There is not much better than coming home to a sparkling clean house. Spring cleaning offers an opportunity not just to mop, dust, and sweep your home but tackle some of the problem spots you don’t usually clean and prepare your home for the summer. One of these often neglected areas you should be sure to handle this year is your plumbing.
Below, we have created a list of maintenance steps you should follow this spring to ensure your system is running at its best and avoid any unwanted problems.
Look For Leaks
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average family in the United States loses as much as 180 gallons of water per week, or 9,400 gallons every year, due to household leaks. That is enough water for more than 300 loads of laundry. Protect your wallet and help the environment by checking your home for leaks.
Faucets Leaks
To find out if your home might be losing water, it’s best to check all of your faucets for pooling water or if there is are any droplets on the pipes after running your tap. To ensure there is no leak, you can run a piece of toilet paper over all your connections and piping. Because TP is so absorbent, it will show you beyond a shadow of a doubt if there is any water coming from your pipes.
Toilets
If you’re worried your toilet is leaking, a few signs you should look for are noises coming from the toilet when it is not being used, water dribbling down the sides of the bowl long after use, or flushing on its own.
If you think the toilet may have a silent leak, you can place 10 to 15 drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If, after 30 minutes, the dye appears in the bowl, you have a leak.
Test Your Sump Pump
April showers might bring May flowers, but they can also cause flooding in your home’s basement. To make sure your home is prepared for increased precipitation in March and April, it’s best to make sure your sump pump is in working order or risk potentially having a flood go from bad to worse.
You can test if your pump is working like it should by pouring water into the pit where the sump pump sits. If your sump pump is in working order, it should power on immediately, drain the water, and then shut down. If there are any problems with your system during this process, it’s time to call a trained technician to fix your sump pump.
Inspect Water Appliances
Checking the supply hoses of your water appliances is essential to prevent future problems from arising. If you see that your dishwasher, ice maker, or washing machine has a water supply hose that is bulging, looks weak, or is older than 10 years, it’s best to get it replaced. If your hoses need to be changed, it’s best to purchase a stainless steel version as they have increased resistance to wear and tear and are more reliable than other hoses.
You should also make sure your water appliances are running correctly. If you find that your dishwasher or other appliances aren’t working as well as they used to, it might be time for a replacement.
We’re Here For All Your Plumbing Needs!
No matter what plumbing problem you find with your system during your spring maintenance check, the team at Morris Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning has got your back. From leaks to installations, our plumbers have the tools and know-how to get your plumbing back in working order. Contact us to schedule your appointment today!