Spring NYC Plumbing Tips

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New York City
Plumbing NYC Tips (Photo credit: kaysha)

Spring NYC Plumbing Tips

Taking care of your plumbing is a difficult thing, and each season brings with it different sets of “rules” for plumbing care. Now that Spring has sprung, it’s time to look into what you need to do now to protect your pipes as best you can, with advice from plumbing NYC experts.

 

Pipes Outdoors

 

  • Turn on all the pipes and drains that are outside of your home to ensure water is moving freely. They might “stutter” for a moment, but if the faucet drips or there is a leak somewhere inside, you might have a pipe that froze over during winter and needs to be replaced by a plumber NYC.
  • Check your vent pipes for bird’s nests that have formed in the early days of spring.
  • Clean out your gutters and downspouts to ensure good pipe health.
  • Ensure there is no damage to your gutters, downspouts, or yard drains due to animals or other unforeseen interactions.

 

Kitchen & Bathroom Plumbing NYC Tips

 

  • Check for any drips and leaks your faucets display. Replacing O-rings and tightening pipes can make for big savings on water bills.
  • Install strainers on all your drains to prevent hair and debris from clogging pipes. This is especially important in the shower.
  • Make sure your toilet is working and draining properly. A standard plumbing NYC trick for this is to add food coloring to the toilet tank – if the toilet is leaking, the bowl water will color within a half an hour. Leaks of this sort can usually be fixed with a quick tightening of a few standard pipes behind the toilet tank.
  • While you’re working on the toilet, see if the handle needs to be jiggled for a flush. If so, you’ll need to replace the flapper and some other parts. These are inexpensive and usually cost something like $20, so pick them up if you need to.
  • Unscrew your showerhead and soak it in vinegar. This will remove mineral deposits from the inside of the showerhead, which will result in smoother flow when you bathe.

 

Machines & Appliances

 

  • Clean out your washing machine and dryer lint traps. After this, you should cover the hose that drains water from the washing machine, or place tarp beneath it if you have no reasonable cover.
  • Move flammable solvents away from the furnace, water heater, and radiators.
  • Check your dishwasher and washing machine for weak hoses. To do this, inspect hose connections to the machines. If they’re loose or cracked, replace them immediately.
  • Put trays beneath the pipes supplying your washing machines and dishwasher. This way, you’ll have visual evidence of a leak the moment one becomes apparent.
  • Drain the water heater tank to agitate precipitates. This extends the life of your water heater and increases its heating efficiency. If the heater is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it.
  • Check your ice maker’s supply hoses for bulges, leaks, or cracks, and replace if you find any.

 

Miscellaneous Drain Care

 

  • Install flood alarms in parts of the house susceptible to inundation, such as the basement.
  • Check water meters before and after you go to bed. Changes in their gauges over the time you knowthe pipes were not in use indicate a leak you’ll have to address.
  • Install a backflow valve in your floor drain if homes in your area are susceptible to sewage backup.
  • Check exposed pipes in the garage, under the sink, and in the bathroom behind the toilet for cracks, leaks, and mold.
  • Test your sump pump by dumping water into it. If it spits out the water automatically and shuts off immediately after, it’s functioning properly. If not, consider replacing it.
  • Poor water into drains you don’t frequently use. This will fill the trap and keep nasty pipe-borne odors outside the home.
  • If your floor drains don’t drain quickly, you should snake them with an auger to clear any debris and detritus that might be blocking the pipes. This will ensure quick drainage in the case of flood. 
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