By: Matt Wittman, President of Professional Plumbing & Design, Inc.

From the Tips & Tricks Issue (September 2020) of Community Magazine,
The Official Journal Of Community Associations Institute West Florida Chapter

Maintaining water heaters, pipes and water supplies helps avoid costly flood damage. Units with cast iron drains should be on a regular cleaning schedule.

Inside homes and condominium units, make sure all water supplies to fixtures, faucets and appliances (dishwasher, ice maker, washing machine, toilets and faucets) are of the braided stainless-steel type with metal connections. Replace all non-braided stainless-steel supplies with metal connections; even braided supplies with plastic connections have shown to be possible leak or flood points. These supplies are under constant water pressure day and night and can fail at any time.

Water heaters should be replaced at least every 10 years unless they have a longer warranty. Most associations require this replacement to avoid flooding damage to other units. There can also be flood stop-valves installed at the water heater that will shut off the water to the water heater if it leaks. Taking leak detection a step further, there are whole house I unit leak detection systems that will shut the water off to