As the weather warms and the landscapes turn green, it’s time to do some spring plumbing maintenance! You want to ensure that your plumbing system is in good shape to face spring rain and that the freezing winter temperatures didn’t damage your pipes. We’re all already doing spring cleaning – adding spring plumbing maintenance to that is essential in order to avoid costly repairs. The last thing you want is to have clogged drains and leaky pipes.
A little spring plumbing maintenance can go a long way to prevent extensive problems and to catch any issues before they get the chance to escalate into major expenses. Here are some helpful spring plumbing tips you can utilize in order to help you stay on top of your plumbing and keep it in good condition.
#1. Check Your Sump Pumps
Your sump pump is a pump at the lowest point of your home that drains water in order to prevent groundwater from rising to your basement floor’s level. It’s key to preventing flooding, especially in areas that get a lot of snow and rain. If you want to avoid water problems and a potential floor, you’ll want to check your sump pump as part of your spring plumbing maintenance.
You can do this by pouring a bucket of water into your sump pit. This will raise your float switch and should activate the pump. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to call your local plumbing company to come out and fix it. In addition to testing it, you’ll also need to clean out any debris from the pit that could be blocking its discharge line.
#2. Check Your Water Heater
Another key component of spring plumbing maintenance is checking for any leaking or corrosion in your water heater. If your water heater is corroding, this indicates that there’s a leak, which can cause it to fail. You’ll want to call your plumber as soon as possible in order to avoid system failure and severe water damage.
You’ll also want to flush your water heater in order to remove any sediment buildup. Draining a few gallons of water can remove buildup that can lead to corrosion. Additionally, you’ll want to turn its temperature down to around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is so you don’t have scorching hot water that can both hurt you and increase your energy consumption when you don’t need it that hot in the warm months.
#3. Clean Your Gutters And Downspouts
It’s easy for debris such as fallen leaves and pine needles to build up in your gutters over the winter. This can clog them and prevent water from draining off your roof properly. When water gets backed up because of clogged gutters, it can result in leaks and water damage. You also want to ensure that your downspouts are facing away from your home so that they don’t damage its foundation.
You need water to be able to drain easily and away from your home, otherwise you could end up with floods, leaks, and other problems that could have been easily avoided. Cleaning your gutters is an essential part of spring plumbing maintenance.
#4. Test Your Sprinklers
It’s an unfortunate reality that pipes can freeze in the winter. Before you’ll need to rely on them to keep your landscape beautiful, test your sprinklers as part of your spring plumbing maintenance. You want to keep an eye out for leaks and signs of frozen and broken pipes. If you notice anything abnormal, you’ll want to call your plumber to come out and fix it.
#5. Check Your Water Pressure
Your water pressure can indicate whether or not you have leaks or issues with your pipes or water main. If your water pressure is low, this can be a sign that you have a problem on your hands. You can double check this by checking your water pressure when appliances aren’t running. If it’s low even when it isn’t being used in other areas of your home, you likely need to have repairs done in order to avoid damage.
#6. Be Wary Of Toilet Leaks
Toilet leaks aren’t just annoying; they can also make your water bill skyrocket. Part of your spring plumbing maintenance should be to check your toilets. If you need to hold the handle down for it to flush or if you put food coloring in the toilet’s tank and it ends up in the bowl, they can be signs you have a leak on your hands. Having leaks fixed will save you money and prevent annoyance at fixable issues.
#7. Schedule Spring Plumbing Maintenance
S&B Plumbing offers professional plumbing services. Just like everything else, your plumbing system needs regular maintenance in order to keep running smoothly. Having maintenance done can save you a lot of money in the long run by preventing damage. Contact us today to schedule your spring plumbing maintenance service or for any repairs you need to have done!
