The skies are blue, the flowers are sprouting, and the birds are singing. Spring has arrived. But Springtime isn’t just for spring cleaning. In fact, Spring is the perfect time to make sure that your plumbing has survived the winter months and is in excellent condition to last through another busy year of growth and adventures. Here are some of our best Spring plumbing tips for you.
Check for Leaks
One of the first things you should do in the Spring is to check your plumbing for leaks. These are not only potentially expensive, but they can lead to costly repairs to surrounding areas that can easily be avoided. The first places to check for leaks are your faucets. Leaks here will cost you money in wasted water, and no one likes to hear a drip in the middle of the night. Besides, none of us want to waste our natural resources.
Next, check your toilet for a leak that you may not be noticing. The easiest way to do this is to put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the water in the bowl changes color, you probably have an ongoing leak that needs to be addressed. Just be sure to flush after you check to remove any lingering color. While you are at the toilet, check the tank, bowl, and feed line for leaks. Look for any cracks in the porcelain that could be a problem leak, and replace or repair as needed. If you have a standard water heater, check to make sure that its supply and return lines aren’t leaking. Look at any valves on the water heater as well, making sure that they are secure and dry.
Now you’ll need to check all exposed plumbing for leaks. Anywhere you have a pipe that you can see, verify that it is as dry as it should be. Open up the cabinets under sinks and make sure that drains work without leaking. The winter months can be harsh on drains as well. Go outside and check any outside faucets for any leaks or drips. The winter weather could have had a detrimental effect on these parts, and you’ll want to make sure that everything is still intact. This would go for any water hoses as well if they were left out in the weather.
Do a Safety Check On Your Water Heater
During the winter months, a water heater can have some frigid water supplied to it for heating. This makes the unit work much harder than usual, and older water heaters may have a hard time standing up to the demand. If your water heater is over 15 years old, you might want to consider replacing it with a newer model. Not only will doing so keep your hot water working, but many new models are more efficient. This could actually save you money over the year.
If your water heater is still in good shape, you should take this time to verify that the temperature is set at a safe range. It should be set no higher than 120 degrees. Anything higher than this could cause scalding, and it costs more money to keep water hotter than needed. If the water heater has been in service for a few years, you might want to drain it a little to remove damaging sediment. Most water heaters have a hose connection for this purpose to make it easier, or you can use a bucket. Doing this extends the life of your water heater as well as makes sure that your hot water is clean.
Check Your Drains
Your drains are an essential part of your plumbing, and you will want to make sure that they are functioning as well as they should. Pour water into a drain, making sure that it empties as it should. Not only does this check the drain, but it also fills up the trap with water. This can help eliminate odors. Any floor drains should be checked as well. Slow floor drains can cause flooding issues, so be sure to have these snaked out or cleaned if they have problems.
One of your biggest drains in the house is your toilet. Make sure that all toilets flush correctly, and that the hardware works as it should. Any handles that must be held down (or lifted back into position) should be repaired. A slow toilet could indicate problems with a septic system, so watch for a slow draining bowl.
While you are checking your drains, consider adding in a strainer if they aren’t already equipped. Strainers can prevent hair, soap, and even valuable objects from entering plumbing and causes problems. You’ll also find that there are many decorative strainers on the market.
Don’t Forget Outside Plumbing
It’s easy to overlook outside plumbing features when doing your Spring plumbing checks. Be sure that gutters aren’t clogged with last year’s leaves and that they drain properly. Downspouts and water runoff areas can become clogged with debris. Take a moment to inspect those for foreign objects.
With a little effort, you’ll find that Spring checks on your plumbing system will save you problems throughout the year. But if you do find an issue that requires fast and affordable professional service, contact Aladdin Plumbinhg today. Our GPS enabled fleet is standing by to help you with your plumbing problems.