Now that the seasons have changed, you might be wondering what the best plumbing tips for spring are. Spring brings sunny days but also rainy days. You may not be aware, but the heavy rain that spring typically brings can be bad for your plumbing. Those heavy showers that bring May flowers can drag down your gutters and cause clogs in your drains. In addition to that, winter weather may have damaged your pipes. It’s best to give all your plumbing systems a once-over so that you aren’t spending extra money on leaky equipment.
The following plumbing tips can help you stay on top of your plumbing for spring and ensure that you can have a lot of fun in the sun when summer comes.
Top 6 Plumbing Tips for Spring
Check for Leaks in Appliances
When spring arrives, it’s best to check for leaks in all your appliances. During the winter months, pipes may have frozen and thawed multiple times, creating cracks or leaks you weren’t aware of. A leaky pipe can create unnecessary increases in your plumbing bills, and doing a simple check could save you money. When checking for leaks, you should check in your kitchen, bathroom, and wherever you house your washer and dryer. In your bathroom, check your toilet tank for leaks by adding dye to the water. If the water turns the color of the dye within 30 minutes, your tank has a leak.
Be sure that you check your outdoor appliances for leaks as well. When using the hose or sprinkler, you may notice that leaks occur inside the home. If this is the case, it’s likely that one of your pipes froze and broke over the winter, and you should call a plumbing service.
Check Your Water Heater
Winter is a great time to have hot showers or baths, but when the season changes, you should turn the temperature of your water heater down. Your water heater should be no higher than 120°F. Putting the temperature higher than that will send scorching hot water down your lines and potentially burn your skin. Keeping your heater at this temperature will also reduce energy consumption. In addition to that, you should also drain several gallons of water out of the water heater. By doing this, you get rid of any built-up sediment that may cause corrosion. Leaving sediment buildup in your heater reduces its heating efficiency and will ultimately shorten the lifespan of your heater.
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Gutters have a significant impact on your outdoor plumbing systems. This is why cleaning your gutters is an essential part of the top plumbing tips for spring. You should make sure that you clean your gutters and yard drains seasonally. Neglecting this could cause debris to freeze in your gutter and rip off your home. Also, be sure that you clean your downspouts as well. Clogged downspouts can lead to water building up around the foundation of your home, leading to sweating walls, water that seeps out of the foundation, and a wet basement if you have one.
Check Sump Pump
Sump pumps are typically seen in homes with basements or crawl spaces. They are dug at the lowest point of your house and prevent your basement from flooding. When it rains excessively, as it does in spring, the sump pump will fill with water and shuttle it off to a storm drain or detention pond. Checking this system is simple, pour water into the pump to check if it functions properly. This is also an excellent opportunity to clean your sump pump. A dirty sump pump may affect its draining capabilities. Consult your owner’s manual to learn how to best clean your sump pump.
If your pump is running with no water in it, it may be improperly installed, and you should call a plumbing service.
Check Floor Drains and Outdoor Drains for Slow Drainage
If you have floor drains or drains in your yard, check them for slow drainage. These drains are likely to have clogs because of debris. Outdoor drains are also the most likely to be damaged over the winter months. If these drains are clogged, you should consider some of the top clogged drain solutions.
Additionally, check your sprinkler systems to make sure they aren’t clogged with dirt, grass, or other debris. Ensure that all sprinkler heads still function as they should and replace any that have been damaged.
Exercise Water Main Valve
If you never have any issues with your plumbing, it’s likely your water main valve has remained open for quite some time. While an open water main valve means a functioning plumbing system, it’s good practice to open and close it occasionally to make sure that it can be shut off with ease. If the valve has remained open for too long, it can be difficult to shut off during an emergency. This is a simple process you can do to ensure that your water main valve opens and closes like a dream.
Goodbee Plumbing: Your Spring Plumbing Experts
If you go through these plumbing tips for spring and discover you have a problem, you’re going to need plumbing services, and there’s no one better to call than Goodbee Plumbing. Goodbee has been in the plumbing industry for 14 years, and we are well versed in all sorts of plumbing problems. We value our customers’ time and money, so we work hard to have affordable prices and excellent response times. We have a large area of service, and if you need quick service, we often have same-day services available. From drain cleaning for gas inspection, we are well versed in many different service areas. Just let us know what you need us for, and we will be right over!
Contact us today to help you with your plumbing needs. We can’t wait to be of service!