As spring approaches in Tucson, AZ, now is the time to get ready for some spring plumbing maintenance tasks. You may be relying on your plumbing more frequently in the warm weather to fill up your pool and water your lawn. By following our checklist, you can ensure that your home’s plumbing system is efficient and safe throughout the year.
Checking for Signs of Leaks
It doesn’t take much water to cause a disastrous situation in your home. If you have a pipe leaking somewhere in your residence, this can lead to wood rotting and structural problems, mold growth, and damage to furnishings. As a homeowner, look for things like condensation on or around pipes, pooling water on the floor, dripping faucets, water stains, and a toilet that runs on its own. One of our plumbers can assess the extent of the leaks in your home, providing you with effective repairs to protect your property. You should check for leaks every few months. Also, our team can provide you with a professional inspection once per year.
You can spot a generalized leak in your home by looking at your water meter. If all the faucets and appliances in your home are turned off but the meter is still moving, there is a leak somewhere within your home. We can check for a leak using listening discs or video inspection equipment.
Consider Insulation for Your Plumbing
Are you concerned that you’re spending too much of your household budget on your water bill or the energy bill that pays to heat your water? Spring is the perfect time to insulate your plumbing system if you haven’t already done so. There may be certain areas of your plumbing system that you want to target, such as pipes that are near exterior walls. This prevents the outside elements from negatively affecting the temperature of your water.
Foam tubing insulation is affordable and convenient. You can cut this tubing to fit around your most vulnerable pipes. Spray foam insulation is also a great investment. It’s easy to spray into the different crevices in your home and is resistant to mold and moisture. Loose-fill insulation and fiberglass batting are other insulation options as well.
Clear Drains
Don’t wait for your drains to stop flowing completely before you reach out to our team. We can provide you with a preventive drain cleaning procedure that will remove built-up debris, sediment, and mineral deposits. We recommend that you avoid using chemical drain cleaners in your home. Their caustic nature can cause permanent damage to your plumbing system. These chemicals are also extremely dangerous to your health and well-being.
Don’t forget about the drains that are outside. In the springtime, freshly cut grass, branches, and leaves can cover these drains. This can prevent a proper flow of water, which can lead to property damage. Debris can also make its way into the drain and cause a clog.
Maintain Your Water Heater
Let us inspect your water heater for signs of wear and tear. We may need to make minor adjustments or repairs in the spring to get you ready for the next season ahead. We recommend routine water heater maintenance once a year.
This process of inspecting and maintaining your water heater includes draining the tank, flushing it out, and inspecting the anode rod. This is a sacrificial rod that will collect some of the sediments and minerals in your tank. This protects the rest of the tank from corrosion. The anode rod will eventually become damaged to the point where it needs to be replaced. We will also inspect loose connections, damaged seals, malfunctioning thermostat components, etc.
Check Your Washing Machine
Now is a great time to check the hoses on your washing machine. Make sure they are connected and don’t leak. Consider replacing any hoses over 10 years old with more durable stainless-steel hoses.
Consider Toilet Issues
If your toilet is experiencing issues, this can affect your monthly utility bills. You may be risking damage to your home if your toilet were to malfunction and flood your bathroom. Leaks between the tank of your toilet and the bowl can occur subtly or much more severely, resulting in a lot of expensive water loss.
You can test for a toilet leak by placing a few drops of food coloring inside the top tank of your toilet. Wait at least an hour before checking in the bowl area. If there is a leak present, you will be able to see colored water in your bowl. We may need to replace a seal if the problem is minor. There may be a need to replace your entire toilet if cracks or extensive damage are present.
While the toilet should last a few decades, interior components like seals and floats can degrade. There could also be a buildup of toilet paper and other debris in the pipes coming from your toilet. This can be cleared away with routine drain cleaning prior to a clog forming or a pipe bursting.
Water Pressure Concerns
Many homeowners have an easy time spotting a change in water pressure. However, subtle changes may have occurred over a longer period, so you may not notice a water pressure problem. We can check the water pressure at each of your faucets and fixtures. If we find that there are one or more faucets or fixtures that aren’t allowing proper water flow, we’ll determine what the cause of the problem is and make repairs.
If your showerheads look white and crusty, your water pressure may be less than ideal. Tie a bag of vinegar over the showerhead before you go to bed. In the morning, the built-up mineral deposits should be gone.
Change Your Water Filters
Systems like a whole-house filtration system, a drinking water system, and a water softener may all have filters in them. These filters should be changed once every 6-12 months, depending on the type of equipment you’re using, how often you use it, and the quality of the water in your home.
Check Your Outdoor Plumbing
There are usually several spigots, faucets, and fixtures on the exterior of your home that should receive yearly spring maintenance. As you turn each fixture on for the first time each year, we recommend that you check for signs of leaks, low water pressure, or contaminated water. If any of these issues are present, reach out to our team for assistance. Backflow and contaminated water are extremely risky situations that can make you and your family sick.
For more information on spring plumbing maintenance in your Tucson home, Cal’s Plumbing is here to help with a full range of plumbing services. We also offer emergency plumbing repairs, inspections, pipe installation, gas lines, and backflow prevention. We take care of drains and hot water heaters as well. If you are concerned with the quality of the water in your home, we can provide testing and the installation of filtration equipment. Contact Cal’s Plumbing for plumbing assistance in Tucson today.
