Hannah Barney

Spring Cleaning Checklist – For Your Plumbing!

Now that hopefully are done with the cold temperatures, we can move on to getting our homes ready for the warm months ahead of us. And this doesn’t just mean your “typical” home spring cleaning of washing and sorting, but it also means it’s time to give your home itself a check in.

Your plumbing system is something you and your family use every single day – so it’s definitely an important part of your home maintenance. In fact, why not add it into your spring cleaning routine?

Here’s a shortcut checklist to make sure your home’s plumbing will be good and ready for the spring and summer ahead:

  • Check all indoor AND outdoor faucets for any potential leaks or issues.

    • Make note of any potential issues. Even if you are not able to locate the exact source of the leak, having some kind of general location will still help limit the amount of time your plumber will spend looking.
    • Also, take a look at all of your hose bibs for any potential damages. Any of the water that was inside could have frozen or expanded over the winter, leaving cracks in your hose.

  • Inspect all of your exposed pipe.

    • Make a note of any cracks or leaks that will need to be repaired. Check under all sinks and in the basement.

  • Clean out your gutters.

    • Ensuring your gutters are clear of all debris will allow for water to run through them with ease.

  • Check your water heater temperature.

    • The temperature should not be above 120 degrees. This will prevent scalding – especially important if you have elderly or youth living with you.

  • Test your sump pump.

    • Get a couple of buckets of water. Pour them down the pit and check to see if the pump is activated. It should then get rid of the water and shut itself off.

  • Check your toilets for leaks.

    • The old food coloring test is always a great way to check for leaks. Simply put 10 drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If the water changes color after a half an hour, then that’s an indication there is an issue with another part of the tank.

Lastly, we do recommend that you flush your water heater. There are some great tutorials out there, such as this one from the Family Handyman.

However, if you’re uncomfortable with any part of this process or if you would like a more thorough inspection, please do not hesitate to give us a call! We recommend yearly plumbing inspections to help keep your plumbing safe, clean and under control.