How to Prepare Your Home for Spring

Plumbing, Plumbing Repair

Emerging from a cold winter into spring can feel amazing. But before you start planning ways to absorb as much sunlight as possible, there is work to do for the new season.

Spring presents a great opportunity to assess the state of your home, namely any drains or pipes. Let’s be honest, they probably haven’t been inspected all winter so now’s the time to do so.

Most of these types of inspections can be performed on your own but our team of Parker-Arntz plumbers are always happy to help resolve water leaks, clogged drains, sewer line issues and more.

Continue reading to learn about the various ways you can prepare your home for warmer weather.

Check Faucets and Pipes Under Sinks

A good starting point is to check sink, bath, and shower hardware to see if there is any seeping or leaking happening. After inspecting the faucets, be sure to also look underneath any sinks at exposed pipes.

Are the pipes showing signs of rust or corrosion? If yes, give our plumbers a call. We can repair rusted parts and put a stop to further deterioration.

Monitor Your Washer’s Supply Hoses

Don’t put off this task until it’s too late. No one wants flooding inside of their home and a washing machine temporarily out of commission. Spring is the perfect time to make sure all of your water supply hoses are in working order.

To check the state of the hoses, first pull the washer out from the wall. Make note of any signs of drips or leaks on the floor. Next, look at the hoses themselves. Are there cracks or bulges on them? This can happen with rubber hoses that are deteriorating.

If your rubber hoses are at least 5 years old, it is wise to replace them soon. Until the supply hoses are able to be fixed, try to avoid running the washing machine when no one is home.

Watch for Sweating Pipes

As the temperature rises, you’ll notice condensation forming on the outside of your pipes. Essentially, this happens when the water inside of the pipes is colder than the surrounding environment.

While this is a common occurrence when it’s warm outside, it is still water waste. An easy solution is to wrap or insulate your pipes, much like you would in the winter. This then keeps them protected and prevents water from being wasted.

If your pipes are doing more than just sweating, we can help. Our plumbers can inspect your home for damage to drains, sinks, toilets, showers, bathtubs, and more that may be causing plumbing leaks.

Test Your Sump Pump

A sump pump is what helps to keep your basement or crawl spaces nice and dry. If your home has a sump pump, you will want to periodically test it out to see if it’s able to still suck up water and direct it away from your home.

To do this, first make sure it is clean by disconnecting the power source and removing the pump. Be sure to also clean the pump screen or inlet every 3 to 4 months.

Once it’s cleaned, put the unit back and restore power. You can then perform a small test by pouring some water into the sump pit. If everything is working properly, the pump will quickly turn on, expel the water, and shut off without issue.

Clear Out Debris in Yard Drains, Gutters, and Downspouts

Leaves, dirt, grass clippings, sticks. These forms of debris and more can unfortunately end up in your drains, gutters, and downspouts. If they are not removed, these areas will become clogged and prevent proper drainage.

Too much buildup can be a pain to deal with down the road so we advise that these areas are open and cleaned out completely as the weather warms up. If you need assistance, our trained plumbers can flush clogs from a variety of drains and sewer lines so you’re operational in no time.

Call Us Today

Need help with upcoming maintenance for spring? Our team of trained plumbers in Greenville, Belding, and Livonia, MI, are available to help you prepare and settle into the warmer seasons.