The weather is heating up, but we can’t get lost in our daydreams of vacations and lake getaways. This warmer weather also means something else – plumbing changes.
Your plumbing takes a hit every day for 365 days, but as the seasons change, it will need extra care to ensure it can withstand temperature adjustments without issues.
So, as we head into the spring season, here is your plumbing maintenance checklist.
Why You Should Check on Your Plumbing Come Spring
Winter is harsh on plumbing. The cold weather can really affect your pipes. To ensure that you leave winter with a strong plumbing system and enter spring with confidence, it is essential to assess your plumbing as the temperatures start to rise.
It can be a time to find damage you didn’t know was there before or to prepare your plumbing for the heavy rains that will be coming.
Your Spring Plumbing Checklist:
So, here is a brief spring plumbing maintenance checklist!
Look for Any Pipe Damage
As the temperatures heat up, it is the perfect time to go check on your exposed pipes in the basement, garage, or crawl space. These pipes were completely open to the harsh cold weather, and freezing temperatures can cause pipes to crack. So, take the time to look for any cracks or other pipe damage so you can work to fix them before anything worsens.
Check for Leaks Indoors
This is the perfect time to inspect the home’s sinks, toilets, tubs, and other appliances to ensure that there is no mystery water pooling anywhere. Even tiny drops of water can cost you gallons on your water bill. To check your toilet effectively, you can add a little food coloring to the bowl before you flush, allowing you to see if there are any prominent leaks more easily.
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
You should take this time to effectively clean out any gutters and downspouts to ensure that water is directed away from your foundation. This will help prevent water intrusion. With the potential for vast storms and rain during the springtime, the last thing you want is flooding.
Inspect Your Sump Pump
To ensure your sump pump will work properly during the rainy season, pour water into your sump pit and check that the pump turns on and drains properly.
Check for any Slow Drains
Slow drains can happen for many reasons and can often be the most ignored issue in one’s plumbing. So, to ensure you go into spring with a strong plumbing system, check for any slow drains and take steps to alleviate them. We do not recommend using any chemical drain cleaners. If other options do not work, it could be time to call the professionals.
Assess Your Outdoor Faucets and Hoses
If you have outdoor faucets or hoses, you know for a fact that they took the brunt of the winter storms and temperatures. It is essential to assess your outdoor plumbing to ensure that nothing is rusted, corroded, or cracked.
Inspect Your Appliances Carefully
The last thing you want to do is inspect your appliances carefully. This includes sinks, faucets, tubs, showers, ice makers, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and anything else that may have been damaged by the cold weather. Look for cracks, leaks, or bulging pipes.
To Be Really Sure, Contact the Professionals
If you’ve gone through the whole checklist and are still unsure if you possibly missed something or if you went through the checklist and saw some things that didn’t look quite right, the best thing you can do for your home and your plumbing is call in the professionals.
A professional plumber can conduct a whole house plumbing inspection and check on areas that you might not be able to see, as well as issues with cameras that we can’t view with our eyes. A plumbing professional can provide you with a solid, confident answer to whether or not your home is ready for the spring season. They can then provide you with the proper steps to take if it is not.
Your house’s plumbing is going to take a hit through every season. It is essential to keep up. If you have further questions or wish to schedule a plumbing inspection, contact the team at Lutz Plumbing.