Plumbing Maintenance Tips For Spring

As the April rain showers pave the way for the growth of flowers in May, the start of spring means the time has come for spring cleaning. Listed below are some spring maintenance tips that will help you make sure that your plumbing system remains in good condition.

Plumbing Tips For Kitchen and Bathrooms

1. Always check faucets for leaks or drips. Repair all bathroom plumbing problems right away to conserve water.
2. Make sure that all drains have strainers so that soap, hair, as well as debris from obstructing the drain lines.
3. Inspect the toilets for any concealed leaks. Add a few drops of coloring to the toilet tank to help you determine if there is any leak. You will see color in the bowl within thirty minutes if you have a leaky toilet.
4. Check the bowl and the tank for leaks or cracks.
5. Exercise water supply valves underneath the toilets and sinks so that they won’t stick.
6. Be sure that the toilets will flush correctly. In case the handle should be held down to get a thorough flush or needs to be jiggled to prevent water from running, you might have to change tank parts that have deteriorated. They are cheap and you will see a decrease in your water bills.
7. Clean the mineral deposits from the shower heads. Unscrew it and then soak it in baggie that has been filled with vinegar. Put it on top of the shower head and keep it in place using a rubber band. Soak it overnight and then take it out and gently rub it using an old toothbrush to get rid of the deposits.

Plumbing Tips For Appliances

1. Check the water heater’s temperature setting. It must be set at 120°F at most to lower energy use and to avoid scalding.
2. Drain gallons of from the water heater tank so you can flush out corrosion that may have been causing sediment, which will lower heating efficiency and cut back the heater’s life expectancy. Visit the website of your water heater manufacturer for instructions about the make and the model.
3. Think about changing the water heater that is over 15 years old. Water heaters in the market today are far more energy efficient.
4. Be sure that all flammables aren’t kept close to the furnace or water heater.
5. Inspect your dishwasher, ice maker, and washing machine supply hoses for signs of leaks or bulges. Chance hoses that show signs of weakness or those that are more than ten years old. Stainless steel hoses are recommended wherever possible. They are extremely reliable and are less susceptible to bursting compared to other types.
6. Clean the lint trap in the washing machine, if it has one, and put a wire trap or a pantyhose at the end of the hose that is draining the washer.

General Plumbing Tips

1. Pour about one gallon of water into drains that are used only occasionally to fill the trap and stop odors from going into the house. You should also snake slow floor drains to make sure that they will carry the water away quickly in case of flooding.
2. Inspect exposed pipes underneath the sinks and also in the basement for any signs of leaks.
3. In case your house has a sump pump, be sure that it functions correctly by pouring water into the sump pit. The pump must quickly switch on, discharge the water, and then turn off without any issues.
4. Set up a backflow valve in the floor drain when you live in a place where sewers oftentimes backup into houses. This device would prevent potential backups.
5. Check for slow leaks in your house by reading the water meter before you go to bed. The following morning, without using water the night before, take a second reading. In case the reading has change, then there is a leak and you have to fix it right away.
6. You should also set up flood alarms. Just like a smoke alarm, the flood alarms is a device that is battery operated. It sounds like an alarm whenever it comes in contact with water. It alerts you to possible leaks or flooding.

Outdoor Plumbing Maintenance Tips

1. Be sure that the yard drains, downspouts, and gutters must be open, clean, and free of debris.
2. Look for bird nests in the plumbing North Myrtle Beach vent pipes.
3. Inspect the hose bibs and faucets to ensure the free flow of water. In case the outdoor faucet drips or if there is a leak inside your house the very first time that the hose is switched on, you might have had a cracked frozen pipe and should be replaced.

Call NMB Plumbing Pros if you need plumbing installation, repair, or maintenance services.

NMB Plumbing Pros North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 (843) 353-6409 http://nmbplumbingpros.com/

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