilet takes ages to fill after flushing.

This could be something pretty simple like a faulty filler valve. Replacing this would increase the flow to the toilet's cistern.

I want to do a loft conversion but there are big tanks up there.

If there are big tanks in your loft it might be the best option for your house. If you have more than one bathroom the system thats best for you will involve tanks. If you don't an option could be to get rid of the tanks and have a combi boiler instead, this however will only be suitable if you only have one bathroom.

The list is endless when it comes to issues with new houses, but these are the most common complaints I hear about. This won't cover everything but it's certainly a list worth going through when doing the second viewing on your new home.