Now that spring is here, there are several common plumbing problems to watch out for in your home. That's why we compiled this Ultimate Spring Plumbing Maintenance Checklist. From problems with your water heater to slow or clogged drains, here are the tell-tale signs and symptoms of when it's time for spring plumbing maintenance.
Water Heater Repair or Replacement
Water heaters are essential to our lives. We rely on them everyday to produce hot water for us so that we can perform important tasks like cleansing and sterilization.
Because of this, it's crucial we ensure that we keep our water heater operating properly, which is why water heater maintenance is #1 on our spring plumbing maintenance checklist.
In fact, whether you own a brand new water heater or an older one, to keep it running effectively, it's important to make sure you're regularly maintaining it as well as knowing when it's time to repair or replace it.
The normal lifespan of a water heater is 7 to 13 years. A properly operating 40 or 50 gallon tank should be able to supply enough hot water for two or three back-to-back showers.
However, there may be times when your water heater functions abnormally, and this may point to problems with your water heater. Common water heater problems include:
No hot water
Rust-colored water
Leaking or pooling water
Odor in your water
Not enough hot water
If you encounter any of these problems with your water heater this spring, this means that your water heater may need maintenance to restore maximum output, or it may also mean that it's time to replace it.
Having enough hot water when you need it is important for your home. An Estes certified professional plumber can help you with water heater repair or replacement.
Dripping Faucets
Did you know? At just one drip each second, a single faucet leak could cause more than 3,000 gallons of water waste over a year. This could, in turn, negatively affect the environment and cause your utility costs to increase.
A dripping faucet is a result of a washer being damaged inside the fixture. This happens due to the material, often a silicone washer, breaking down overtime.
If your cartridge faucet has a leaky spout, it's probably time to replace the fixture's seats and springs. Furthermore, if your faucet handle has leaks around it, it's typically due to worn out O-rings that need to be replaced. We service all plumbing fixtures in Atlanta, Georgia.
Leaky Pipes
A major sign that you may have leaky pipes is if you see water stains on your floors, ceilings, walls, or any area of your home.
Leaky pipes can cause a lot of damage to your home if left untreated. A few common issues it can cause are: excessive black mold, flooding, poor water quality, and stained walls, just to name a few.
When you experience these common issues, it may be a sign that you have leaky pipes. Keep in mind that leaks come in all shapes and sizes; they can affect many areas throughout the home and are difficult to diagnose without a professional plumbing inspection.
Get peace of mind about any leaky pipes in your home this spring by scheduling service with a professional Estes Services plumber, who has been trained on every type of leak.
Running Toilets
A common sign that you have a running toilet is hearing the sound of running water long after you have flushed your toilet or when it's not in use. Another indication of a running toilet is noticing that your water bill has increased.
For each day that you operate on a running toilet, you can waste about 200 gallons of water. To conserve water and prevent your water bill from increasing, it's important that you first figure out the cause of your running toilet so that you can properly fix the problem.
A running toilet can be caused by a number of different reasons, including:
Your toilet handle is broken.
Your fill valve may be leaking.
The flapper may be degraded.
The length of the flapper chain.
If this seems to describe one or more of your toilets currently, you should schedule service with a licensed plumber at Estes Services to get your toilet(s) operating back to normal
Slow or Clogged Drains
Keeping your home's drains healthy and clog-free is essential for preventing harmful bacteria and germs from developing and for ensuring that your plumbing system operates effectively.
Slow or clogged drains can be a sign that there is blockage in your plumbing system, and depending on the severity of the issue, it can worsen overtime if left untreated.
The most common areas of your home that can have drain blockage include:
Kitchen drains where food debris and grease build up overtime.
Bathroom drains that have become clogged from personal care products.
Floor drains (e.g., patios, basements, and driveways) that have become clogged with dirt and leaves.
Most people buy commercial drain cleaning products as a quick and inexpensive solution; however, these products don't necessarily remove the debris that is clogging your drains. Instead, they cause the debris to go further through your plumbing system in hard to access areas.
If you have slow or clogged drains, it's probably time to schedule plumbing service with Estes, so that we can come inspect and clean your lines before small issues become even more severe.
Schedule Plumbing Service with Estes Services
That concludes our Ultimate Spring Plumbing Maintenance Checklist.
If you have any of these tell-tale signs and symptoms of plumbing problems—whether it's a leaky pipe, a slow drain, a clogged garbage disposal, or more—call Estes for your plumbing services. It's that easy!
As a family owned and operated business, we work hard to give our customers the trustworthy workmanship you deserve. Schedule your spring plumbing maintenance with Estes Services today.
