Spring is most people’s favourite time of year – temperatures start warming up, there are more hours in the day, baby animals are everywhere, plants become greener and flowers start blooming. Psychologically, Spring can make us feel happier, more energised and motivated to do some spring cleaning or get outside and do some work in the garden.
Your new-found burst of energy to spring-clean your home can be invigorating but we want to ensure that while you’re at it, you don’t overlook your home’s plumbing. Routine Spring plumbing maintenance can help highlight any minor issues before they turn into major ones.
Now that we are heading into Spring, we thought we’d help you with 10 plumbing tips:
#1 Check all your indoor and outdoor taps. It’s possible some of your pipes might have been affected during the colder months so it’s a good idea to check all your taps.
#2 Replace broken or missing strainers. Strainers help to stop drains from clogging up with hair, soap, food and other debris. To save money on drain cleaning, replace any broken or missing strainers.
#3 Check for toilet leaks. A few drops of food colouring in the cistern will soon reveal whether the toilet is leaking. If the water in the bowl changes colour (give it 30 minutes), there’s a good chance you have a leak.
#4 Exercise your water valves. Open and shut all the water valves that supply sinks and toilets to prevent them from getting stuck (a buildup of lime is a classic offender for this). Replace any that don’t function properly.
#5 Test your toilets. The replacement of worn tank parts is simple and inexpensive. To ensure your water bill stays low, test your toilets flush correctly.
#6 Clean your shower heads. Using dishwashing liquid and water, with an old toothbrush, clean out your shower heads and dry them completely. This not only prevents rusting but also gets rid of mineral deposits and any bad bacteria.
#7 Perform a water heater check-up. If your hot water is really “hot”, turn down your water heater temperature to under 50 degrees and check for signs of corrosion and leaks. Puddles of water, rust, lime or soot can be tell-tale signs of wear and tear. If your water heater is over 10 years old, it’s probably the right time to get a plumber to inspect it thoroughly.
#8 Clean gutters and downpipes. Debris, especially from trees close to your property, can quickly end up in gutters and block downpipes, causing leaks and water damage to your home. Clean out your gutters and downpipes using a high-pressure hose or auger, or alternatively call a plumber to do a professional job for you.
#9 Inspect exposed pipes under sinks and vanities. If you notice staining of your cupboard shelves underneath the pipes, you probably have a leak caused by ageing, stress or link wear and tear. Take note and call a plumber.
#10 Check for worn appliance hoses. Make sure you check your water supply hoses to your washing machine and dishwasher as these can be prone to wear and strain. In fact old, worn or kinked hoses have been known to be the cause of many in-house flooding catastrophes. Don’t let that happen to you. If your hoses are more than ten years old, call a plumber to replace them.
The plumbing at your residential or commercial property is important to us at Plumbaround. Our team of Qualified Master Plumbers can perform routine inspections, report on findings, and complete any work that needs to be done, providing you with peace of mind that all your plumbing systems are well maintained and ready for Spring.
We are the plumbers you can rely on!
Contact Us for a chat and an obligation-free quote. We service Brisbane and surrounding suburbs.