April showers bring May flowers and the onset of spring, and since it’s March, it’s coming close for “spring cleaning.” Clear Drain Plumbing offers these maintenance tips to protect your home against plumbing problems:
Kitchen/Bathroom
- Check faucets for drips or leaks.
- Ensure that all drains have strainers to prevent hair, soap and debris from clogging the drain lines. Check toilets for hidden leaks.
- Inspect tank and bowl for cracks or leaks.
Appliances
- Check the temperature setting on the water heater.
- Carefully drain several gallons from the water heater tank to flush out corrosion causing sediment, which reduces heating efficiency and shortens the life of the heater.
- Consider replacing a water heater more than 15 years old.
- Make sure flammables are not stored near the water heater or furnace.
- Check dishwasher, washing machine and ice maker supply hoses for bulges or leaks.
- Clean out washing machine lint trap, if equipped, and place a wire trap or a piece of pantyhose over the end of the hose that drains the washer.
General
- Pour a gallon of water into infrequently used drains (including floor drains) to fill the trap and prevent odors from entering the house. Slow floor drains should be snaked to ensure they will carry away water quickly in the event of a flood.
- Check exposed pipes under sinks and in the basement for signs of leaks.
- If your home has a sump pump, make sure it operates properly by pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should quickly turn on, discharge the water then shut off without any problems.
- Install a backflow valve in the floor drain if you live in an area where sewers sometimes backup into homes. This device will prevent future backups.
If you require any assistance with these preventative maintenance tasks, contact us today!
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