When it comes to spring cleaning plumbing tips, there are a lot often neglected and forgotten tasks. With the coming of Spring, many homeowners start giving their homes a fresh clean yet forget they have to also clean out their plumbing system. It is absolutely essential to keep your plumbing system cleared up so as to prevent clogging issues in the near future. Here are 5 spring cleaning plumbing tips to help you take note of what you should be doing.
The Bathroom
When leaks go unchecked, they can wreak havoc on your home’s structure not to mention your water bill. So the first thing would be to inspect your bathroom pipes for any leaks or dripping. You can check your toilet for leaks by adding a teaspoonful of food coloring into your toilet tank. If the food coloring starts appearing in your toilet bowl water within an hour after pouring, you definitely have a leak and will most probably have to replace the tank.
If the flushing handles need to be pressed down in order to flush properly, they need to be replaced as well. Inspect your bathtub and bathroom sink for chips too, and if you find one, you can easily fix it by applying a porcelain repair kit which you can find at your local hardware store. Fixing these early on will prevent serious leaks and damage later on.
Show some love to your shower head by soaking it for about 10 hours in a solution of half water half vinegar and baking soda. Follow this up with a good scrub down using an old toothbrush and your shower head will be spic ‘n span and ready for spring fresh showers.
If you haven’t already, you can install strainers in all your drains to prevent stuff like hair, soap and other debris from entering and clogging your pipes.
The Kitchen
Same with your bathroom, the first step here is to check for leaks. Leaks can happen through your sink pipe, faucets, your dishwasher and other appliances. With the exception of your dishwasher, replace leaking pipes and faucets as soon as possible to save water and money.
In the case of your dishwasher, leaks can be caused by poor installation of the pipes instead of cracking or damage. Specifically check for the pipe that acts as a waterway between the sink and the machine. Be sure to install it properly by making sure that it stands in a vertical line to properly capture the flow of water from the sink to the dishwasher with no spillage. But if that doesn’t work then it’s best to replace the pipe here as well.
Spring is also a good time to thoroughly clean your fridge with vinegar, water and baking soda which is a solution that cleans and removes odors at the same time. If there’s an obstruction to the water flow in your faucets, or you notice some mineral deposits in the water, consider fitting your drain with a strainer to keep from any unnecessary debris flowing through with the water.
The Exterior
Maintaining the exterior in good condition is equally important in spring because you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors after the long winter’s hibernation. Here, you can start by checking the downspout gutter for any obstructions such as leaves, twigs, bee hives or bird’s nests. Your gutter pipes could also have mould or leaks that might cause damage later, so it’s best to replace them before the problem gets out of hand to spoil your spring and summer fun.
Pipes tend to freeze during winter in some regions, and this may damage them. Be sure to replace any damaged outdoor pipes and faucets early on in the spring. Check the vent pipes for any small animals and insects that may have taken up residence there during the winter and kindly remove them.
The Basement or Garage
After a long winter with long hot showers, it’s important to inspect your water heater’s temperature first thing in spring to make sure that it’s at a reasonable temperature of 120 degrees or below. Keeping it at this temperature means less energy demand on your system and it’ll maintain rust free for longer. You can also drain the tank’s water to toss out the sediment which might cause it to work inefficiently, shortening its lifespan over time.
If your heater is 15 years or older, then Spring might be a good time to replace it with a new more energy efficient one. This will save you energy and money in the long run. If you have any drains that you seldom use, like floor drains, you should rinse those out by pouring water on them to remove mold and chase away moldy odors that might enter the house.
Also inspect your yard for any pools of water that aren’t draining properly. This might be caused by leaky pipes and will need to be addressed immediately.
You can also check your outdoor water meter for any leaks by inspecting the gauge for any suspect movement. Just make sure that everything’s turned off before you do this test, even the main shutoff valve. If the gauge continues to move after that, it gives you a good indication that you have leaks in your outdoor pipes.
If you’re planning on planting new trees or making large scale renovations during spring, consider calling 811 to make sure that you won’t be affecting areas with underground pipes that may burst while digging.
Final Advice
Know your plumbing. You should know where your shut off valves and water meter are situated and make sure that they’re working properly. You should also consider investing in a backflow valve for your floor drain. This is especially handy in protecting you from potential sewer back ups.
A complete spring clean inspection for your home’s plumbing aspects may take time but it’s well worth the peace of mind you’ll enjoy afterward. It will also ensure that you enjoy spring and summer uninterrupted by disruptive leaks, bursts or any costly plumbing damage. Not to mention, keeping your home in pristine and odor free condition at the same time.
Source: waterdamagerestorationdallastexas.
