Expert Guide to Spring Plumbing Maintenance
You may already know that your heating and air conditioning equipment needs seasonal HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) maintenance, but did you know that you also require annual plumbing maintenance by an expert? Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts offers the Plumbing PLUS™ Maintenance Agreement for Windsor homeowners to help them discover issues before they turn into big problems. While you should definitely call immediately for plumbing problems and arrange for your plumbing maintenance yearly, here are a couple ways you can get your home in tip-top plumbing shape for spring.
- Verify any plumbing leaks
Inspect all your faucets and toilets for any leaks. When you turn off your faucets check around the connections for water dripping out; if there is, swapping out the fixtures or repairing the leak could help enhance the faucet’s performance and may even lower your water bill.
In addition to faucets, scan any exposed pipes for signs of leaks. You can typically see visible pipes in the basement and under sinks. Sometimes pipes can freeze and then crack so spring is the perfect time to make sure the winter weather didn’t cause any damage or plumbing problems.
- Give your drains some long overdue TLC
Check your toilet for any cracks or leaks in the bowl and the tank. If it looks like it’s in good condition, go ahead and pour about six drops of food color into the tank water. Wait for about 35 minutes and then peak at the bowl. If the water in the bowl is clear, you’re good to go. If the food coloring appears in the bowl, you possibly have a leak and should call a plumbing expert.
- Don’t neglect your water heater maintenance
If an unpleasant odor seems to be getting in from any of the drains in your home, it may be evidence that plumbing maintenance is required. A properly functioning drain shouldn’t release a stench into the air. Verify there are strains inserted in all your drains to stop hair and other waste from spoiling in the pipes and causing them to clog. After you’ve treated with a common drain cleaner, pour a gallon of water through drains that are not used frequently. This will fill the trap and help to avoid odors from sneaking in and smelling up your home.
Your water heater takes great care of you so ensure you’re returning the kindness. Don’t forget that newer water heaters have more energy efficiency, so if yours is over 15 years old, it may be about time to invest in a new one in order to ensure you don’t have that sudden burst of cold water for multiple days. Despite whether or not you plan on investing in a new water heater, there are a few things you can do to help keep it operating properly.
Verify that the temperature is set no higher than 120°F. This will help lower your energy use (and help reduce your bills) while also preventing scalding. For the purpose of safety, you will want to remove anything from around the water heater. Your yearly Plumbing PLUS Maintenance plan includes a water heater maintenance; and it may even help your water heater run more efficiently and avoid plumbing problems from happening.
These are just some ways of how you can help get your plumbing ready for spring, but if you are not comfortable completing any of these tasks, always feel free to call Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts and we can come out and perform your seasonal plumbing maintenance and repair (or help prevent) any plumbing problems.