Plumbing Tips for Utah Homeowners Headed Into Spring

Utah may be playing a trick on us with these spring snow storms,  but as the temperatures rise and you prepare for the warmer months, it’s essential to ensure your home’s plumbing system is ready for the demands of summer. From watering the garden to hosting BBQs, summer often puts a strain on your plumbing. Performing a plumbing check-up before the heat hits can prevent costly repairs and frustrating problems down the road. Here’s a comprehensive summer plumbing checklist to help you keep your system in top shape throughout the season.

Check your Water Heater

Although summer typically means you don’t need as much hot water, it is a good idea to inspect your water heater for damages every year this will prolong it’s life. First vacuum all around it. It is important to make sure that there are no spider webs, dust, or any other form of debris around your water heaters filter. Keeping this filter clear ensures that your water heater gets plenty of air flow. Also check all round the top and bottom of your water heater for rust spots and water. As you are looking over your water heater if you notice any white or green chalky substance on any of the piping above the water heater call Wrights Plumbing and Rooter as that is a key sign that you have a leak.

Check your Hose Bib

During the summer your hose bibs get a lot of use. From watering gardens, filling up kiddie pools and washing cars. Before the busy season really starts checking your outdoor hose bib will allow you to enjoy your favorite summer activities. The biggest thing to do is to check for leaks. When doing this before you turn the hose bib on have someone go inside approximately near where the hose bib goes in the house. When you turn the hose bib on have them look and listen for any signs of water. The number one reason why you might have a leak in your hose bib is when hoses are left attached during cold weather. When hoses are left on it doesn’t allow for your hose bib to drain of water and so the water trapped inside expands and cases your pipes to break. This can result in flooding as well as other damage when the weather starts to warm up.

Check your Swamp Cooler

First what you are going to do is uncover your water heater, remove the panels and clean out any debris or hard water on the panels on in the water pan at the bottom. As you reconnect your water line, check all the connections for any leaks that may have accrued in the cold winter months. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can save you from dealing with costly plumbing issues down the road and help you enjoy a worry-free summer. If you notice any issues that seem beyond your skill level, don’t hesitate to contact us to address them before they become bigger problems. We here at Wrights Plumbing and Rooter guarantee that by doing this spring check list you will prolong the life of your Water Heater, outside Hose Bibs, and Swamp Cooler.