Spring Cleaning your Plumbing System
It is finally spring, and everyone is rushing to spend some time outdoors. But if you haven’t completed your spring cleaning yet, it’s still an important task to do before you completely abandon the indoors. And one of the key steps to spring cleaning is one a lot of people miss: the plumbing. Spring cleaning your plumbing will make the summer (and rest of the year) more enjoyable and will freshen up your space!
Check your outside pipes
Spring is a time of growth, which is great. But when it comes to your sewer drain system, too much growth – of root systems – can be a disaster. Roots and vines can cause havoc on your sewer system and create blockages or even damage pipes. Spring is a great time to have a sewer drain camera inspection to check on the state of your important pipes. This small bit of prevention isn’t exactly cleaning, but it helps to avoid a horrible mess (and a giant bill). If you have large trees around your sewer line, it might be time to investigate tree or root removal.
Outdoor taps and hoses
If you haven’t already, now is a great time to hook up and turn on outdoor taps and hoses. Put down your drainpipes (away from the house) and check for any leaks or breaks in your hoses. Clean your taps and hoses so that the water that comes out of them is clear enough to drink! Make sure you deal with any malfunctioning shut off valves now, so you don’t have to worry about it when it is time to winterize your plumbing.
Spring cleaning your indoor pipes
Once your outdoor pipes are taken care of, it’s time to bring the cleaning inside. If your pipes smell or don’t drain as quickly as you would like, now is a great time to give them a good cleaning. But even if you don’t have issues with your drains, prevention is always a good idea. If you have clogs, you can invest in a plumbing snake and clear those clogs that are preventing you from having fast draining drains. You can also start using enzyme drain cleaners to clear smaller clogs or prevent clogs from building.
Check your Sump Pump
Spring is an important time to make sure your sump pump is working well. Especially when it is dry and the ground starts to pull away, any sudden moisture can cause a real headache. You can follow these steps to make sure your sump pump is ready to handle the water that comes with springtime.
Inspect your water heater
Your water heater is a key part of your plumbing system (and your morning routine!). It is important to take a few minutes in the spring to inspect this often overlooked but hardworking unit. Check for any obvious signs of wear and tear, like rust. You might consider cleaning out sediment buildup by flushing the hot water heater (or having a professional do it). This will improve efficiency and help your water heater last. It’s also a great time to check for leaks and move any items that have found their way to be stored around your unit.
Spring cleaning isn’t the best way to use these longer and warmer days, but it is an important part of home ownership. And the cleaning you do for your plumbing now will pay dividends in reduced headaches and emergency plumbing bills later!