Proving we care with every repair
Proving we care with every repair
Now that spring is here, warmer weather means that you can spend more time outdoors, and you won’t have to spend your days inside so much. The changing of the seasons also allows us to undertake routine maintenance work around the home. For example, many individuals perform a well-known “spring cleaning” to spruce up their homes after closing doors and windows for the winter.
While it may not be the first thought to cross your mind, routine spring plumbing maintenance can help you spot minor plumbing issues before they turn into huge (and often costly) problems. So before summer comes knocking, here are some spring plumbing tips from our Icare Plumbing experts:
Don’t forget to take a look at your home’s plumbing as part of your spring cleaning. Here are some of the few simple steps to keep your plumbing system functioning correctly throughout the spring and summer:
Everything from dried leaves to branches, twigs, and other waste collects on your roof and in your outside space throughout the winter. Now that the weather outside has warmed up again, you may clean debris from your exterior sewers, gutters, and outflows. In addition, many plumbing issues may be prevented by allowing water to flow down the drains freely.
While freezing is unlikely at lower elevations in Australia, it can happen sometimes and can cause pipe damage. Checking all of your faucets for leaks is a good idea usually, but make a specific point of checking outside faucets.
If you notice a leak after turning on your garden hose or your outdoor faucet leaks instead of flowing correctly, you may have a broken pipe. You’ll need the assistance of an experienced plumber, such as Icare Plumbing Services, in this instance.
Sediment can begin to pile up in the water heater over time. This can lead to corrosion, lowering your heater’s performance and limiting its projected service life. To avoid this, carefully drain a few gallons of water from the heater to remove the sediment.
Check the settings of the temperature on the water heater while you’re at it. One hundred twenty degrees F is a pleasant temperature to put it at. This will warm the water sufficiently for a hot shower, hand washing, dishwashing, and laundry without scalding. You will also be saving yourself money on utility bills!
Another vital aspect of your spring plumbing maintenance is to clean your sump pump. Remove and clean the pump sump, including the pump screen or intake, by disconnecting the power supply. Again, consult your owner’s manual for instructions.
Every three to four months, the pump screen or intake, should be cleaned. Then, reconnect the device to the power source and give it a test run by pouring some water into it to ensure it’s operating correctly.
Toilet leaks that go unnoticed might cause your water bill to skyrocket. Use this method to see whether your toilet is covertly leaking: put a few drops of food colouring in the water tank. Then wait for the colour to show up in the toilet bowl.
You have a leak on your hands if the dye shows within 30 minutes or so. Sometimes it’s only a matter of replacing a broken or worn seal, and other times you’ll want assistance.
Water supply valves are located on your toilets and at each sink to control the flow of water. When you need to repair one of these things, they come in useful because you can turn off the water supply going to the sink or toilet without cutting off the water to the entire house.
These valves, however, must be turned every now and again to keep them from becoming too stiff to use. So they don’t become caught, turn them a few revolutions toward the “off” position and then back on.
Check the water supply hoses for any sorts of leaks or bulging in any appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, or ice maker. Replace any hoses that are more than ten years old or show symptoms of weakening. Use stainless steel hoses instead of other hoses because they are more robust, more dependable, and less prone to wear and strain.
In addition, check the lint trap on your washing machine to ensure that no debris gets into your plumbing and piping system. Check to see whether one is available, and then attach a wire trap or pantyhose to the hose that drains water from the washer.
Your home’s overall water use will rise during the spring and summer months, affecting your water pressure. To maintain your water pressure, try taking shorter showers and avoiding peak water consumption by showering a bit sooner or later than usual.
If your water pressure remains low after implementing these techniques, you may be dealing with a more significant issue, such as burst water main. A burst water foremost may not be apparent right first, but a skilled plumber will need to be repaired.
If you follow these simple measures, you’ll be able to keep your plumbing system in good operating order. As a result, you’ll save money on pricey repairs, and your electricity bill will go down.
Now it’s your turn to let us know about your spring plumbing practices! We’d be delighted to hear from you!