The warm weather has finally arrived, and with it comes a new set of home maintenance tasks for you to consider if you are a homeowner.
By staying proactive with home plumbing inspection and maintenance, you can prevent small issues from turning into seriously inconvenient and expensive repairs. Here are a few tips that will help you keep your plumbing in great condition all season long:
- Check your washing machine: It’s quite common for people to do more loads of laundry during the summer, as people get more clothes dirty with all the outdoor work and play. Therefore, make sure you take a close look at the washing machine and its various components and connections to ensure it’s ready for the extra use. Check hoses to ensure they’re in good shape and to avoid leaks, and do everything you can to maximize the unit’s efficiency.
- Analyze your sewer line: Inspect the sewer lines to make sure there are no blockages and that everything drains properly. Sewer line problems may be caused by debris blockages, tree roots or excess rain.
- Inspect pipes and fittings: Check all of the pipes and plumbing infrastructure around your home to make sure there are not any leaks. There’s always the chance small holes could develop over time, especially during and just after winter. The sooner you find these leaks, the easier and less expensive they will be to repair. If you have areas where you can’t analyze the pipes themselves, check the floors and walls around where pipes run for signs of damp spots that could be caused by hidden leaks.
- Be careful with the garbage disposal: Make sure the garbage disposal is only used the way it was intended to be used. There are certain things you should never put down a garbage disposal. These include certain fibrous foods (asparagus, celery, potatoes), coffee grounds, rice, pasta, cooking oils and general trash. A lot of summer foods in particular tend to cause problems with the drains if sent down the garbage disposal, so do not use the disposal as a substitute for your trash can—that’s not what it’s there for.
- Prioritize routine maintenance appointments: Summer is a great time to have annual maintenance performed on sewer lines and other plumbing elements. Even if it’s just an inspection, having a professional come out to look at your plumbing infrastructure will help you discover potential problems you might otherwise have missed, and also give you some peace of mind in knowing you’ve taken sufficient action to keep your plumbing in great shape for years to come.
- Turn down the water heater: During the hotter parts of the year, you can turn down the temperature on your water heater to save some energy. This is especially a good idea if you’re going to be on vacation. You can lower your utility bills and reduce the amount of wear and tear the equipment receives.
For more information about the steps you can take to maintain your plumbing this summer, or to schedule a home plumbing inspection, contact the experts at Rapids Plumbing & Heating Inc.