Spring Plumbing Tips

Spring has sprung, and that means it’s time for spring cleaning around the house. As you tidy up and deep-clean, don’t forget to give your plumbing the attention it deserves. Here are some spring plumbing tips to prevent problems in the coming season.

Kitchen & Bathroom Plumbing Tips

• Repair any leaky faucets you’ve been ignoring.
• Check pipes under the sink for leaks.
• Install mesh strainers over all drains to catch hair, soap particles and other debris before it flows down the drain and forms a clog.
• Listen for “phantom flushes” from the toilet. If you suspect a leak, place six drops of food coloring in the tank. If color appears in the bowl after 30 minutes, you just confirmed the leak. Replace worn tank parts to repair your toilet.
• Inspect the toilet tank and bowl for cracks. Test to make sure the toilet doesn’t rock back and forth on its base.
• Clean mineral deposits from showerheads by soaking them in vinegar overnight. Then, gently scrub the holes to remove loose deposits.

Plumbing Appliance Tips

• Set the water heater to 120 degrees to reduce scalding at the tap and lower your water heating bills.
• Perform a “mini flush” on your water heater by draining a few gallons from the drain valve.
• Consider replacing your water heater if it’s more than 10 to 15 years old.
• Check the rubber hoses behind your washing machine, dishwasher and ice maker. If they’re bulging, brittle or leaking, replace them with steel braided hoses.
• Clean the washing machine lint trap, if equipped.

Plumbing Tips to Prevent Leaks, Floods & Backups

• Pour water down floor drains to fill the trap and prevent sewer odors from entering the home. If water pools around the drain when you do this, schedule drain cleaning to ensure it will carry away water quickly in a flood.
• Check all exposed pipes for signs of leaks.
• Consider installing a sump pump in the basement. If you already have one, test its operation by pouring water into the sump pit.
• Test for slow leaks by checking the water meter. After two hours of not using any water, check the meter again. If the reading has changed, you have a hidden leak somewhere.

Outdoor Plumbing Tips

• Walk around your yard and feel for any sunken or swampy areas that could indicate a leaky underground pipe or septic tank problem.
• Check for bird nests in plumbing vent pipes.
• If you turned off the water to outdoor faucets over the winter, restore the flow and test the hose bibs to ensure they flow freely. Repair leaks promptly.
• Inspect and clean your sprinkler heads in preparation for lawn watering this spring.

For help getting your plumbing ready for warmer temperatures, please contact Bob Hoegler Plumbing at 732-521-0133. We provide plumbing services in Monroe Township and the surrounding areas of Central New Jersey.