Plumbing Maintenance Checklist: Four Easy Steps to Add to Your Spring Cleaning

As summer approaches, it’s time to think about tackling the spring cleaning we’ve all been putting off. It’s time to scrub the walls and move the furniture and wash the windows to start with a fresh home for summer. While you clean your home’s nooks and crannies, it’s also a good time to assess the state of your plumbing systems with a plumbing maintenance checklist.

Routine plumbing maintenance decreases the chance of costly repairs later on, so it’s important to remember your piping systems when you’re fixing up other parts of your home. Make a plumbing maintenance checklist to run through each spring and make sure your plumbing systems are working smoothly.

When you’re cleaning your home this spring, add these items to your plumbing maintenance checklist.

[Related: Reasons You Might Have Low Water Pressure]

1. Fix Leaky Pipes

The first step on your plumbing maintenance checklist is to check for pipe leaks. Look around your faucets for water escaping when the faucet is shut off. Repeat the same process where pipes are visible in your home – like under your sinks. If you leave a pipe leak, it will get worse over time, leaving you with a flooded home, so it’s important to pay close attention when you’re going through your plumbing maintenance checklist.

If you find pools of water or an obvious pipe leak, call your local plumbing company to replace fixtures and repair pipes as needed.

[Related: Why You Shouldn’t Unclog Your Drain by Yourself]

2. Repair Leaky Toilets

Toilets should be another stop on your plumbing maintenance checklist. Go into your bathrooms and look for water leaks around the bowl and the tank. If you want to run a little experiment to see if the toilet is leak-free, drop some food dye into the tank. Leave it there for an hour. If you return in an hour to see color in the toilet bowl, there’s a leak in your tank.

If this is the case, it’s best not to take on toilet repairs alone. Call a professional plumbing company to diagnose and fix your leak. Once you take care of your toilets, you can move on to the next step on your plumbing maintenance checklist.

3. Check Appliances

Your plumbing maintenance checklist should feature an appliance check to make sure your water supply hoses aren’t leaking or bulging. Any appliance that uses your home’s water supply should make it onto your plumbing maintenance checklist – including dishwashers, washing machines, and ice makers.

Check each appliance’s water supply hose for leaks and bulges, and replace faulty hoses as needed. Stainless steel hoses are reliable, stronger than plastic, and less likely to wear down than rubber. If you’re unsure how to replace the hose, contact a trusted plumbing company to assist you.

4. Examine Outdoor Plumbing and Draining

Lastly, don’t forget to put your outdoor plumbing systems on your plumbing maintenance checklist. Check your pipes and drains around your home to make sure they’re free of debris. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris as well. Check outdoor faucets to ensure that water is flowing properly.

Once you take care of each item on your plumbing maintenance checklist, you’ve ensured that your plumbing systems are as healthy as possible. If you find a problem during your search, don’t hesitate to call the reliable plumbers at Central Plumbing Co. in Baton Rouge at 225-925-8552 to take care of any repairs.