At Rooter-Man SC, we know that it’s easy to forget about your plumbing system and focus on seemingly more relevant things in your home. While this is understandable, it’s important to check in on your plumbing system to make sure that everything is going well. In this blog post, we will offer you your own fall plumbing checklist that you can follow yourself or hire a plumber to get it done. This will be done from the perspective of a company that employs emergency plumbers near Charleston, SC.
Let’s get started.
Flush Water Heater
This goes for both traditional and tankless systems. Your water heater is one of those things that is easy to take for granted and forget about. It’s out of sight and out of mind and it’s really only ever thought about if something is wrong with the temperature of your shower. Still, water heaters do need periodic maintenance to ensure that everything is running smoothly.
Keep in mind that even if you haven’t checked on your water heater for years and you’re still getting hot water, this doesn’t mean that everything is a-okay with the unit. In fact, it could be taking more energy than normal and slowly increasing your utility bills every quarter before failing altogether.
While flushing the tank should be done annually and is easy to do yourself, it’s recommended to hire a plumber for a full inspection. They will look for things like rust, leaks, replace rods to prevent corrosion, and more. When you learn how to flush your own water heater, you will save a lot of money over time.
Disconnect Water Hoses
To avoid your pipes freezing and bursting in the winter, remember to disconnect your water hoses. Physically remove it from its place. If you leave your garden hose attached to the faucet, trouble is going to come. Water expands when it freezes, taking up to about 10% more space. So when water is trapped inside of a pipe or hose, it doesn’t care and will burst through.
Water pipes have no room for expansion so you can expect burst pipes along with broken valves and joints. This also goes for homeowners who have “frost-free” spigots. There is still a major risk of this happening. If you have a vacuum breaker (also known as backflow preventers), they aren’t very reliable. They leave excess water. So you can remove the vacuum breaker in the fall or manually drain out the remaining water.
Check Sump Pumps For Proper Operation
Sump pumps help keep properties safe from water damage. After a storm or heavy rain, they will transport the excess water away. They still need to be tested and maintained like everything else. Thankfully, this is something that you can do yourself. The first thing you can do is check to see if it’s clogged with dirt or debris. Any debris should be removed to avoid clogging. The location of your sump pump is typically in the basement or crawlspace near the foundation. Follow the two electrical cords to the source. Unplug both plugs and then plug in the pump cord. Listen for a humming sound. If you can hear it, it works! Afterward, plug in the other cord.
Check Gutters, Roof Drains, and Storm Drain Inlets and Outlets
Gutters, roof drains, and storm drains are so easy to forget about. However, they are integral and help us to control and remove water. They also help keep the foundation of our home and crawlspaces water-free. When forgotten about, you can expect clogged, dirty, and failing units. Some people have made the false suggestion of connecting your drainage system to the municipal sewer, giving the ability to dump everything in there without caring. Not only is this highly illegal, but the proper solution is to just have your storm and roof gutter drains cleaned properly. It’s the long-term solution to ensuring that the draining system of your home is always in working condition.
Hire a Plumber Today
While these are all things that you can do yourself, some of these practices are best done by professionals who know what to look out for and are experienced and trained in all these areas. If you need an emergency plumber near Charleston, SC, look to Rooter-Man SC. No need to search for “plumbers near me” anymore.
