how strict are you with plumbing checks at home?

Gotta admit, regular pressure tests every single year might be a bit overkill for most folks. In my experience, if you've got newer plumbing (say, less than 10 years old) and no obvious issues, annual pressure checks aren't strictly necessary. But I will say, doing a quick visual check every now and then can save you headaches later on. Like once every few months, just peek under your sinks, behind toilets, and around your water heater for any dampness, discoloration, or corrosion. Takes maybe 5 minutes tops, and you'd be surprised how often you can catch minor leaks before they turn into bigger issues.

Another thing I'd suggest is keeping tabs on your water bill - if you notice it suddenly spikes without explanation, that's usually a sign something's leaking quietly somewhere. Pressure tests are great, don't get me wrong, but they're not the only way to stay ahead of plumbing trouble...

"Another thing I'd suggest is keeping tabs on your water bill - if you notice it suddenly spikes without explanation, that's usually a sign something's leaking quietly somewhere."

That's actually a great point about the water bill. I had a similar experience right after moving into our first home last year. Everything looked fine visually, but one month the water bill nearly doubled out of nowhere. Turned out we had a tiny leak in the sprinkler system underground - something we'd never have caught with just visual checks.

I agree that annual pressure tests might be overdoing it, especially if your plumbing's fairly new and you're not noticing any obvious issues. But I'd definitely recommend doing a more thorough check maybe every couple of years or so, just for peace of mind. I know it sounds cautious, but speaking as someone who just went through the stress (and expense!) of fixing that sprinkler leak, I'd rather catch things early than deal with bigger headaches later on.

Also, quick tip: Don't forget to occasionally glance at your outdoor faucets and hoses too. We found one dripping slightly last winter after the frost hit - luckily before it caused any real damage. It's easy to overlook stuff outside since it's not in your daily view, but it's worth checking every now and then.

Anyway, appreciate the advice here...still learning as I go!