Spring Plumbing

Spring Plumbing Maintenance Tips: Main Issues 

One of the main things you’re checking for are leaks.  These leaks can happen from your pipes just being old.  Most likely though, your pipes and drains may have gotten damaged from freezing temperatures. 

Spring brings with it a TON of rain.  This rain has to go somewhere after it hits the ground and that place is down your drains.  If your drains are not in tip top shape, your basement and home could flood.  

An annual inspection with the best drain camera is one of the most important things you could do this spring.  Most homeowners are not covered for flood damage through their regular home insurance policies and this could leave you holding the bag for all the costs.  So be prepared by inspecting your drains this spring. 

Spring Plumbing Quick Checklist: 13 Things to Check

Here is our go-to list for all your spring plumbing needs.  Checking off these 13 things will mean that your home and family are better protected against any weather that this spring can throw at you. 

1. Check irrigation lines for plants and veggies. 
2. Look under your sinks for leaks. Check your faucets in the bathroom, kitchen.
3. Check for any birds nest etc. in any outdoor piping like your gutters and vent pipes.
4. Outdoor sprinklers: check it for any leaks. Also, check the sprinkler system inside your home, if you have one. 
5. Clean your gutters and downspouts.  Clean out any debris that may have collected over the winter. 
6. Inspect the drainage around your home.  All that water from spring rains has to go somewhere and your home is NOT the place.  Call a Pro if you need assistance replacing or repairing your drainage system. 
7. Do your annual drain inspection with a drain camera. Inspect your perimeter drains and your main sewer and water lines.
8. Check your sump pump.  You will have to run the pump to check if it’s working.  Fill the area with the sump pump with water until it turns on.  Best case scenario is the pump gets rid of all the water in the area.  If not, it might be time for a repair or a replacement.  It tends to rain a lot in the spring, and you want to be ready with a working sump pump to protect your home from flooding.
9. Inspect your hot water heater for any leaks or maybe you need an upgrade.  You can turn down the temperature to save yourself some cash on electricity to heat the water.  It may even extend the life of the heating element inside your hot water heater. Most come set at 140 degrees as the default, which is pretty hot. The recommended setting is above 120 degrees to avoid dangerous bacteria growth inside the tank that causes Legionnaire’s disease. You can also drain and flush your water heater to remove sediment and mineral build up (especially if you have hard water).
10. Septic Fields.  Make sure that you use proper septic treatment to deal with what’s inside your tank.  Verify how full it is and that the field is not leaking anywhere.  Call in the pros immediately if you suspect any issues. 
11. Check your toilet for cracks or leaks. Check the inside of your tank and make sure that the flapper and float mechanisms are in good working shape.
12. Check your outdoor faucets for leaks and save on your water bill. 
13. If you have a basement or crawl space, get in there and inspect the pipes for damage from cold weather.  How are the floor drains in your basement, garage etc. looking?  Does the water flow freely down the drain when you test it? Auger the floor drains at least once/year and run a drain camera down into the pipes to check for roots, cracks, bends, and degrading pipes.

Importance of Plumbing Maintenance

It’s important to maintain your plumbing all year round, not just in spring or winter. Proper plumbing maintenance should be a part of your home maintenance schedule. It prevents costly disasters from broken pipes, clogs, debris build up, and aging pipes. By performing routine maintenance and inspections, you prolong the life of your pipes and plumbing systems and reduce overall plumbing costs and the need to call in professionals to repair things.

Conclusion 

Spring plumbing maintenance is a routine task that every homeowner should perform to make sure to keep their home safe from water damage and save some money on water usage. 

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