Ten Spring Plumbing Tips for Homeowners

When you need reliable plumbing services in New Jersey, call us at Gladiator Services at (201) 571-1715.

Few seasons are as relieving as springtime. After all, who doesn't love seeing blossoming flowers and better weather after a long, nasty winter? Spring brings renewal and growth, so it's the perfect time to inspect and maintain your home's plumbing system.

Spring plumbing care is essential, as the cold-weather season can be hard on pipes and appliances. It's also a great way to ensure your system works well during the summer season.

Here are ten spring plumbing tips for homeowners to help keep your plumbing working smoothly. If you follow these tips and trust your local plumbing services in Hillsdale, NJ, your system will work wonderfully this spring and beyond.

1. Inspect Your Water Heater

Water heaters undergo strain during the winter months. While they're great for keeping your water supply hot, they can suffer damage over time. Common water heater issues include broken pressure relief valves, cracked tanks, sediment build-up, thermostat issues, and water leaks.

Failure to maintain your water heater may lead to problems such as water damage, scalding, and even catastrophic explosions. If your unit is over ten years old, it's at increased risk of suffering from any one of these problems. 

Inspect your water heater for any signs of leaks or external damage. Next, ensure the thermostat is set to 120 degrees, preventing any chance of scalding water. Contact a professional immediately if you notice any broken pipes, rust buildup, or other plumbing problems.

2. Test Your Toilets

Few household fixtures are as important as toilets. Sometimes, toilet pipes can freeze during the wintertime, cracking and leading to flooding. Check your toilet for any signs of water buildup, and inspect each of its parts for any flaws.

You can use food coloring to ensure your toilet isn't leaking. First, place a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank, and then wait an hour or two. If your toilet bowl's water changes color, your toilet is leaking. 

3. Inspect Your Sinks

Few spring plumbing tasks are as important as inspecting your sinks' pipes. Take a look at your kitchen and bathroom drains and ensure they're free of food, grease, and grime. You can also install drain traps to keep your sinks working properly.

You'll also need to inspect the pipes underneath each of your sinks. Look for frozen, damaged, or cracked pipes, and ensure that everything is connected. Don't hesitate to contact a professional if your sink's pipes appear damaged. 

4. Clean Faucets and Shower Heads

Shower heads and faucets can experience sediment and rust buildup over time. Use wipes or other cleaning tools to remove grime and hard water buildup from your sinks and shower heads. Also, try using a vinegar and water solution to remove particularly caked-in, nasty substances from your faucets.

5. Look for Water Leaks

Water leaks can occur anywhere in your home's plumbing system. While it's important to check obvious culprits such as toilets and sinks, inspect your entire property for any signs of water damage.

Pipes located in walls and floors can leak, causing discoloration and stains. Contact your local spring plumbing experts if you see any signs of water damage.

6. Check Your Sump Pump

If you own a sump pump, you probably rely on it to keep your basement or crawl space water-free. However, sump pumps frequently wear down over time and can suffer from several different malfunctions. Inspect your sump pump for any broken parts, and test it to ensure it works properly.

You can test your sump pump by dumping water into it. If the float switch works and your pump drains the water, you're in the clear. However, if it acts slowly or fails to drain at all, you should consider hiring sump pump repair services.

7. Maintain Your Pipes

Your home's water supply relies on a network of pipes to operate effectively. Pipes give plumbing systems the ability to perform their two main roles, that being to transport hot and cold water and to dispose of wastewater.

If one or more of these pipes freezes, rusts, cracks, or breaks, your entire water system may be at risk. While many pipes aren't readily accessible, you can check outdoor pipes for damage.

8. Reset Your Water Valve

You should test your water valves at least once a year, and there's no better time to reset your valves than the spring plumbing season, as water valves often experience stress and strain during winter. You'll want to ensure they're working properly to avoid further issues.

Locate your home's water valves, then turn them off one by one. After waiting a while, turn them back on and test your water supply. You'll know if your water supply is working properly, and make sure your valves aren't too sticky and tight.

9. Clean Your Gutters and Spigots

Often, gutters become clogged with leaves, branches, pine cones, and other objects. During winter, they're also prone to ice and snow damage. 

Access your gutters using a ladder if needed, then remove any build-up you see. Finish your gutter cleaning by using a water hose to flush them out. Contact your local gutter maintenance experts if you notice any cracks, chips, or holes in your gutters.

In addition to cleaning your gutters, you should inspect your home's outdoor water spigots. Cold weather can freeze and crack your spigots, so test each of them to ensure they functioning. Broken water spigots can suggest further problems with your plumbing system.

10. Check Dishwasher and Washer Supply Hoses

Check the hoses that connect to your dishwasher and washing machine. Make a note of any cracks or leaks, and then purchase and install replacement hoses. Hoses over ten years old are in particular need of inspection and replacement.

Quality Plumbing Services in Hillsdale, NJ

If you need spring plumbing help for your Hillsdale, NJ home, look no further than Gladiator Services. Our experts are familiar with different types of plumbing pipes and can help you with whatever problems you have.

Call our Gladiator Services team at (201) 571-1715 for a quote.