Spring Plumbing Maintenance Tips

Spring has finally sprung here in New York, and now is the perfect time to take care of some maintenance around your house. Summer tends to put a lot of strain on residential plumbing systems. Kids playing in sprinklers, adults washing cars and additional house guests using the facilities can all take a toll, so it’s important to make sure your system is ready.

Here are a few spring plumbing maintenance tips from your trusted Rochester, NY plumber to help you avoid problems this spring and summer.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

• Check all faucets for leaks and drips. Repair even small leaks to conserve water and prevent bigger problems.
• Clean drain strainers. If you don’t already have strainers in all your drains, install them to prevent clogs.
• Check your toilets for hidden leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If there’s color in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak.
• Inspect toilet bowls and tanks for leaks and cracks.
• Work water supply valves to make sure they don’t stick.

Appliances

• Check the temperature on your water heater. Conserve energy and prevent burns by setting it no higher than 120˚
• Drain your water heater and refill it to flush out sediment.
• Check the supply hoses on your washing machine, dishwasher and icemaker for leaks and bulges.

Basements

• Pour a gallon of water into floor drains. This fills the trap and prevents nasty odors from entering your home. Schedule service for drain cleaning in Rochester NY for any drains that are slow.
• Check exposed pipes in your basement for leaks.
• Test your sump pump to make sure it’s working properly. Pour a few gallons of water into the pit. The pump should kick on automatically. If not, it’s in need of repair.
• Determine if you have any slow leaks in your home. Check your water meter reading before bedtime. Don’t use any water overnight. If the reading changes overnight, you have a slow leak somewhere.

Outside

• Keep your gutters, downspouts and yard drains free of debris.
• Make sure there aren’t any bird nests in plumbing vent pipes.
• Check outdoor faucets for leaks.