All too often we as homeowners ask ourselves why we should even worry about plumbing maintenance. Our appliances work, our bath and shower work, our toilets work, why bother then? To tell you the truth, our specialists at Norwalk/La Mirada Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning often get frantic calls from people asking to fix a major leak or rescue a flooded appliance, and then these people reap what they sow, left with an impressive bill. It would be much simpler and cheaper to invest in the plumbing maintenance. It catches minor issues before they become a huge plumbing problem. It is also a great asset in conserving water, thus saving you money on your utility bill. You won’t have any regrets when you order routine plumbing maintenance!
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Springtime is a perfect time for routine spring plumbing maintenance. Your domestic plumbing system is under a lot of stress throughout the year. If you haven’t inspected the condition of your pipes, home appliances, taps and fixtures recently, then you might encounter an unpleasant surprise sooner than later. Keep reading and save the following plumbing maintenance checklist in order to prevent any major plumbing issues in the future.
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Your Plumbing Maintenance Checklist
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Try to schedule professional plumbing maintenance once a year with Norwalk/La Mirada Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning. This allows our technicians to scrupulously inspect any signs of problems, or faulty fixtures that can potentially turn into problems. However, you’d have to check your plumbing on your own every couple of months or so. But what should you look for?
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Check for piping leaks
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Piping leaks cause significant water damage if left untreated in the household, so take a careful look at your taps for leaks. Make sure that there is no water leaking from around connections when the taps are shut off. If you notice new leaks, call on plumbing professionals to repair faulty fixtures.
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Check for toilet leaks
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Inspect your toilets for leaks. It is recommended that you look for leaks in both the bowl and tank. If it seems like nothing is there, place 6-7 drops of food dye in the toilet tank and wait for an hour to see if the colored water ends up in the bowl itself. If you discover that the water is colored in the toilet bowl, most likely there could be a leak in the system which should be further inspected.
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Water Heater Status
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Your water heater is probably the only appliance that you use throughout a year. So, watch carefully for problems like water pooling around its base, and listen attentively for hissing or rumbling sounds, coming out from the water storage tank – this usually indicates mineral buildup that can impact the efficiency of your water heater. Also remember about your water heater age – the older it gets, the less efficient it becomes. And ensure that the water heater is set at the temperature no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Check Appliances
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Appliances like the dishwasher, washing machine or ice maker cannot operate without water and as a result may also become susceptible to common plumbing issues such as water leakages. It is preferable to change the appliance hose if it is more than 10 years old. This ensures its proper operation. Stainless steel hoses are recommended as they are stronger and more reliable. Also clean the lint trap on your washing machine regularly.
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Test out the sump pump
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As part of your spring routine maintenance practice, check out the sump pump to determine that it is working efficiently. In order to do this, pour a bucket of water into the pit where the sump pump is located. After this procedure the sump pump should immediately be activated and drain the water, then deactivate after this. If it fails to come on and off as usual, call on your plumbing pros for extra inspection.
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It’s time to stop taking your plumbing system for granted and routinely maintain it. Our expert plumbers at Norwalk/La Mirada Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning have been offering their services for over 50 years, and we are fully capable to keep your plumbing running smoothly and efficiently!