Plumbing Tips for Spring

The change of season is always a great time to undertake new home projects, especially those involving home maintenance. One key area homeowners tend to neglect is their plumbing. In this quick blog post, we will look at some plumbing tips and maintenance advice specifically for the spring season.

Plumbing Maintenance Tips

When homeowners think about home maintenance, the last thing that typically comes to mind is their plumbing. Like all aspects of your home, however, your pipes and fixtures need a little TLC as well. And as gross as that may sound, the money you will save by performing this duty (or, better yet, by calling in a plumbing professional), will make the work that much more attractive.

Plumbing Maintenance: Sinks, Faucets, and Shower heads

One of the simplest tips we can give you for maintaining your sinks is to clean out your faucet aerators. Over time, mineral deposits build-up in the screens and this can lead to poor water pressure coming out of the faucet. This is a pretty simple fix and something that shouldn’t take homeowners very long to do. Be sure to clean all faucet aerators in the home, including the ones in the kitchen and bathroom as well.

While you are at it, do the same thing for your shower head. A simple solution of vinegar or a product from the home improvement store can do wonders for your shower experience. Just soak the shower head for several hours or overnight and rinse clean before re-attaching.

Finally, check for any water leaks or problems with water pressure (that are not resolved by cleaning the faucet aerators or shower head). If any are detected, contact a plumbing professional.

Plumbing Maintenance: Toilets

Leaking toilets (and leaking fixtures in general) can cost homeowners hundred of dollars each year – not to mention the damage they can do to a home’s foundation and flooring. Because of this, it is of utmost importance to detect plumbing leaks as soon as possible.

Fortunately for homeowners, there is a simple trick to see if your toilet has a leak. Simply open up the back of the toilet tank and drop several drops of food coloring inside. Let it sit for roughly half an hour and then check the toilet bowl. If there is colored water in the bowl, then you know you have a leak.

While you are at it, be certain to check the tank, bowl and toilet seal on the floor for signs of leaks or cracks. Listen for any sounds of running water after the tank is full and jiggle the flusher to make sure it is not too loose and that the flapper in the tank actually closes and operates properly. Last, but not least, make sure the toilet bowl fills with water after each flush.

If you find any problems with the toilet, replace the parts or the fixture itself. If you are uncomfortable with this, or suspect a plumbing leak, call in the pros immediately.

One additional tip for your bathroom plumbing: purchase strainers for your shower and/or bathtubs. These handy-dandy contraptions will help capture hair and prevent clogs. Be sure to clean them out every so often as well, as hair and soap can build up in them. Running a drain auger or zip down your shower drain will help capture any existing hair and help prevent clogs as well.

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