You may already be aware that your heating and air conditioning equipment needs annual HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) maintenance, but were you aware that you also should have an expert perform your annual plumbing maintenance? Niagara Home Services by Enercare offers the Plumbing PLUS™ Maintenance Agreement for Niagara Falls homeowners to help them uncover issues before they turn into big problems. While you should always call for plumbing problems and schedule your plumbing maintenance yearly, here are a couple ways you can get your home in tip-top plumbing shape for spring.
Look at all your faucets and toilets for any leaks. Confirm there is no water dripping out of or around the connections when you shut off your faucets. If there is, installing new fixtures or repairing the leak could help enhance the faucet’s performance and may even save you money on your water bill.
After the faucets, scan any exposed pipes for signs of leaks. You can usually access visible pipes in the basement and under sinks. Sometimes pipes can freeze and then crack so spring is the perfect time to make sure the winter weather didn’t cause any damage or plumbing problems.
- Give your drains some long overdue love
Examine your toilet for any cracks or leaks in both the bowl and tank. If your toilet appears to be in good condition, go ahead and put about six drops of food color into the water in the tank. Wait for about 35 minutes and then look at the bowl. If the water in the bowl is clear, you’re fine. If the dye appears in the bowl, you might have a leak and should call a plumbing expert.
- Don’t neglect your water heater maintenance
If something foul seems to be getting in from any of the drains in your home, it could be an indication that plumbing maintenance is needed. A properly functioning drain shouldn’t release smells into the air. Confirm there are strains installed in all your drains to stop hair and other debris from spoiling in the pipes and resulting in a clog. After you’ve treated with a common drain cleaner, pour a gallon of water through drains that are not used regularly. This will fill the trap and help to stop odors from sneaking in and filling up your home.
Your water heater takes great care of you so be sure you’re returning the kindness. Keep in mind that newer water heaters have a higher efficiency, so if yours is more than 15 years old, it is probably about time to purchase a new one to be sure you don’t have that unpredicted burst of cold water for multiple days. Regardless if you plan on purchasing an upgraded water heater, there are some things you can do to help keep it operating properly.
Make sure the temperature setting on the equipment is not set higher than 120°F. This will help reduce your energy use (and help decrease your bills) while also evading scalding. As a safety precaution, you will want to move away any items from around the water heater. Your 12 month Plumbing PLUS Maintenance agreement includes a water heater maintenance; and it may even help your water heater operate more efficiently and avoid plumbing problems moving forward.
These are just a few ways of how to help get your plumbing ready for spring, but if you are not comfortable completing any of these tasks, please call Niagara Home Services by Enercare and we can come out and perform your seasonal plumbing maintenance and repair (or help avoid) any plumbing problems.