Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, so a late-May walk-through and a second one in early December fit the calendar. You are not trying to inspect the plumbing like a professional. You are looking for the handful of parts that fail slowly and quietly, so they do not pick a holiday weekend to give up.
Age is the reason to bother. County parcel records show that roughly 37% of Seffner homes with a recorded build year predate 1980, and the median home here was built in 1989. A house from that era is likely to be running original faucets, original shut-offs and, quite possibly, its second or third water heater.
Start With the Water Heater
Find the data plate and read the manufacture date. The serial number usually encodes it, and the InterNACHI life-expectancy chart gives a conventional tank heater 6 to 12 years. Then look at the floor and the fittings: rust streaks on the tank, a damp ring on the slab or a mineral crust at the connections all mean the unit is leaking slowly.
Drain a bucket or two from the bottom valve. Gritty, brown or cloudy water means sediment is building on the bottom of the tank. A tankless unit needs a descaling flush, which runs $200–$400 every 12 to 24 months. If the heater is past 10 years and weeping, read our water heater repair or replace guide before spending money on a repair.
Work Down the House: Toilets, Faucets, Shut-Offs
- Toilets: lift the tank lid, add a few drops of food coloring and wait 15 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper leaks.
- Faucets: look for drips, stiff handles and a spray that pulls to one side, which usually means a clogged aerator or a worn cartridge.
- Angle stops: close and reopen each valve under sinks and behind toilets. Any that will not turn, or that weep at the stem afterward, are cheap to replace now and expensive to find during a leak.
- Main shut-off: know where it is and confirm it closes. Turn it slowly, and do not force a stuck handle.
How Long Parts Last
These are the ranges the InterNACHI chart lists. Treat them as guidelines, not guarantees; water chemistry and use change the results.
| Part | Typical life | What to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Tank water heater | 6–12 years | Data-plate date, rust at the base, damp slab |
| Tankless water heater | About 10 years | Error codes, flow, descaling history |
| Faucets | 15–20 years | Drips, stiff handles, weak spray |
| Garbage disposal | About 12 years | Humming without spinning, leaks underneath |
| Copper supply pipe | 50–70 years | Green crust, pinhole spray, pressure loss |
Two Five-Minute Tests Worth Doing
First, the meter test. Turn off every fixture and appliance, then look at the meter’s low-flow indicator. If it keeps moving, something is leaking between the meter and the fixtures, whether a running toilet or a slab line. A moving dial with all water off is the point to call about leak detection, since sand drains fast and a slab leak can hide for a long time.
Second, pressure. A screw-on gauge at an outdoor hose bib shows static pressure. Model plumbing codes cap building pressure at 80 psi and expect a pressure-reducing valve to hold it there. A reading well above that wears out toilets, heaters and supply lines early.
Before You Evacuate or Travel
Hurricane Milton in October 2024 brought 10 to 15 inches of rain to most of Hillsborough County, according to the National Weather Service. If you leave for more than a few days, close the main shut-off, and for an electric heater switch its breaker off. Tell a neighbor where the main valve is.
What the Repairs Usually Cost
Most of what a checkup turns up falls in the standard repair band of $125–$350: an angle stop, a supply line, a flapper kit, a faucet cartridge. Anode rod, element and thermostat repairs run $150–$450, and a replacement tank installed runs $1,200–$2,500. Our Seffner plumber cost guide lists the rest, and the plumbing repairs page explains how we diagnose and price them. If you live in an older section, the Seffner service area page shows what we see by neighborhood and building era.
Found something on the walk-through?
A seized shut-off, a weeping angle stop or a heater past its range is a repair we can price on the phone. Call or text a photo and we will tell you roughly what it should cost before anyone drives out.
CALL 813-733-7188Checkup Questions From Seffner Homeowners
Twice a year is enough for most houses. A late-May check before hurricane season and another in early December catch aging heaters, seized shut-offs and slow leaks. Add a one-time check after any storm that left standing water near the house or garage.
Many homeowners do. Turn off the power at the breaker, attach a hose to the bottom valve, and drain into a bucket or outdoors until the water runs clear. If the valve will not close afterward or the drain clogs with sediment, stop and call, because forcing it can cause a leak.
If colored water reaches the bowl without a flush, the flapper or its seat is leaking. That silent leak can waste hundreds of gallons a month and raises the bill. A flapper replacement or toilet rebuild usually falls in our $125–$350 standard repair range.
Often yes once a tank passes about 10 years, since the InterNACHI range is 6 to 12 years. Replacing on your schedule avoids a flooded garage and an emergency price. A younger unit with a bad element or thermostat is usually worth repairing instead.