Spring Plumbing To-Do List

As springtime is now nearly here, your plumbing needs a little bit of preventative maintenance to keep everything running smoothly now that we are starting to thaw out! Here are a few chores to add to your spring cleaning list!

Drain Any Sediment in Your Water Heater

Over time, sediment may collect in the bottom of your water heater. This can not only reduce how efficiently it works in the long run, but it could also mean an early death for your water heater.

Draining your water heater can be a time-consuming process, and it requires a bit of knowledge. If you have never done it yourself, or you’re not entirely comfortable with how to do it, it is recommended that you call a plumber. One of the best plumbing tips we can give you is to make sure you are getting your water heater regularly cleaned. If sediment is left uncleaned, it’s very likely the buildup will cause the water heater to break entirely.

Turn the Valves and Check Your Outdoor Faucets

Where there’s water, there tends to be rust. Here’s another important plumbing tip for you: turn the valves in your plumbing system. Even if they aren’t rusted, they can get sticky and nearly impossible to turn if left untouched after some time. While you’re at it, check any outdoor faucets; this can be another indicator of a leak in your pipes. If you can stop the flow of water with your hand, this could mean it’s not getting the full supply of power because of a leak somewhere in your line.

Clean the Gutters

This is definitely on our short list of plumbing tips that aren’t much fun. But it’s also on our short list of jobs that will save you a lot of money if done regularly. Gutters do a simple job: they funnel water away from your home. They help to prevent a lot of damage that water can do to your home over time. But obviously, if the gutters are clogged with leaves, pine needles, and other debris, it’s not going to do that job effectively. Regularly cleaning the gutters is going save you a much bigger headache in the form of water and property damage.

Take care of what you can yourself, and when you need some help, don’t hesitate to call your friends at Shakley Mechanical at 419-281-6909!

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