Spring has fully sprung here in Maryland and summer is right around the corner. Spring showers brought our May flowers but summer thunderstorms can bring plumbing nightmares that 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 before summer arrives and ensure that you can have a lot of fun floating in the pool and not in your basement.
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.
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.
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.
We are always here to ensure your plumbing is running at top performance to avoid any issues. Call us today about any plumbing work you might need or are considering!
