What precautions before plumbing work?

Badly prepared plumbing has a long cost, because it ends up hidden behind beautiful finishes. Here are useful precautions, whether you're making a small repair or a complete renovation.

Find the stop valves

Check where the main water supply is and that its valve works. Test the valves in each room too. In a leak, those few seconds make all the difference.

Photograph before closing up

During a project, photograph the pipes before tiling or plastering, with a tape measure in view. These will be valuable for drilling a wall or diagnosing a leak years later.

Plan for access

• An inspection hatch near sensitive points
• Accessible valves for each zone
• A water heater that can be replaced without breaking anything

Allow for limescale

Marrakech's water is hard. Scale reduces flow and damages taps and water heaters. Regular maintenance and, in some cases, a water treatment solution can extend the life of the equipment.

Test before closing up

New pipework should be pressure-tested before it is covered. Ask for this to happen, and for drains to be checked for sufficient slope.

When in doubt, shut off first

Faced with a leak, shut off the water, and the electricity if water is near an installation. Only then look for a solution or call a professional.