Yeah, those built-in thermostats are handy, but they're definitely not a "set it and forget it" solution. I've seen folks assume they're bulletproof and skip inspections...then they're shocked when something goes wrong. Regular checks are still your best friend, trust me.
"Regular checks are still your best friend, trust me."
Couldn't agree more. Reminds me of a call I had last winter—middle of January, freezing outside, and this guy's basement was basically a skating rink. Turns out he'd installed one of those newer water heaters with the built-in thermostat and figured he was golden—no maintenance needed, right? Well, not exactly.
The thermostat had malfunctioned at some point (probably months earlier), and since he hadn't checked it in forever, the pressure built up until...well, let's just say his basement got an unexpected indoor pool. Thankfully no one was hurt, but the damage to his flooring and furniture wasn't pretty. He looked at me like I'd betrayed him personally when I told him regular inspections could've prevented the whole mess.
These built-in thermostats are great tools—don't get me wrong—but they're still just tools. They can fail or drift out of calibration over time. A quick check every few months takes barely any effort and can save you from a costly headache later on. I always tell my customers: treat your plumbing like you treat your car—regular tune-ups keep things running smoothly.
And hey, if nothing else, regular checks give you peace of mind. No one wants to be lying awake at night wondering if their pipes are plotting against them...
You're spot-on about regular checks. I've learned the hard way myself—had a tenant a couple years back who thought "out of sight, out of mind" was a solid plumbing strategy. He never bothered to mention a slow drip under the kitchen sink because, in his words, "it wasn't bothering anyone." Well, fast forward a few months, and that tiny drip had turned into a moldy, rotten mess under the cabinets. Ended up costing me a small fortune to rip everything out and replace it.
Honestly, it's easy to overlook plumbing because most of the time it just quietly does its job. But that's exactly why it's so important to stay proactive. I make it a habit now to do quick walkthroughs every few months—checking under sinks, around toilets, and especially near water heaters. It takes maybe 15 minutes tops, and it's saved me from some potentially huge headaches.
One thing I'd add is to keep an eye on your water bill too. If you notice a sudden spike without any obvious reason, that's usually a red flag. Had another property where the tenants didn't notice anything wrong, but the water bill doubled overnight. Turned out there was a hidden leak behind the shower wall. Catching it early saved me from a much bigger repair down the line.
And yeah, those built-in thermostats and sensors are great, but they're not foolproof. Technology can lull us into a false sense of security sometimes. I always remind myself—and my tenants—that nothing beats a good old-fashioned visual inspection every now and then. It's like insurance: you hope you'll never need it, but you're sure glad it's there when you do.
Anyway, just my two cents. Better safe than sorry, right?
"Technology can lull us into a false sense of security sometimes."
That's a good point, actually. Those sensors are handy, but I've seen them fail plenty of times during my apprenticeship—usually at the worst possible moment. Curious though, has anyone tried putting moisture alarms under sinks and water heaters? They're pretty cheap and scream bloody murder if they detect even a little water. Might be a decent backup plan for when those regular checks slip your mind...
I've actually had those moisture alarms save my bacon once or twice. A couple years back, I picked up a few cheap ones online after a friend had a nasty leak under their kitchen sink. Forgot all about them until one night around 2 AM, one started shrieking like crazy. Turns out the dishwasher hose had sprung a tiny leak—nothing major yet, but enough to trigger the alarm. Honestly, without that little gadget, I probably wouldn't have noticed until morning, and by then who knows how much damage there'd be.
But yeah, tech isn't foolproof. Batteries die, sensors glitch...you know how it goes. I still try to eyeball things every now and then, just to be safe. Has anyone else had luck with those smart leak detectors that send alerts to your phone? I've been tempted, but the price tag always makes me hesitate...
