Shreveport Rental Plumbing Checklist

Shreveport and Bossier City have plenty of rental houses, from pier-and-beam homes near downtown to slab duplexes out by the base. Small plumbing problems in a rental tend to grow quietly until a tenant mentions them, so a short list of what to report and when helps everyone. Print this or send it with the lease.

Report within a few days

• A faucet that drips or a toilet that keeps running
• A drain that is slow in more than one sink or tub
• Hot water that runs out faster than it used to
• A musty smell from under the floor or a cabinet
• A water bill that jumps with no change in use

Report right away

• Water on the floor or dripping from a ceiling
• A soft or warm spot in the floor
• Sewage coming up in a tub, shower or floor drain
• A gas smell (leave the home first and call the gas company from outside)
• No water at all after a freeze

Before a hard freeze

1. Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor faucets
2. Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls
3. Let faucets drip on the coldest nights
4. Know where the shut-off is; see finding your main water shut-off

Raised houses and slabs

In pier-and-beam rentals, leaks can run under the floor unseen. In slab homes, a meter that turns with every tap off is the main clue. More: slab or pier-and-beam plumbing.

For property managers

Check under each house and sink between tenants, keep crawl space skirting in good repair and replace water heaters before they fail in a closet. For repairs, see emergency plumbing, leak detection, water heaters and sewer line repair.