The $26,000 Mistake I Made

Today, Dan from S&D Plumbing joins me to discuss how his company got started, what they do, and why static pressure tests are so important to home buyers.

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Today I’m here with Dan from S&D Plumbing. S&D Plumbing is a family-owned business that Dan’s parents started in 1980.
One thing that separates S&D Plumbing from all of the other plumbing companies out there is their outstanding customer service. If you need plumbing help, a live person will answer your call 24/7. Dan’s company also provides same day service and leak protection. They also have special equipment that allows for minimal access, whether it’s trenchless repairs or locating water leaks in the slabs.
I made a big mistake when I bought a home not too long ago. As a Realtor, I should’ve known better, but I did not call Dan at S&D Plumbing to do a static pressure test on the property. That mistake wound up costing me $26,000.
A static pressure test simulates what a sewer stoppage would look like in your home. They put a test ball outside of the sewer exits, fill all the drain lines with water, and let that sit for 30 minutes to make sure that there are no leaks in the drain system.
Static pressure tests are especially important in the Austin area because of the clay soil. If there are unforeseen leaks in the drain system, then moisture will get into the clay soil, which will expand, contract, and cause foundation issues.

You need to get a static pressure test in Austin, no matter how old the home is.

Even if you are buying a home that isn’t brand new and the previous owners didn’t have any issues, you should still get a static pressure test. Just because the plumbing system isn’t backed up doesn’t mean it’s not leaking. Whether you are buying a one-year-old house or a 100-year-old house, you need to order a static pressure test.
Like I said, as a real estate agent, I should have known better. My house was built using cast iron plumbing, which got corroded. We had to trench underneath the house and $26,000 later I got a new plumbing system. Still, if I had called Dan and run a static pressure test, I could have avoided this problem.
Another benefit of working with S&D Plumbing is that once they locate a leak, they can pinpoint the location of the leak and go through the repair process. That way, you only have to work with one company from start to finish. They can even repair any cosmetic issues for you as well.
S&D Plumbing also offers hydro-jetting, which is basically like power washing the inside of your pipes. If you have issues with grease from your kitchen sink, Dan and his team can go in there and clean everything out.
S&D’s Plumbing covers all aspects of residential and commercial repairs. They have a great customer loyalty agreement for residential customers that allows for priority scheduling, discounted pricing, and other great perks. They also offer a similar program for commercial clients.
Back in 1980, S&D Plumbing was one of the only companies that handled static pressure tests, leak detections, and repairs all in the same place. Whenever you have an issue or order a static pressure test, you can work with one plumber throughout the whole process.
If you have any questions for Dan, you can contact him at (512) 746-1510 or check out the website for S&D Plumbing. As always, if you have any real estate questions for me, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. We would be happy to help you!