When spring starts to make an appearance here in Utah, most people are eager to start prepping their gardens for the long-awaited warmer weather. While there is nothing wrong with getting your landscaping in order, one thing that is often overlooked is your plumbing system. We all know that winters here can be brutal on home plumbing, sewer, and drain systems. Frozen pipes in the winter can lead to broken water pipes down the road if left untreated. Here is a simple checklist to help you make sure all your plumbing bases are covered for spring to help prevent potential issues that could have been avoided. Of course, if ever need a second opinion or more work is required than you can handle, you can give us a call for all your residential plumbing needs.
Check Your Bathroom(s) and Kitchen for Leaks
20% of all homeowner damage claims are reported to come from water damage. Over time, a small crack in a pipe can produce hundreds of gallons of water damage. This can lead to an overwhelming number of other repairs you may have to do for your home. Take some time and go around your house and check all the faucets, toilets, shower heads, and pipes for leaks. We recommend going under the sinks just to make sure there aren’t any “hidden” leaks. If you discover a leak and it is not a simple fix, you may need to your pipes re-piped. Also, it is good to double check to make sure your drains have strainers to help keep debris, hair, and soap from clogging your drains. If you are already noticing some water back-up, it maybe be time for a main line drain cleaning.
Check Your Appliances
When we think of our indoor plumbing, we tend to forget about our appliances that are hooked up to the plumbing system. Be sure to inspect water supply hoses to appliances like your washer and dish washer. As a general rule of thumb, if the hoses are more than ten years old, bulging, or looking a little brittle; it may be a good time to have them replaced. For your washing machine, make sure there is a lint trap attached to the hose so lint doesn’t find it way into your drain system. A wire trap or even pantyhose can do the trick.
Inspect Outdoor Plumbing
After a long winter of rain and snowstorms, it is great to get in the habit of checking your outdoor spaces. Make sure you clean your gutters and drain spouts so leaves and other debris won’t cause standing water damage to your roof and gutters. This will also help make sure rain and snow run-off is making its way to the sewer drains. Another easy way to seek out potential leaks is to check your water meter. First, turn off all water inside and outside. This includes lawn irrigation systems. Next, look at your flow indicator which is a small rotating wheel located on the left-hand side. This indicator can detect even the smallest amount of water flow. If you see the dial moving, chances are you could have a leak somewhere. Lastly, when the weather starts to warm up, it is time to remove those cold-weather insulations, like faucet covers and pipe sleeves.
Make Sure Sewage System is Running Smoothly
Once the snow has melted, it is a great time to inspect your sewer system. If you discover any unwanted odors coming from your yard or basement, this could be a sign that your sewer system may have a blockage that is preventing sewage to travel to the main sewer line. Another thing to look out for inside your home is slow draining movement in your sinks and bathtub. If your sewer system is more than 30 years old you may want us to come do a camera inspection to see if there are any “bellies” in the sewer line that may cause issues. In the event that your system is needing some help, we can always perform a trenchless sewer repair, or traditional sewer line repair.
We hope this blog was able to be of help and are always available to set up an appointment! Call today for scheduling. Aloha Plumbing, Sewers, and Drains is proud to serve Lehi, American Fork, Provo, and the surrounding counties with all their plumbing needs.