When it comes to your plumbing, a little attention throughout the year can help prevent leaks or water damage, and avoid costly repairs, as well as improving the life of your pipes, pumps and water heaters.

With a simple yearly maintenance checklist, you can catch small issues early and keep things flowing all year round.

Winter

As temperatures drop in winter, your main jobs for your plumbing are going to be focused on freeze prevention.

  • Shut off, Drain and Cover Outdoor Taps. Water in outdoor pipes is at particular risk of freezing.
  • Service Your Heating: You should ensure your home stays above 13°C. Especially if you are going away for any length of time, it is important to keep your home warm enough to keep pipes running smoothly.
  • Let Taps Drip. In extreme cold, keep your faucets open just enough to keep water moving though the pipes and prevent freezing.

Spring

Spring is the perfect time to perform a close inspection of your plumbing, to ensure that there has been no damage over winter, and to prepare for increased spring rainfall.

  • Inspect for Leaks: Check exposed pipes, taps, and beneath sinks and toilets for water damage.
  • Check Outdoor Taps: Turn back on and refill any taps that have been drained over winter and check for leaks or reduced flow.
  • Test Your Sump Pump: If you have one, to ensure that it is in good working order for increased rain.
  • Clean Gutters and Downspouts: Clear debris from your gutters to ensure they are flowing smoothly, to prevent overflowing or water damage.

Summer

During Summer you will often see higher water usage. Longer showers, sprinkler systems, houseguests, more loads of washing, it can all add up to make your plumbing work overtime. 

  • Check Drains: Check sinks, showers and baths for slow draining water, and clear out minor blocks before they become bigger issues.
  • Inspect Outdoor Pipes and Irrigation Systems: Make sure your outdoor plumbing is working efficiently. Let your outdoor taps run for a few minutes to check the water pressure doesn’t drop, which could indicate a problem. Ensure your sprinklers and connections are not leaking.
  • Check Washing Machines and Dishwasher Hoses: The flexible hoses that service these appliances can crack with age, so it’s worth checking them over yearly, and replacing them when necessary to prevent a major leak.

Autumn

Before the temperatures really drop in Winter, Autumn is the perfect time to service your plumbing to make sure it can handle the colder weather.

  • Service Your Water Heater. Flush the tank to remove any sediment build up which can make your heater inefficient and unreliable. Schedule a professional inspection if you’re due one.
  • Insulate Pipes: Cover exposed pipes with foam insulation tubes or lagging tape to prevent freezing before temperatures begin to drop.
  • Check Shut-Off Valves. Test your main water shut-off valve to ensure that the water can be shut off easily and quickly in case of emergencies.

Conclusion

Keeping up with seasonal plumbing maintenance means with just a little time and effort you can keep your plumbing working its best. By regularly checking and becoming familiar with your plumbing, you will also be able to identify issues while they are small, before they cause significant damage or become costly to repair.

If you need help with regular seasonal maintenance, or run into a problem that needs professional attention, we at NewFlo Plumbing are always on hand to help.