5 Plumbing Upkeep Duties To Deal with Earlier than the Summer time Months

Can it really be Summer is finally just around the corner. And after a year of stuck indoors, you likely have plans to seriously enjoy the warm months and live life as carefree as possible. Your home’s plumbing probably isn’t high on your list of things to think about right now. But preventative maintenance before those summer days come can give you peace of mind all season long.

“You could host families and friends in the summer and the use of your home’s plumbing will increase. “Be proactive instead of reactive.”

Make sure you do the following projects to ensure a disaster-free summer.

1. Clean any debris from your home’s drains

Drains can become sticky and build up residue over time from daily hand washing, showering, and other chores. While doing your pre-summer maintenance, it’s important to clean the drains to avoid unexpected clogs.

“While some homeowners rely on commercial drain cleaners to get their job done, it’s not always the best or safest option,” says Pruitt. “Consider using an all natural and cheaper option to clean your drains.”

He suggests pouring half a cup of baking soda down the drain, then half a cup of vinegar. The chemical reaction helps clear blockages. After 10 to 15 minutes, slowly pour hot water to remove any remaining residue.

“If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, swap it out for lemon juice – the acidity of lemons can have a similar effect on cleaning your drains,” says Pruitt.

2. Clean the gutters from summer rain

Many plumbers consider gutters to be part of their plumbing system because they move water away from your home. If the gutters become overfilled with water, it can damage the foundation of the house and the walls of the basement, creating cracks that can grow over time.

Pruitt says all kinds of dirt can end up in your gutters, including leaves, twigs, seeds, and even wind-carried trash like plastic bags.

“When this happens, the first part of your home at risk of water damage is the roof, as water buildup can rot your facade, clapboard, and the edge of your roofline,” he says.

“To clean your gutters, use a ladder on level ground that clicks into place,” he says. “Hang an empty bucket at the top of the ladder to catch the debris you want to remove, and be sure to use work gloves when removing the debris.”

Using a hand-held garden tool like a trowel can be useful in cleaning gutters and help scrape up mud from the gutter bottom. Once the gutter is clear, use a hose to wash it completely clean and make sure the water flows freely through the downspout.

___

Reputation: Fix Your Own Garbage Disposer – Without Calling the Plumber

___

3. Test your toilets for leaks

A likely source of pipeline leaks is a broken flap, a small piece of rubber that acts as a stopper and separates the tank from the bowl. When the toilet is flushed, the flap lifts so that water can flow into the bowl below and wash away the rubbish. However, over time, the rubber can degrade, wear out, and crack.

“A good way to test for a leaky valve is to put a few drops of food coloring on top of the tank where the valve and flush valve are. Check that the water in the bowl turns the color of the food coloring you added, ”said Aaron Mulder, co-owner and operations manager of Mr. Rooter of San Antonio.

If you see paint, you have a leaking / surrendering door. Mulder says you can expect to replace your flappers every two to three years. They can be purchased at a local hardware store or home center.

4. Rinse the water heater to remove any buildup

This is one of those annual chores that should be tackled with the rest of your spring cleaning. As the year progresses, calcium and magnesium that can build up in your water heater solidify and potentially mix with dirt and other inclusions and become sediments that build up at the bottom of your tank. The sediment could increase the chances of a leak coming from the bottom of the tank and preventing your water heater from heating as effectively.

“Flushing your water heater is generally an easy task. All you need is a hose that attaches tightly to the flush valve on the side of your tank and a large bucket, ”says Don Glovan, Franchise Consultant at Mr. Rooter Plumbing.

He says that you first close the gas or power connection to your tank and connect the hose to the drain valve. Make sure the other end of the hose is in a large bucket or rain drain, open the drain valve, and let the water drain. Open your temperature and pressure relief valve at the same time.

If there are sediment crystals in the bucket, continue to drain the water. When no more crystals appear at the bottom, close the drain valve and allow the tank to refill.

“Then restart your indicator light or turn your power back on and your tank should heat up again,” he says.

5. Inspect and maintain your septic tank

If your home has a sewage treatment plant, it’s a good idea to make sure your septic tank is ready for additional summer use. This means that you maintain your system well and practice good septic hygiene.

“Regular maintenance can help prevent problems before they happen so that sewage doesn’t get into your garden or home,” says Pruitt. “How often you need inspections and maintenance will vary depending on the type of system you have, but most of them need to be checked by an inspector at least every three years.”

He says a septic inspector will check for leaks, clogs, and other malfunctions and determine if the tank needs to be pumped to remove the solids, the frequency depending on the size of your system, how many people are using it, and how much waste you produce.