A Fall Plumbing Maintenance Guide To Ensure A Healthy System

At any time of year, it’s important to keep your plumbing system properly maintained. In the fall, plumbing maintenance is essential to make sure your system is prepared to get you through the coming winter.

There are a number of things you can do to keep your plumbing in good condition. Here’s a handy fall plumbing maintenance guide to get you started.

• Check for leaks. Go through the faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as showerheads, to make sure they turn off fully and are not leaking.

• Check your toilets. Look for cracks in the bowl. Flush to see if it stops on its own or if you need to hold or jiggle the handle. (Many households get used to doing this; in fact, replacing your flushing mechanism is fairly inexpensive and can save you a significant amount of money and water). Also, look for leaks by putting a little bit of iodine into the toilet tank. If your toilet is leaking, the iodine will seep into the bowl within about half an hour.

• Check for clogs. Examine all the drains, as well as gutters and downspouts, to make sure there is no debris or blockage. Clogs can cause water damage, as well as mold. Also, install filters on each drain if you don’t have them to help prevent future clogs.

• Test your sump pump. Pour a couple of buckets of water into your sump pit and see what the pump does. If it doesn’t turn on, or, once it’s on, doesn’t turn off, then there’s a danger of flooding.

• Clean your showerhead. Mineral deposits can build up inside your shower head, causing it to clog. To clean it, fill a small plastic bag with vinegar and put the bag over your shower head, holding it in place with rubber bands. The vinegar will break down the minerals, and your shower should be clean in about 24 hours.

For more fall plumbing maintenance guide tips, contact our experts at Sobieski Services.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Wilmington, Delaware and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

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