11 January 2023
 Categories: , Blog

Spring is almost here. It's time to make a plumbing checklist. You might not realize this, but your plumbing should get serviced as soon as the weather warms up. This type of schedule ensures that your plumbing gets serviced at least once a year. You might not know what plumbing maintenance needs to get performed each year. Unfortunately, that means that some plumbing maintenance gets overlooked. If you're not sure where to start with your spring plumbing maintenance, read the list provided below. Here are some tips to help get you started on your plumbing maintenance. 

Check Your Toilets for Leaks

Now that winter is almost over, it's time to check your toilets for leaks. If you haven't seen any unexplained puddles, you might not think you need to worry about toilet leaks. That's not the case though. Toilets don't always leak around the base.

In fact, many leaks happen inside the toilet tank. To test for toilet leaks, you'll want to grab some food coloring. Take the lid off the toilet tank and add food coloring to dye the water inside the tank. Leave the toilet alone for several minutes. If the water inside the toilet bowl changes color, your toilet tank has a leak. It's time to call a plumber. 

Flush Your Water Heater

If you're planning your annual plumbing maintenance, spend some time on your water heater. This step is especially important if your water heater is more than a few years old. The sediment and hard water deposits could be destroying the inside of your water heater. One way to protect your water heater is to flush the tank about once a year.

You don't need to empty the water heater. You just need to remove several gallons of water from the tank. You can use a bucket to do this. Once you drain the water. Turn the water heater back on and allow the tank to refill. This process removes sediment and hard water deposits. If you find leaks while flushing your water heater, call a plumber. It might be time to replace your water heater. 

Inspect the Hoses

If it's been a cold winter, don't forget to inspect the hoses. If you're like most homeowners, you know to inspect your water pipes for signs of leaks. But, you might not know that you need to test the hoses in your home. This includes the hoses on your washing machine, dishwasher, and refrigerator. If you see signs of damage, call a plumber as soon as you can. Damaged hoses need to get replaced as soon as possible. That way, you can avoid leaks and water damage.

Speak to a company like Spartan Plumbing and Services to learn more.