From forever homes to rental properties, maintaining healthy plumbing saves you money. With a few steps every season, you can extend the life of your home’s plumbing network by many years. Additionally, catching fatal problems with your plumbing early can save you money in potential damages. Nearly all of these checklist items can be done by anyone,ma with just a little YouTube searching. Here’s our checklist for keeping your plumbing in tip-top shape.

Kitchens and Bathrooms Checklist

If done just once or twice a year, these steps for sinks, faucets and tubs in your kitchen and bathrooms will keep the plumbing clean and healthy.

• Fill sinks and tubs with water, then ensure that they drain properly.
  • If not, is the diverter spout stuck?
  • Is the drain slow or clogged? Take the time to snake the drains.
• If the floor drains clog frequently, spring is the perfect time of year to snake these as well.
• Clean the p-traps under your kitchen, laundry, and bathroom sinks. If you don’t already have them, consider installing mesh filters over the drains to catch debris and prevent clogs.
• Examine all pipes, hose bibbs, or exterior garden hoses for leaks, swelling, and corrosion. Replace bad ones.This includes water supply lines from ice machines or dishwashers.
• Leak check — your faucets, tubs, showers, and toilet need to be checked.
  • Check underneath sinks for leaking into the cabinetry.
  • Ensure toilet water isn’t leaking from the cut off valve or the tank. Lowe’s has a great test using food coloring that will show you what part of the toilet is the issue.
  • Do a water meter reading to verify you aren’t missing any big leaks that increase your water bill.
• Clean the mineral deposits off faucets by rubber-banding a bag of vinegar over them. Let it soak overnight, then scrub the deposits off with an old toothbrush.

Checklist for Plumbing Appliances

Don’t neglect your plumbing appliances. Test them at least once per year for any signs of damage beyond the normal wear-and-tear.

• Is the water heater making strange noises when turned on? Is there exterior moisture on the heater?
  • Newer water heater models are much more energy efficient, saving you money on your monthly bills. If your water heater is more than 10 to 15 years old, this may be a good option for you. Send us a message if you think it may benefit you to replace your water heater.
• Run your garbage disposal and listen for anything other than a healthy humming sound. Rattling means it needs to be replaced.
• Test your sump pump. Pour water into the basin, trigger the pump, and ensure it drains.

Armed with this list and the power of DIY videos, you will have most of the tools necessary to keep your home’s plumbing networks healthy. Are some of your appliances or pipes in need of replacement after your spring inspection? Let us know and we’ll get your home back to working order in no time.