Spring is Prime Time for Plumbing Check-ups and Repairs

Spring is finally here and it’s time to make some quick checks around the house and surrounding propery.  Here are some quick and immediate plumbing tips for you to consider as the weather starts to warm-up and our attention is focused on household maintenance.

Check your drains, gutters and downspouts – which should be clear and free of debris to ensure proper operation. The Pacific Northwest experiences a large amount of rainfall this time of year and you want to make sure you’re ready. If you let the debris build up, gutters and drains can clog, causing water damage, leakage and mold growth – not something you want to deal with! Ensuring that your gutters are clean and water is able to be collected and free flowing is imperative to the health of your landscaping, roof as well as the siding on your house.

Make sure your plumbing pipes and vents are clear of bird nests, leaves, sticks and other debris, this is a simple way to increase the life of your plumbing systems.

Check Your Hose Bib in the Spring

Check out the faucet for leaks – this is especially common in colder climates of Seattle where hoses have been left on the hose bib for the winter. If the water supply pipe has frozen the once frozen pipe can be expanded and may have cracked. This pipe will leak and should be replaced as soon as possible by Bob Oates Sewer & Rooter, before water damage can occur. This is a common phenomena if overlooked winterizing techniques are not monitored in the spring time. And with our March snow- it”s always good to be prepared.

Stop Flooding Check Your Sump Pump for Proper Function

The most important thing you can do to keep your plumbing system safe this spring is to make sure your sump pump is primed and ready for some hard work. If you have not seen to your sump pump (do not worry – you probably are not the only one), test it by pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should kick on in a few seconds, allow the flow of water and then turn itself off automatically. If it does not do it, call your Bob Oates 206.789.4944 and have the sump pump seen ASAP – before it completely burns out.

Other Plumbing Repair Tips

• Check the faucet in the kitchen and bathroom for leaks. The improvements will help save water and money.
• Make sure you have your filters on each drain. This is to prevent hair, soap and other substances that may block your drains. One easy application of this sort of filter is a mesh basket that fits neatly into the drain hole, it allows for easy viewing of issues. These can be purchased inexpensively at most hardware stores.
• Check your toilet for leaks. A leaking toilet can cause a high water bill! Add food coloring to the water reservoir and if it leaks into the bowl, YOU have a leak~. Contact a plumber ( like Boboates.com) for an estimated repair cost.
• Check your toilets to make sure they are flushing correctly. If you must hold or shake the handle, you need to replace the parts of the toilet which are responsible for flushing. They do not cost much and in fact will save you money on your water bill.This is a main reason for expensive water bills, you normally will hear the toilet ”running” and this means you are sending money down the drain!
• Check your water supply valve by turning on and off occasionally. This will prevent them from sticking and becoming unreliable.
• Finally, clean your shower head with vinegar to remove mineral deposits that can clog. Soaking your shower head with vinegar is a good way to clear it out, also scrubbing with baking soda is efficient as well.

Spring in the Seattle area is a wet time of year, take care to check these plumbing issues. If you need help or have any questions call Bob Oates Today! If we can answer over the phone we will.