With spring in full swing, it is the perfect time to give your home a once over just to make sure everything is working properly. One task that homeowners should add to their spring cleaning and maintenance routine is checking their plumbing system. The last thing you want is for your toilet to go out or a pipe that has been a ticking timebomb since winter to finally burst. Checking your plumbing system can help you catch problems early and save yourself time, money, and headaches.
Tips for Spring Plumbing System Maintenance
Plumbing systems are larger and more complex than people imagine. However, performing a plumbing maintenance check generally only involves inspecting a few common areas. Here are tips for performing spring plumbing maintenance:
- Check your outdoor faucets – Small drips from outdoor faucets can add up to bigger water bills. Plus, over time, those drips can seep into the ground and damage your home’s foundation. If you have an outdoor faucet with a drip, the likely culprit is a worn washer. However, in some cases, the faucet may need to be partially or completely replaced.
- Clean showerheads – Mineral deposits can buildup on your showerheads over time. To clean them, remove the showerhead and soak it in white vinegar.
- Inspect toilets – Sometimes, our toilets can have issues that we just get used to, such as having to jiggle the handle to get it to stop running. These issues should not be ignored because they can develop into bigger more expensive problems. Often, these minor issues mean that a toilet part is worn out and needs to be replaced. In other instances, toilet issues could mean that there is a clog in the pipes that needs to be removed before your toilet begins overflowing regularly.
- Check your sink drains – If your sinks are draining slowly, you could have a clog or you could be dealing with a sink trap issue. The sink trap is that curved part of your sink’s drainpipe. It prevents sewer gas from entering your home. If you suspect you have a sink trap problem, you may want to have a plumber take care of the issue because sink traps can be tricky to deal with, especially if it’s your first time.
- Check for irrigation system leaks – Your irrigation system may have leak you’re unaware of and that is hard to find. A good way to check is to read your water meter before you go to sleep at night and then check it again when you wake up in the morning. If it has changed in that short amount of time, you may have a leak you don’t know about.
- Inspect water heater – Most water heaters last around 10 years. In some cases, a water heater can last longer than that. You want to check your water heater for leaks, especially older water heaters. Tankless water heaters have become more popular in recent years because they are more efficient and less problematic. Whatever type of water heater you have, you want to check it for leaks and other issues and replace it before it fails. To make sure you catch issues while they are minor, check your water heater a few times throughout the year.
Some issues you find may need to be addressed by a professional plumber. If you try to tackle those types of problems on your own, you could end up making things worse. In addition, having a plumber inspect your system periodically is a great idea. Plumbers can recognize issues that you might miss and repair them while they are minor, which can save you money.
For over a decade, Smith’s Plumbing Services has been meeting the plumbing needs of residential and commercial customers in Memphis, Tennessee. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and we offer upfront pricing, which means you don’t have to worry about surprise charges showing up on your bill. If you need help with a plumbing issue, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
To get in touch with our plumbing experts, call us at (901) 290-1110 or contact us online. We are available 24/7 for emergency plumbing services.