As you are finishing up your spring cleaning around the house, don’t neglect one very important thing: your plumbing. Your water consumption is likely to increase as the months become warmer, thanks to filling up pools, and summer lawn and garden irrigation, so it’s important to ensure that your pipes and supply lines are in good shape.
A regular once-over can help you detect problems early, before they turn into a homeowner’s nightmare such as a burst pipe releasing hundreds of gallons of water by the hour.
Here are some spring plumbing tips that will help you conserve water and reduce the chances of encountering a serious problem in your pipes.
1. Check sink, bath and shower hardware for signs of seeping and leaks. While you’re at it, take a look at exposed pipes below the sink as well as in your basement and utility room. This is also a good time to check your pipes for rusted, deteriorated hardware. Should you find a section of your home’s water pipes displaying significant corrosion, it’s best to have the part replaced immediately. In many cases this is a simple replacement.
2. Sweating pipes are a common summer occurrence. Your pipes sweat because the water inside them is significantly colder than the outside air. This can make your pipes appear as though they are leaking. Wrapping your pipes — just as you would during the winter — can help protect against this water waste.
3. It’s important to monitor your sprinkler system throughout the season to make sure individual sprinkler heads do not become clogged with obstructions like dirt, grass clippings or other debris. It’s also a good idea to check each head to make sure they haven’t been damaged — perhaps as a result of a careless pass with the lawnmower. A damaged head does more than simply fail to water the area it is assigned; it can also waste water, as fluid is still assigned to the head by the system but isn’t being dispensed as it should be. If you do find a damaged sprinkler head, have it replaced immediately.
4. After its winter rest, you’ll want to be sure there isn’t damage to the exterior hardware and pipes. Turn on the water supply, and throw open the valve. You may hear some rushing air and pops at first. Then, close the valve, checking for leaks and drips. Then head indoors to check the pipes for signs of leaking.
If you find you need help with any of these, we are here for all your Spring plumbing questions and needs!