Spring Plumbing Tips
The fresh spring and early summer air gets many homeowners up and motivated to tackle cleaning, maintenance and renovation tasks they’ve put off all winter. It’s also a good time to tackle annual maintenance checks on your plumbing system. Your plumbing system is how all the water comes and goes from your home and essential to your home’s function and your health.
Get Your Home’s Plumbing Ready for Spring
From clogged drains, leaks and water damage, here’s a quick guide of what to check each year to make sure your home’s plumbing system is functioning properly.
Check and Drain Your Water Heater
In the cold Minnesota winters, many of us use hot showers and baths to warm up when we get chilled to the bones. This often means we crank the heat on our hot water heaters in the winter. Now’s a good time to check the temp and turn it down if it’s higher than the recommended 120 degrees. While you are checking the temp, give your water heater a once over for any signs of corrosion or leaks. Check for puddles, rust or soot around the control panel. Now’s also a good time to drain your water heater.
It is common for sediment to collect in the bottom of your water heater. This can reduce the efficiency of the water heater. Draining it once a year can help extend the life of the unit. You can read how to drain your water heater in our post from last month.
Contact a trusted plumber if you see any signs of wear, aren’t comfortable draining it on your own, or for a tune up if your unit is older than 10 years.
Check Your Sprinklers and Outdoor Faucets for Leaks
Outdoor pipes attached to sprinklers and faucets are more susceptible to freezing and breaking over the winter. Once warm temps are here to stay, check for signs of a leak. If you notice water leaking in your home after you turn on your hose or other outside faucets for the first time, this could mean one of your pipes froze and broke over the winter and you’ll want to call a plumber to repair your broken pipe.
Turn Your Water Valves
Over time, water valves that aren’t used very often can get hard to turn. It’s a good idea to turn them all off and back on once a year just to keep the parts moving and prevent them from becoming stuck.
Check Under Sinks and Supply Hoses
Peek under all your sinks and around the supply hoses that run to your water-using appliances, like your dishwasher, clothes washer and fridge if it has a water or ice dispenser. Moisture, puddles, rust and corrosion could mean there’s a leak and require further investigation.
Test Your Toilets for Leaks
An easy way to see if your toilets are leaking is to put food coloring into the tank. If the water in the bowl turns the color of the food dye within a half an hour without anyone flushing, your toilet is leaking. Replacing the faulty parts in the tank will save water, which in turn will save you money.
Clean Your Gutters and Down Spouts
Chances are your gutters and downspouts are full of pine needles, leaves, twigs and other debris from fall and winter. With spring showers and summer rains on the horizon, it’s important to clean them out to prevent leaks and water damage to your home. One trick we like is to use a plumber’s auger to clear out the downspouts.
Contact A Plumber
Keeping your home running smoothly is essential. Here are some more spring tips for maintaining your home. If you are having any issues with your plumbing, don’t hesitate to all One Hour Rooter. We are open and ready to serve you as an essential business. An annual inspection from a trusted plumber can keep your home running smoothly. Catching issues before they become big problems can save you time and money in the long run. If you are in the Minneapolis, MN area and need a plumber you can count on, call us today at 612-354-8984 or contact us online.
