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Getting Your Home Ready for Spring | Tips from Your Trusted San Antonio, TX Plumber

Getting Your Home Ready for Spring | Tips from Your Trusted San Antonio, TX Plumber

Photo By JPC-PROD

Spring is here, and that means it is time to start thinking about getting your home ready for the fresh new months. This year when you start thinking about spring cleaning take a minute to think about your plumbing system. If you haven’t yet scheduled a seasonal maintenance visit, it is time to give your local plumber a call and get on their rooster. Whether or not you had any issues that required you to call a plumbing company during the winter, spring brings with it unpredictable weather patterns and potential damages to your plumbing system.

However, you don’t have to sit around and wait for your basement to flood in San Antonio, TX or your sewer system to back up. Instead, you can assess the condition of your current plumbing system and then get the opinion of some professional to ensure you are ready for whatever spring brings. As with most things, proactive maintenance is always cheaper and more efficient than reactive repairs.

Clean Your Drains 

One of the number one issues with home plumbing systems is clogs. Clogs can happen at any time so the best way to prevent them is by being aggressive with your drain cleaning. Having your drains cleaned regularly helps to prevent clogs and large plumbing issues from occurring. You don’t want to use chemical drain cleaners however, because a plumber will tell you that over time these eat away at the coatings on your pipes, sinks, and counters. In the long wrong, they will end up costing you more money than they will potentially save.

Instead, clean your drains with simple dish soap and hot water. Vinegar and baking soda are also safe materials to use. However, while these materials can help, nothing is a substitute for regular drain cleaning by a professional. Every home with a history of clogs should have a seasonal visit on the books for drain cleaning. If you don’t have one yet, spring is an excellent time to start.

Inspect Basement Plumbing

While you are in the basement taking a look at your floor drains, take a moment to look at the plumbing that is not hidden in your home. While a plumber can investigate your hidden plumbing areas, you should be able to troubleshoot the basement plumbing since it is visible. Not only should you look at your water fixtures and appliances, but also take a look at the exposed pipes. You should be paying special attention to any pools of water, wet spots, or signs of mold.

These can all be indications that there is a leak somewhere along the line. If you find any of these common signs of a leak in the basement, call your local plumber right away. The sooner you address a leak, the better the chances that you won’t have to deal with extensive water damage. Keep in mind that with water damage often comes mold, and mold mediation can also be very expensive. Don’t delay in calling a plumber if you find any reason for concern.

Thoroughly Check Your Home for Leaks

Of course, leaks can occur in any place in your home, not just in your basement. That is why it is important to inspect all of the water fixtures in your home that are visible. Start at the top of your home and work your way down taking special care to inspect all areas above and below sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms. You should not see any water dripping around any connections to your pipes. This is even more true if you are not currently using the fixtures.

While inspecting your fixtures, turn them on and then watch the connections to make sure you don’t see any leaks. Sometimes it is hard to find leaks because of the way your piping is run, but if you see any warning signs then it is time to call your local plumber. Some common signs that you may have a leak even if you can’t find it include water pooling or the sound of water running when you don’t have it on. Alternatively, you can also turn off the plumbing main to your home and then go outside and check your water meter. Ideally, your water meter should not show any water in use. If it does, then you have a leak somewhere and need to call a plumber.

Inspect the Sump Pump

If your home is built on a slope or you have had flooding issues in the past, then you may have a sump pump in the backyard. The beginning of spring is the perfect time to inspect it to ensure it is ready for the heavy rains that are likely coming your way soon in San Antonio, TX. Spring is one of the worst times for your sump pump to stop working or get clogged.

To check your sump pump, fill the basin on it to the top with water. If everything is in working condition you should notice the sump pump start to work immediately. If it doesn’t then it is time to call a plumbing service because something needs to be repaired. Sometimes you can take the basin off and get to the grate under it. If it is clogged it may need to be cleaned, but sometimes the problem is deeper than that. If you need to call the plumber out, have them inspect your other major water appliances like the water heater while out to make it worth your time and money.

bluefrog Plumbing & Drain is a San Antonio, TX plumbing company that has built its reputation by providing excellent customer satisfaction. All of our plumbers are available 24/7 and are highly trained to troubleshoot any plumbing issue. If you need help getting your plumbing system ready for spring, give bluefrog Plumbing & Drain a call and we will set up your seasonal maintenance visit today.

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