Temperatures are beginning to rise in northern Nevada, trees are blossoming, and the birds are chirping! Winterizing your home is essential for its protection during the cold-weather season. However, during Spring, it is critical to prep your home for the rising temperatures and increased water pressure. Here are some homeowner’s tips for Spring to ensure your home and its water piping systems are operating at their full potential!
Check on your Sump Pump and Sewage Injector:
Sump pumps help prevent groundwater from getting into your basement or crawl space. Inspect your sump pump for proper functionality by running water through it. Fill your sump pump with enough water for the float switch to turn on. If it is properly working, the water level will lower. If it doesn’t turn on, you may have a faulty switch. We can help with this! Also, inspect your sewage ejector for proper operation. Pumps should turn quickly, discharge water, and turn off quickly.
Check Washer and Dishwasher Supply Hoses:
These appliances do a lot of work for your home and have many hose attachments. Check for any weakness or cracks in the hoses for replacement. Also, check the dishwater drain hose and door gasket for signs of leaks or cracks. If your appliances’ hoses are over ten years old, it may be time to replace them.
Leaky Toilets:
Make sure your toilets flush correctly. Are you having trouble using the handle? To check if you have a toilet leak, you can drop a few drops of food coloring (any color except red) into the tank and wait an hour to see if the bowl water changes color. If you see color in the bowl, you have a toilet leak, and we are here to help you fix that! Also, check if the rubber flappers are worn from sitting in water and need replacing.
Inspect Faucets and Pipes Below Sink:
Check for soap, food, and hair buildups in your kitchen and bathroom drains. Removing small clogs can help prevent blockages that require professional removal. Replace or add new drain traps for future prevention; these simple improvements can help save water and money. Check the piping under your sinks, and if there are any cracks or leaks in the pipes, these will need to be replaced to prevent further water damage.
Turn on Water Main Valve:
Locate your main water line that connects to your outdoor plumbing and turn it back on.
If you’re in the market for an upgrade, consider installing an app-controlled smart water valve, like the MOEN FLO. You will have the convenience of turning on/off your water line from your smartphone or tablet. If you are interested in installing the MOEN FLO for your home, visit savageandson.com/showroom for more information or contact us at (775) 828-4193.
Check for Slow Leaks on Property:
Check the water meter before going to bed and recheck it in the morning. Installing a Water Management tool like the MOEN FLO can help you determine if you have a leak at your home, all from an app on your phone. Homeowners with this device can turn off the main water line straight from their smartphone or tablet! According to Angie’s List, “a slow drip from an outdoor spigot can add up to 20 gallons of water a day or 500 gallons a month.” Check for debris in plumbing vents, yard drains, gutters, downspouts, and sprinkler systems, and inspect your hoses for expansion before performing a test run of your outdoor faucets. Check sprinklers for signs of leaks, adjust for proper coverage, and adjust the sprinkler clock to account for extra daylight. Check out these tips for checking for yard leaks from Angi.
Check the Hose Bib:
Check for leaks; this can sometimes happen in colder Winter climates (like Northern Nevada) if hoses have been left on the hose bib during the winter months. It can even occasionally freeze the supply pipe and crack during expansion after the pipe thaws out. This pipe can continue to leak and could be damaging to your home. If you are experiencing this, we recommend you call us to help resolve the issue ASAP!
Turn on your Irrigation System:
As the temperatures warm up, you’ll want to check your irrigation system for leaks and cracks. Let us know if you see any Winter cracks in your vacuum breaker or backflow assembly, and we can help you repair it or install a new one! Just email us a picture at service@savageandson.com.
Truckee Meadows Water Authority has a helpful guide to turning your irrigation system after winter. “After you have done the preliminary steps for turning your system back on, watch the low-flow indicator on your water meter. If it is still, no water is being leaked. If the low-flow indicator is moving, first, ensure no water is being used within the home. Then, at the vertical valve and drain sleeves, ensure there is no water filling either sleeve. Next, check your backflow to be sure there is no water dripping from the flat handles, the test cock screws, or the black bonnet (pressure vacuum breaker) located at the top of the assembly. Finally, be sure the drain in your irrigation control valve box was closed snugly, and there is no water dripping (TMWA)”.
Clean the Shower Head:
Little blockages from minerals in the water could collect in your shower head and will cause water pressure issues. Check out these helpful tips for removing them with vinegar from our previous Homeowner’s Tip blogs!
Inspect the Water Heater:
Ensure that your Water Heater’s temperature is not set above 120 degrees. It will save your skin and dollars on your energy bill! Spring is also a good time to drain the sediment from your water heater; sediment can cause corrosion and lower your tank’s efficiency. Check out this guide from Angi for tips for draining and flushing your water heater.
Maintaining a functioning home takes dedicated work; we hope these tips prove helpful! If you are experiencing slowing drains, cracked or damaged pipes, or leaks around your property, we will always be here to help you.
If you live in the Reno/Tahoe area, we are open and available 24/7! Call us at (775) 828-4193 and email us a video of your issue at service@savageandson.com so we can help diagnose the problem before scheduling your service call.
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