Is a homeowner’s work ever done? Not entirely. But who needs us to point out the obvious?!
While some chores and projects can – and, in many cases, should – be tackled throughout the year, others are more Home Plumbing seasonal in nature. Take keeping your plumbing in top working order, for example – or at least taking steps to prevent problems and potentially costly repairs.
Here are a handful of DIY plumbing tips ideally suited to spring.
1) Give your kids a time out from Minecraft and have them check your toilets for leaks. Have them simply add a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes. We recommend avoiding using red food coloring, though. It might stain your toilet.
2) Make sure yard drains, gutters and downspouts
are cleaned out and free of debris, especially if you didn’t perform maintenance in the fall. These are natural repositories for leaves, sticks, pollen, dirt and who knows what else, the combination of which can obstruct the flow of water.
3) Make sure your toilets flush properly.
If the handle must be held down throughout the flush or jiggled to stop the water from running, there’s probably a worn out part or two that needs to be replaced. You can do it – simply look up the make and model online for the DIY instructions.
4) If you don’t have drain strainers,
now’s a good time to add them, especially in your tub or shower. That’s where hair and soap scum can form an obstacle that can create a difficult-to-clear drain clog. So instead of cleaning the drain, clean the strainer and toss the collected matter into the trash.
5) Make sure your water temperature is set just right. Anything over 140 degrees is too hot, where 120 degrees is the norm for thorough washing and cleaning without a heightened risk of scalding.
6) Check your sump pump before the rain starts pouring at full tilt. Better you should find out sooner than later if it needs to be repaired or replaced.
7) Check for slow leaks. This can be done by taking a reading on your water meter before bed. The next morning, take another. Without using any water overnight, the reading should be the same.
Taking these simple steps can help you prevent problems; or, it can alert you to problems not yet fully developed. For any that you can’t manage on your own, there’s Eagle Service Company ready to step in and lend a helping hand. Call us now or anytime for first-rate service.
