Spring Plumbing Tips and Maintenance Tasks for Homeowners

Are you looking for spring plumbing tips? Spring is an excellent time to double check your entire plumbing system works as planned. Read ahead to discover how to check your plumbing this spring.

Need some support? Reach out to Pride Service, the best provider of plumbing maintenance in Rockville Centre, NY.

Check Outdoor Water Traffic Areas

Walk around your house and check all the areas and junctions where water travels the most. These places include the following:

Gutters and Downspouts

Gutters and downspouts are vulnerable to debris buildup and blockage. A blocked gutter or downspout can’t direct water away from your home’s foundation and leads to flooding in your basement or damage to your foundation.

Hopefully, you cleaned your gutters during autumn when the leaves fell. Over winter, snow and ice can build up in them, forming cracks or leaks. Clean the gutters and downspouts and confirm they’re intact and functioning as intended.

Spigots

In the fall, drain your outside spigots after shutting the water off at the supply valve. Spigots rank as one of the most vulnerable points in your plumbing system, as they lie directly in the path of ice or snow.

After turning on your water supply valve, test each spigot to verify it functions as intended. Hook up a hose and ensure the water travels the entire way without a leak or problem.

Water Supply Valves

Did you shut off your supply valves over winter to prevent them from freezing? Now that warmer weather has arrived, exercise your water supply valves to confirm they’re not stuck. 

If you ever burst a pipe, you’ll need to shut off the water quickly to avoid flooding. If the valve sticks, you could suffer some serious flooding. Verify the pipes open and close easily to prevent worse damage in an emergency.

Inspect Your Water Heater

Check your water heater to ensure it’s set at the right temperature for your house: somewhere between 120 and 140 degrees. Next, inspect the water heater for any leaks, rust, cracks, or other damage.

Spring also makes a great time to flush your tank and avoid sediment buildup. Are you unsure how to do this? Contact Pride Service to provide this quick and easy service.

Clean Your Fixtures

Clean and polish all your faucets, shower heads, and other fixtures. Over time, these places collect hard water and other sediment, which restricts water flow and affects performance.

Inspect Your Pipes

Inspecting your pipes reflects the most important step of the spring plumbing tips. Your pipes are like the veins of your house. You need them to function properly.

What should you check for? Focus on pipes located under sinks, toilets, and exterior walls. Keep watch for these common signs of leaks and other issues:

• Unusually high water bills
• Water pressure lower than normal
• Water stains or damage on walls and ceilings
• Dripping or rattling in your walls
• Brown or yellow water

If your plumbing needs updating, call a professional. Do not try to fix major plumbing issues yourself.

Clean Your Drains

Drains are a common culprit of blockages that reduce the flow of water. Confirm the drains perform as intended. If you find a blockage, use a snake or plunger to clear the obstruction and prevent more serious problems.

Certain severe clogs or issues require the service of a professional plumber. For example, tree roots can block a drain and prove impossible to remove without special equipment.

Test Your Sump Pump

Spring is prime time for flooding, and your sump pump needs to function properly to prevent flooding in your basement. To test your sump pump, pour a bucket of water into it and see how it performs.

Sump pumps are complicated pieces of equipment. Never attempt to fix one yourself.

Check the Toilets for Leaks

Toilets remain one of the primary places leaks form. Toilet leaks prove especially difficult to detect because they’re often silent or in an undetectable location.

To check for a leak, remove your toilet’s tank cover and add food coloring. After 20 minutes, check the toilet bowl. Do not flush!

If the toilet bowl changes color, it means you have a leak somewhere. Left unchecked, you’ll see your water bill skyrocket. A professional can fix the problem quickly and affordably.

Call Pride Services for All Your Spring Plumbing Needs

Do these spring plumbing tips sound easy? Even so, they might take you some time to complete. Luckily, Pride Services can help. Whether you want help with spring maintenance or need emergency plumbing service, we’re standing by.

Call us at 516-528-3432 to schedule an appointment today!

Published: May 04, 2023