5 Spring Plumbing Tips for Maple Grove Homeowners

The weather is finally starting to turn (knock on wood!), which means that it’s time for some seasonal plumbing maintenance! Our tough winters can really do a number on your plumbing, leaving you with issues that spiral out of control once summer hits –– but a little preventive maintenance goes a long way.

Take a little time this weekend to check out these 5 things, none of them take long, and they can save you a lot of hassle down the road.

Top 5 Plumbing Tips for Spring Maintenance:

1. Check for leaks

Temperature fluctuations can cause all sorts of cracks and bulges and other issues in your pipes, so make sure your drains are properly sealed, and look for signs of leaks or water damage. This includes things like dripping faucets, water stains on walls or ceilings, and pooling water around toilets, sinks, or other appliances.

While you’re at it, check out the toilet bowl for leaks by adding a couple of drops of food coloring to the tank. If you see color coming through in the bowl about 30 minutes later, you’ve got a leak!

2. Clean out any outside plumbing you have and inspect outdoor faucets.

Once the weather starts warming up for good, get outside and look at any outdoor plumbing you have. Clean out your gutters, and make sure your downspouts are free of debris too. Spring rains and melting snow can put a lot of stress on both gutters and downspouts, so you want to make sure they’re working properly. Plus, this will help make sure you don’t end up with water pooling around the bottom of your house, which can cause issues with your foundation.

Remember to look outside for leaks too –– outdoor faucets can sometimes crack or have other issues, causing you to spend a lot more on water than you want!

And while you’re at it, inspect any hoses or other watering equipment you have outside. There’s nothing worse than unrolling the hose for the first time only to find that it’s got a block or a split and you can’t use it!

3. Take a look at your sump pump

If you have a sump pump, take a little time to inspect it and make sure that it’s working properly too. The way you do this is by pouring a couple of gallons of water into the sump pit. If the pump quickly turns on, takes care of the water, and then shuts off again, you’re good. If there’s a delay in it starting, or it doesn’t seem to be able to handle the water, then you need to call a plumber before you end up with issues in your basement.

4. Give your water heater some love

Gas and electric water heaters tend to work extra hard during the winter (and who doesn’t love a nice hot shower after a cold day out?!) But this means you need to give it a little extra TLC come spring. Check for any signs of damage, corrosion, or leaks, and if you find any, call a plumber ASAP! 

While you’re there, flush out your water heater to help deal with any dirt or build-up that’s occurred. While the exact way you do that varies from water heater to water heater, you generally disconnect the power and water supply to the heater, then run a faucet on hot until you run out of hot water. Then reconnect everything and you’re good to go!

5. Clean out your drains

Finally, go around and clean out all your drains –– this includes your kitchen sink, toilets, showers, anything else that has a drain on it. Inspect each drain for slow drainage, nasty smells, or a gurgling sound. If you see any of that, you might have a clog. Lots of times you can take care of clogs by yourself, but for a more stubborn clog, it’s always a good idea to call a professional.

6. Bonus! Check out your sewer line

This is the only one you can’t do by yourself, but it’s important for spring maintenance. Rain and melting snow can really do a number on your sewer line, so consider having a professional plumber come out and inspect it for clogs. While they’re there they can also make sure that the line hasn’t been compromised by tree roots or anything else that could leave you with a major plumbing bill later on.

OK, so it’s probably nobody’s idea of a super fun way to spend a Saturday morning ... but keeping on top of these things season by season really does matter. So plan your plumbing inspection day ASAP, and then forget about it until Fall.

Or, let us do it for you! We’re happy to come by and make sure all your plumbing is squared away so you can kick back and enjoy the spring weather. We’ve been the go-to plumbers in Maple Grove, Bloomington, Edina, Minnetonka for 40+ years, and we love helping keep our community safe and happy with great, affordable plumbing.