It’s been a long long long winter. Spring is finally here and now is the time to check for water leaks. I’m sure you are already planning your fun for the summer, so let’s get some home maintenance out of the way.
Check for Pipe Damage
Cold weather is notorious for causing pipe damage with the severe temperatures that winter can bring. Grab a flashlight and start investigating the dark corners of the basement and under the sinks. Leaks can start out small and are not as obvious as a pipe that is suddenly spraying water.
Toilets
High water bills are often caused by toilets … and many homeowners never even realize it. The often silent loss of water from damaged flappers or water valves can waste 30-250 gallons a day, depending on the size of the leak. That’s a lot of water (and your hard earned money) being flushed away.
Toilet Leak Test
This test is so simple, you can do it before your morning coffee wakes you up. Place 1 teaspoon of food color into the tank. Wait about 10-15 minutes. Make sure not to flush the toilet during that time. Look inside your toilet bowl. If the water is clear, then you are happily not wasting water. But if the water changed color, then you have water leaking from the tank. Check out our blog post on How to Fix a Running Toilet for some tips.
Check Yard for Drainage Problems
Take a stroll around the yard when it is dry enough in between spring rains. Are there any areas that seem to be staying wet that didn’t before, while the rest of the yard is dry? That could mean you have a pipe leaking underground. We can help you figure out the cause.
Test Outside Faucets
We’re sure you took all the necessary precautions to keep your outside faucets safe from the damage winter can bring. But it’s always a good idea to give them a good check before you need them. Turn them on to get water flowing and then turn them off to check for leaks.
It’s been a long tough Connecticut winter. We hope your plumbing system made it through without leaving you any unwanted surprises. But if you find leaks, check out our money saving coupons and then give Rick’s Plumbing a call. If you need it quick, call Rick!