Preparing Your Home Plumbing for Spring

The weather’s getting warmer, and by now your home’s plumbing system is acclimated to the more irregular use of the winter months. As you prepare for spring, here are some things you can do to make sure your home plumbing is prepared along with you.

Inspect your home for any slow water leaks. Freezing winter  temperatures can cause ice to form in water lines.  Since water expands as it freezes, ice in the water lines can cause a cracked water pipe.  To check for leaks, record the number on your water meter at night before going to bed, and take another reading the next morning, making certain not to use any water during the night – be sure to turn off icemakers and don’t flush your toilets. If the morning reading shows any is higher than when you went to bed and you are sure that no water was used during the night, you very likely have a leaking water line. Check any exposed pipes – indoors and outdoors, in cabinets, basements or crawl spaces – for any signs of water leaking.  You may also have  leak in the water supply line buried in your yard.  Look for a soggy spot in the yard that doesn’t dry out.

Also check your appliances like your washing machine or dishwasher for leaks in their supply hoses. Any hoses that show any damage should be replaced, as should supply hoses that are older than ten years. You should consider installing flood alarms in certain areas like basements. Flood alarms will alert you to any leaks or water that they come in contact with.

If your home was installed with a sump pump, be certain that it operates correctly. Try pouring a few buckets of water into the pump’s pit. If it works properly, the pump should quickly activate and expel the water before shutting down.

Test Your Sump Pump At Least Twice A Year

For the millions of Americans suffering through drought conditions, your sump pump is one of the furthest things from your mind right now.  However, it is important to test the sump pump regularly to make sure it will work when you need it.  In some homes, the sump pump is frequently called into action and these homeowners can be reasonably confident that the sump pump is working properly.

On the other hand, most sump pumps installed in basements and crawlspaces are used very infrequently.  Some may sit for months or years before they are needed.  The important thing is that the sump pump works properly when you need it.  That’s why regular sump pump testing is important even in the driest conditions.  You are taking your chances if you wait until the basement is filling up with water.  You want to choose a dry day to make sure that the float switch is working freely, the pump operates smoothly, and there is nothing blocking the discharge line.

Fortunately, you can easily check all of these things with one simple test.  First, open up the lid to the sump and inspect the sump well with a flashlight to make sure it is free of dirt, debris, and other foreign materials.  Use a shop vac to clean the well if necessary.

Next, slowly pour a 5 gallon bucket of water into the sump and watch to make sure the pump actives and pumps the water out of the sump.  Repeat the process so that the pump activates and shuts off properly at least twice.  Check outside to make sure the water was discharged away from the house through the discharge outlet.

If all is well, close the lid – you are done until next time!  The test is so easy that there is no good reason not to do it twice a year.  Try adding it to the list of things you do every time you set the clocks ahead or back for daylight savings time. If there were any problems encountered, have the sump pump checked out by a good local plumber.