The cold winter may cause damages to your plumbing fixtures that may easily go unnoticed until the warmer weather of spring comes. Plumbing problems suddenly become very noticeable as the weather starts to warm up.
Spring is usually the time for the yearly ritual of cleaning and freshening up homes. It is also the perfect time to do an annual maintenance of the house’s plumbing system. Doing so protects homes against various plumbing problems, reduces water consumption, and lowers utility bills.
Future plumbing malfunctions can be easily avoided by taking some proactive measures to ensure the home’s plumbing system is working in an efficient manner. Quick and immediate plumbing solutions allow homeowners to avoid some of the biggest home maintenance-related hassles and fully enjoy the spring season.
Spring plumbing maintenance can also prevent plumbing issues during heavy rains. Some simple fixes and preventive measures to ensure that your plumbing system is in tip-top shape are:
- Check plumbing fixtures such as faucets and showerheads for drips and leaks. Repairing leaks reduces water consumption — and your water bill — significantly.
- Check toilets for leaks. An easy and inexpensive method to check for toilet leaks is adding a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. Color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes if the toilet has leaks.
- Make sure the flush is working properly. The rule of thumb is that the flush handle shouldn’t have to be held down for a thorough flush. Replacing worn-out tanks parts is inexpensive and reduces the water bill.
- Turn the water valve on and off occasionally to prevent mineral deposits, hardened caulk, or rust from causing it to jam.
- Remove mineral deposits in the showerhead by unscrewing it and soaking it in vinegar overnight.
- Debris like hair, soap, and dirt clog drain lines. Avoid clogged drains by using strainers.
- Pour a gallon of water into infrequently used drains to fill the trap. This prevents unpleasant odors from entering the house.
- Sump pump failure is a major contributing factor in springtime floods. Make sure the sump pump operates properly by pouring buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should activate quickly and discharge water before shutting off without any problems.
- The temperature of the water heater should be set at a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Excess heat may cause scalding and a significantly higher energy bill.
- Drain some volume of water from the bottom of the water heater. This flushes away most of the clinging sediments which reduce the energy-efficiency and effectiveness of the water heater.
- Examine the supply hoses of washing machines and dishwashers for leaks or bulges. Hoses older than 10 years should be replaced. Stainless steel hoses are more reliable and less prone to damage.
- Make sure gutters and downspouts are free from debris like leaves and birds’ nests.
If you need more information or have a plumbing emergency, please call our friendly plumbers at 702-431-6502 24 hours a day. You can schedule service appointments at your convenience.
