Spring is in the air and that means spring cleaning season is here! We all know that spring cleaning is an important part of home maintenance and that includes spring maintenance of your house’s plumbing.

We put together a few spring cleaning tips for your plumbing:

Kitchen / Bathroom

• Check for leaks on all faucets; take care of any plumbing repairs immediately.
• Install drain strainers in all sinks to prevent clogging.
• Inspect your toilet tank and bowl for cracks or leaks.
• Make sure toilets flush properly. If a toilet isn’t flushing correctly, it probably means that some parts are worn out from use. Be sure to replace worn parts to avoid leaks and costly repairs later.
• Check toilets for hidden leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank; if the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.
• Remove mineral deposits from showerheads and aerators (the screw-on tips of your faucets) by unscrewing each and soaking them in vinegar overnight; gently scrub them in the morning with an old toothbrush.

Appliances

• Check the thermostat on your water heater; make sure it is set at no higher than 120°F to get the best balance of energy efficiency and performance.
• Drain several gallons from the water heater tank to flush out efficiency-reducing sediment, carefully following the manufacturer’s instructions for doing so – if you haven’t done this, we highly recommend hiring a plumber to do this for you.
• Consider replacing your water heater if your unit is more than 10 or 12 years old; the energy efficiency improvements alone will more than likely pay for the investment in just a few years.
• Check appliance hoses for bulges, leaks, or cracks and repair or replace them as needed.

General Indoors

• Snake slow drains – especially flood drains in your basement.
• Test run your sump pump in advance of spring storms.
• Check under-sink pipes for leaks and repair as needed.
• Look for slow leaks in your home by taking a reading on your water meter before bedtime; check the meter again the next morning after not using water overnight. If the reading has changed you have a leak that should be repaired.

Outside

• Clear outdoor drains, gutters, downspouts, and plumbing vent pipes.
• Turn on outdoor water; check faucets and hoses to make sure water flows correctly.
• Check all outdoor fittings, faucets, and hoses. If there are any leaks or cracks, repair and replace as needed before they become a bigger problem.
• Check all parts of your irrigation system for any repair needs.

Source: Spring’s Coming – Time to Check the Plumbing | Carroll Home Services