Back Home For The Summer? 3 Steps To Make Sure Your Plumbing Is Ready

If you've been gone all winter, it's time to get your home ready for summer living. In addition to the typical cleaning and maintenance you'll need to perform, you should also conduct a thorough inspection of the plumbing. Your home could have developed some minor plumbing issues during the winter. Unfortunately, if they're overlooked, they could turn into costly problems later. To make sure your plumbing is ready for summer, here are three quick steps you should take.

Take a Look

Now that you're home from your winter vacation, it's time to take a look at your plumbing. The first thing you should do is walk around your yard. Look for damp spots in the soil, or areas that are greener – or muddier – than others. Those damp spots could be a sign that you have an underground leak. The next thing you should do is look for wet spots or puddles under your sinks, or in the attic. Your pipes could have developed significant leaks during the winter, especially if you live in a region that experiences freezing temperatures.

Take a Listen

The next thing you should do is take a listen. Some plumbing problems cause unusual sounds in your pipes. Flush each of your toilets. Listen for gurgling or bubbling from deep inside the pipes. Those sounds could be a sign that you have a clog inside your drains. If you have a septic tank, the gurgling or bubbling sound could indicate that your system needs to be serviced. It's also a good idea to listen for how long it takes your toilet to stop running after it's been flushed. Toilets that continue to run for several minutes after they've been flushed could indicate a problem with the flushing mechanism.

Take a Sniff

Finally, to make sure your plumbing is up and ready for summer, you'll need to take a sniff. First, turn the water on your bathrooms and kitchens. Make note of any foul odors that come up from the drains. Those foul odors could be an indication that you have sewage backing up from the septic tank or sewer line. Next, open your cabinets up and smell for mold. The faint – or not-so-faint – odor of mold could be a sign that you have a pipe leaking inside the walls.

Now that you're back home for the summer, make sure your plumbing is ready for the additional usage. If you notice any of the problems described here, be sure to contact a plumber near you, such as AAA Plumbing.