Spring Cleaning!
Spring Cleaning – Your Plumbing Checklist for a Worry-Free Summer!
Spring Cleaning isn’t just mopping your floors, cleaning out the inside of the cabinets, or washing windows. Spring cleaning can range from the process of clearing out all those winter cobwebs, to opening a vacation home for summer use, or going into structural and mechanical repairs / maintenance of your home. Spring is the perfect time to explore the “operating systems” of your home, ensuring your mechanical components are working reliably.
Spring means amazing sunny pockets of days, and we all want to get outside to shake off the winter yuck. The first piece of plumbing I expect to work 100% is my outside hose bibbs. If they are hard to open, hard to close, leak from the handle, or you hear hissing noises when they are closed (turned off), it is a good time to call the plumber. Winter cold can cause damage to the internal components, or cause damage to the supply lines to the hose bibbs, which result in leaks. If you see leaks on the outside of your home, it may not be an emergency repair situation. However, if you hear hissing or water running, and you don’t see any water evidence outside the home, its time to call the plumber.
Spring is a great time to inspect your sump pump and sewage pump. Many homes in our hilly terrain have sump pumps installed to help control water accumulation in low spots of your basement or crawl space. Sewage pumps are common in homes where gravity isn’t enough to move your home’s wastewater and sewage to the City’s sewer line. Basic sump pump inspection includes making sure the pump is plugged in and its circuit breaker is not tripped. Peek at the discharge pipe, to make sure it is clear of obstructions (like winter hibernators, or squirrel stashes), and that it directs water away from your foundation. Inspecting a sewage pump is a messier and stinkier job, but it still needs to be performed to help prevent backups. Check electrical supply, clean out effluent in the chamber and clean filters. If this sounds like something you want a plumber to tackle, give us a call.
Springtime also has me planning for lots of BBQ’s and house gatherings. The last thing I want to worry about is the powder room toilet clogging, or the main bathroom’s sink faucet with no hot water at the faucet anymore – especially when I have a house full of guests. Take the time to go through your home. Test each faucet for opening and closing (on or off). Listen to your toilet, after it flushes and fills, to hear if its still running. Open and close those shower/ tub handles, to make sure they are working well. Pull that tub diverter to make sure all the water flows through the shower head when you want it - and it doesn’t leave you standing in a pool of soapy water when showering. If you find this list of “little adjustments and repairs” grows a bit out of hand, or you are in a pinch for time, let us help you!
Scheduling your summer projects? Springtime is the season for starting to put those great plans from your winter idea boards into action. Renovating a bathroom or kitchen and need help with the water and gas lines? We can help. Working on your backyard patio and outdoor kitchen? We can help with that gas line for the new grill station and decorative fire pit. If you have started your projects and find yourself stuck in a plumbing situation that opened up a can or worms or is a little more challenging than the internet video described – give us a call.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” may be an old adage, but it still applies today. Plumbing maintenance monitors the functionality what is arguably your biggest investment and can save you money by preventing “emergency” situations. With the costs of utilities going up, regular plumbing maintenance can save you dollars in your bill, and you feel better by saving water! Annual plumbing maintenance helps you develop both budgeting plans and improvement plans for your home. Stollwerck Plumbing LLC can assist with everything from remodel/renovation, repair/ service to new installation. Whether its water supply, waste, gas, or plumbing fixtures (including the kitchen sink) – give us a call! (425) 374-3909. Or reach us through our web bubble on www.stollwerckplumbing.com.