Prevent Emergencies With These Seasonal Plumbing Tips
Did you know that water and freezing damage insurance claims average $12,514? That’s an awful lot of reasons to do your best to keep your plumbing leak-free! Doing that means learning to properly care for the plumbing infrastructure in your Belleville, IL home. To help get you started, here are some seasonal plumbing tips to proactively prevent emergencies.
Plumbing Tips for Spring
Springtime is the time of year to check that your plumbing made it through winter unscathed. Here’s how to do that.
Uncover and Inspect Hose Bibs
Your first springtime plumbing task is to uncover your hose bibs, turn their water supplies on, and check for damage. Look carefully for hairline cracks or signs of leakage. Make sure you can turn each valve on and off without difficulty.
Check Fixture Water Pressure
Your next maintenance item is to turn each fixture in your home on to check your home’s water pressure. You can even purchase a pressure gauge for the job if you wish. That will let you compare readings from season to season. You may have a small leak somewhere if you notice a pressure drop.
Look for Pipe Leaks
In the winter, cold weather can lead to contracting pipes. When the warmth of spring arrives, the subsequent expansion can cause leaks. Look under your sinks and at exposed pipes for evidence of water leakage. Catching them as early as possible can prevent sudden plumbing emergencies.
Plumbing Tips for Summer
In the summer, water usage tends to go up. You also start using different parts of your plumbing system. The following tips address those realities.
Test Irrigation Systems
If your home has a sprinkler system, it will work its hardest in the summer. Check sprinkler heads for damage or obstruction. Also, check the connection between your home and your irrigation system. If you use portable hoses and sprinklers, inspect them for leakage.
Check for Toilet Leaks
A small, persistent toilet leak can waste more water than you think. It can also lead to damage if the leaking water escapes the fixture. Put a small amount of food coloring in each toilet’s tank to test your toilets for leaks. If the color turns up in the bowl and you haven’t flushed, your toilet has a leak.
Test and Clean Drains
Summer’s also the perfect time to check your home’s drains to look for clogs. Your sinks, tubs, and showers shouldn’t back up with their drains open. If any do, suspect a blocked drain. If the location of a blockage isn’t immediately apparent, call a plumber.
Plumbing Tips for Fall
Fall is a critical time for your home’s plumbing. It’s your last chance to safeguard your pipes before winter arrives. Here’s how.
Clean Your Gutters
You may not know it, but your home’s gutters are a part of its plumbing. As soon as the leaves finish falling, your gutters need cleaning. Schedule an appointment with a professional, or use an extendable hose attachment to do it yourself.
Test Your Sump Pump
Fall is an excellent time to test your home’s sump pump in anticipation of winter precipitation. A functioning sump pump can avert a flooded basement. Pour water into your sump and make sure your pump activates. If the pump doesn’t turn on or struggles, call a plumber for help.
Turn off and Insulate Hose Bibs
When cooler weather arrives, your hose bibs are especially vulnerable. Disconnect all your hoses, turn off the water supplies to your hose bibs, and let them drain. Then, install insulating foam covers to protect your bibs from freezing.
Plumbing Tips for Winter
When the deep freeze of winter arrives, you want your home’s plumbing ready. The following tips will get it prepared.
Keep Your Heat On
The most important thing you can do to prevent winter plumbing emergencies is to keep your home’s heat on. You should never turn off your furnace or lower your thermostat below 55 degrees. That will help prevent frozen pipes, a significant threat to your home’s plumbing.
Add Insulation or Heat Tape
If your home has pipes in unheated spaces, they’ll need insulation to prevent freezing. Alternatively, call a plumber to install heat tape on vulnerable pipes.
Flush Your Water Heater
Winter means lower incoming water supply temperatures, which force your water heater to work harder. To help it keep up, you should flush your water heater to remove scale and sediment. If you don’t know how to do that, schedule a visit from a plumber to do it for you.
Your Trusted Home Services Partner
For over 65 years, BELOMAN has provided quality plumbing repair and preventative maintenance services in Belleville. We also offer HVAC services, indoor air quality, and duct cleaning. With an A+ rating from the BBB and over 3,500 5-star reviews, you won’t find a better home services partner. If you need plumbing services in Belleville, give BELOMAN a call today!
