The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming and spring is in the air! Warmer temperatures are making their way into town and it’s much needed after the long, cold winter months that seemed like would be here forever. It’s time to start planning your springtime projects, whether you can tackle them on your own or you need to call in the experts, in order to get your home in tip-top shape and ready to take on summer.
When it comes to your home’s plumbing, if you’re an ideal homeowner, there were certain things you shut down for the winter — think outdoor faucets, sinks and hoses. After all, if you didn’t turn off the water feeding these areas of your home’s exterior, there’s a good chance those pipes could have frozen up and cracked.
If you were proactive and took care of these items last fall, it’s time to pay them some attention again to get them ready for spring and summer. Today, we’re going to cover a few ways to get your home’s outdoor plumbing fixtures ready, so let’s get into it!
Turning on the Water
If you turned shutoff valves or levels on the pipes that lead to the outside, it’s time to turn them back on or open them back up. Check for leaks right away, because as we mentioned earlier, these pipes are often susceptible to freezing and cracking.
If all looks okay, head on to the next step!
Checking Outdoor Faucets
Now it’s time to open up those outdoor faucets. Run a bit of water to make sure they’re working properly and that they’re not leaking or dripping. Then close them and wait a few minutes keeping an eye out for drips.
Checking Downspouts & Gutters
This is an area often overlooked by homeowners and it can lead to some serious problems. You’ll want to make sure your gutters are free of leaves and debris and that the downspouts are doing their job of carrying water away from your home.
If not, heavy spring rains can lead to flooding in your home and standing water in the basement, which leads us to our next point…
Checking the Sump Pump
It’s spring and that means it’s also sump pump season. With thawing grounds and the potential for excess rain, you’ll want to make sure your sump pump is working properly should your home begin to flood this season.
Attaching Hoses
Is it really spring or summer if you don’t have a garden hose hooked up and ready to go? Whether you’re washing your car, watering the garden or simply having some fun in the sun with your kids, you’ll want to have a working hose and a functioning hose bib this season.
Attach the hose, turn the valve and make sure water is flowing properly. Keep an eye out for a hose bib that’s spraying water or a cut or slice in the hose that’s causing water to leak out.
Notice issues with your outdoor plumbing as you prepare things for spring? That’s where we come in!
When you are looking for fast, reliable, and affordable plumbing and drain cleaning services, call in the experts at Prestige Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling. We are proud to provide our customers with the comprehensive knowledge we have gained over decades of experience in the industry. Whether you are facing a complex system installation or simply wish to bring in a skilled team to perform routine maintenance to protect your investment, we have everything you need to get the job done right.
Reach out to our team today at 630.801.8600 to schedule your estimate and find out how we can assist you.