Spring into action it’s time for spring maintenance
Spring is here again, so it is important to take care of some cleaning chores with your plumbing to make sure that it continues to work properly. Performing these simple tasks can help you to prevent large repair costs down the road. Let’s take a look at these spring plumbing tips.
1. Avoid leaky toilets
One of the common problems that often causes a person’s water bill to rise significantly is a leaky toilet. This is because many people do not even realize that their toilet is leaking until they receive their water bill.
However, there is no reason for any person to experience this problem because it is easily avoided. All you need to do is place several food coloring drops into the tank of your toilet.
If you do indeed have a toilet with a leak, you will notice the water in the bowl start to change to the color of the food coloring. It could take as much as a half hour for the food coloring to appear in your bowl.
2. Check to see that your toilet flushes properly
Everyone knows what a proper toilet flush is. You should not need to hold down the handle of your toilet to allow it to flush completely. If this is the case, you have an issue that needs to be corrected. Likewise, it should not be necessary to jiggle the handle in order to get the water to stop running. Fortunately, either problem is easily corrected with a visit to your local plumbing supply store. A new handle, chain and plunger will not cost a lot of money.
3. Remove shower head mineral deposits
You can do this by taking off your shower head and using some vinegar to soak it. You should keep it soaking for at least 12 hours. When you remove it from the vinegar, the deposits can be easily scrubbed away with a toothbrush.
4. Check appliances for hose leaks
You should check your ice maker, washing machine and dishwasher to make sure there are no leaks or bulges in any of the hoses for those appliances. Replace any hoses that have these problems. You should also replace hoses that are more than a decade old.
5. Sump pump
If you have a sump pump in your home, test it to ensure that it functions correctly. Pour several buckets of water into your sump pit. If it is working as it should, the machine should remove the water quickly without sputtering or stalling.
Spring is upon us, which means it’s time to freshen up your Round Lake home. Give Duane Blanton Plumbing a call at (815) 781-2567 for all your plumbing maintenance needs.
