When dealing with home upkeep, the number one culprit of building maintenance and water issues is typically the plumbing system, according to industry professionals.

Rather than focus on key issues like cast line replacement and old water heaters, below is a list of recommendations (courtesy Premier Restoration Hawaiʻi) where a little effort can save some serious dollars.

1. Supply Lines

Any plumbing appliance is usually connected to a shut off via a supply line. These supply lines can range in a variety of materials. The preference is a stainless steel braided rubber hose with threaded connections. Inferior materials are often the culprit for a lot of work calls, and can easily be prevented. Either including it in your maintenance plan to replace them or simply spec them as required on all work going forward could save you from your next issue.

2. Water purification systems

For the same reasons above, it is the supply lines that often result in issues. A lot of these supply lines are made from inferior materials. Some buildings have banned them completely. If you decide to allow these systems, again, use spec only systems that have stainless steel braided lines with threaded connections.

3. Regular Drain/Waste Line Maintenance

As infrastructure ages in buildings, so do the pipes. The diameter of a cast iron pipe will decrease in diameter as the iron oxidizes. Having a regular maintenance plan with the plumbing vendor of your choice will go a long way in preventing backups and will give you an idea of the useable life left for those pipes.

4. After-the-fact Roof Penetrations / Modifications

Most quality commercial roofers will offer a substantial warranty that will become invalid if someone else does work on the roof. Company representatives say that with the recent boom in solar, “there have been a lot of otherwise completely perfect roofs that start leaking following installation of solar panels.” The solution: whenever you have work done that will modify or penetrate the roofing membrane, always have your roofer available to consult to prevent a leak and to avoid possibly voiding your warranty.

A little can go a long way in preventing property damage from occurring. While it is common to feel defeated before you even start when it comes to prevention, a few, small, well-executed steps can go a long way in preventing your next issue.