We’ve all heard of Spring Cleaning, and most of us devote some time each year to spruce up our homes in ode to the changing of seasons, but how many of us take this time to check out our plumbing systems?

When you are Spring Cleaning this year, make sure you take time to do the following:

• Engage water supply valves under sinks and toilets to prevent sticking and the accumulation of rust
• Run water through faucets and into drains that are infrequently used to prevent odors and check for leaks
• Clean mineral deposits from the shower head by soaking it in vinegar overnight and scrubbing with an old toothbrush
• Flush out corrosion causing sediment by carefully draining a few gallons of water from your water heater
• Check faucets for drips and pipes for leaks
• Inspect toilet tank and bowl for hairline cracks and leaks
• Check to ensure that no flammables have been stored near your water heater in the past year
• Make sure outside gutters and leader drains are cleaned out and clear of debris so water drains properly away from your foundation.

If you encounter any problems when Spring Cleaning or would like a professional to come review the safety of your plumbing systems, call us today at 800-525-6295.

Some people will dump anything in the sink that will go down the drain, never thinking of how it will affect their systems.  “It will just go into the sewer,” they think, “and I won’t have to worry about it.”  Not so.  Sending the wrong things down your pipes can result in clogged drains, expensive burst pipes, water contamination and sewage issues.

Here are just a few things that should never be dumped or flushed:

As the weather turns cold, homeowners throughout the area are faced with a new threat to their wellbeing: frozen pipes.  Frozen pipes occur when water freezes and expands within pipes, causing them to crack and burst.  A cold winter’s night can result in thousands of dollars of damage, without taking the right precautions.

Here are some tips from Kaiser-Battistone to keeping your pipes in top shape during the coldest of days:

• On extremely cold days/nights, open cabinets that house pipes, allowing the heat of the room to naturally insulate the pipes
• Leave taps dripping water to create movement of the water in the pipes
• Even when away from home, keep the interior temperature at 55 degrees or higher
• Drain all underground irrigation systems and hoses
• Protect all exposed pipes, indoor and out, with pipe insulation
• Protect outdoor faucets with Styrofoam faucet covers or hoods
• Invest in a heating cable for any piping that is extremely exposed to the elements

If you fear your pipes have frozen, click here to see our tips on what to do to prevent further damage.

When making home visits for leaking, old water heaters, we are often asked, “If I get a new water heater, how big can it be?  I’m tired of cold showers.”  Our answer usually surprises: The smaller the better!

With today’s technological improvements, there is no need for a big, bulky water heater, when a tankless water heater will work 10 times better in a fraction of the space.  Unlike old-fashioned water heaters, tankless water heaters heat water on-demand instead of storing a limited quantity of heated water throughout the day.  This makes shortened, cold showers a thing of the past, and bulky leaking tanks relics of the olden-days.

Call today to learn more about the benefits of tankless water heaters and if it is time for you to make the upgrade.