What’s On Your Spring Plumbing Checklist, Calgary?

Spring has sprung, and it is about darn time. Too long do Canadians have to push (through snow) to get through the long winter months to wait for the warm glow of a beautiful spring. And so do your plumbing fixtures... Spring gives homeowners the opportunity to dust away cobwebs and purge through belongings that need no longer be stored. At times, the importance of spring plumbing cleaning in Calgary can be overlooked. Plumbing is temperamental at worst and a miracle at best. Homeowners in Calgary should familiarize themselves with plumbing maintenance for the spring and summer seasons. During the winter season, freezing temperatures put a strain on your pipes and pressure on your tank. When they begin to thaw in the warm weather, it will cause leaks and drips.

This blog will take you through the top chores to check off your spring plumbing checklist to ensure your plumbing will be safe and sound in the new season. Get your pen and paper out and be ready to take notes!

Here’s What's On Our Professional Spring Plumbing Checklist: Calgary Edition

Did you know that spring plumbing maintenance contributes to the longevity of your drainage systems? Getting your gardens and flower beds ready for spring is invigorating, but it can demand gallons of water, putting additional pressure on your plumbing system. Leaking pipes, damaged lines, and burst piping can lead to significant water damage in your home. Basement walls can become lined with moisture, contributing to the development of mould, floorboard rotting, and more. So to ensure this does not occur in your home, let's take a look at some of the major plumbing fixtures and systems that should be maintained this spring. Here’s our spring plumbing checklist for Calgarians:

1. How's Your Water Heater?

After a long day of skiing in winter, there's nothing better than a hot shower to relax your muscles. In the cold season, your water heater works a lot, so it's important to check it for leaks. Did you know that lowering the temperature of your water heater can save you money on heating? Since it is no longer reaching freezing temperatures at night, we suggest turning down the water temperature. Water heaters can leak for two primary reasons: excessive pressure and poor water quality or the accumulation of debris inside the unit. Temperature and pressure changes also contribute to leaky water heaters.

2. Check Out Your Sump Pump

Basement flooding for Calgary homeowners is a common and very unfortunate experience. During the early spring because the pipes are not used as frequently, basement flooding commonly occurs in springtime. Furthermore, when the weather warms up, water usage used in outdoor spring cleaning can be excessive, and the then frozen, but now thawing pipes tend to burst. It is important to inspect your sump pumps early on, so you can make any necessary adjustments.

When checking out your sump, disconnect the power source to which your pump is connected and remove the pump screen and inlet. Thoroughly clean the pipeline to eliminate any debris or obstructions that could hinder smooth water flow. Then, plug the power back in and test the sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into it.

3. Check Faucets For Leaks

Leaky taps are inevitable over time and sometimes, if it is a minor leak, they can go unnoticed. However, if you are not interested in a higher than usual water bill due to a minor leak, be sure to check all of your faucets and plumbing fixtures, such as:

• Bathroom sink faucets
• Shower faucets
• Kitchen faucets
• Bathtub faucets

By checking your faucets for leaks, you are also confirming that no water escapes around the connection when the faucet isn't running. Once you've checked all your faucets, we encourage you to continue your inspection by looking at visible pipes, like under your sink or in the basement. If there is puddling under your pipes, contact a professional to address this issue.

4. Inspect Your Major Plumbing Fixtures

Toilets, bathtubs, and showers are popular plumbing fixtures that see a lot of use during the day. Making sure they are in optimal function at the start of the season is a great way to tackle your spring plumbing checklist in Calgary.

• Toilet Leaks: The easiest way to look for leaks is by checking your toilet bowl and the tank. A cool trick to check for toilet leaks is by adding a few drops of food coloring in the tank. After about forty-five minutes, see if any dye appears in the bowl. If you see colour in the bowl, there is probably a leak in the system. Call upon a professional plumber at Mr. Rooter Calgary to help with toilet leaks.
• Bathtub Drain Leaks: A leak from your tub drain could be caused by a problem from the plumbing below the drain, though a faulty seal around the drain assembly could be causing the leak. You can attempt to solve the problem by plastering some plumber's putty where the drain is, but if you don't trust your plumbing abilities, you may want to contact a professional.
• Clean Your Shower Head: If you're experiencing low water pressure from your shower head, you may try giving your shower head a good scrub. It sounds too simple to be effective, but it truly works. If your home has hard water, mineral deposits can build up in and around your shower head, causing the water to filter out at a softer rate. You can use an all-purpose vinegar to clean your shower head by soaking it for about eight hours. However, if your shower head is coated with brass, gold, or nickel, soak it for thirty minutes to avoid wrecking the finish. Then, rinse it thoroughly with water.

5. Check for Clogged Drains

If you are starting to notice water pooling in your shower, or slow drains in your kitchen sink, you may have a clog. Drain clogs are another pesky plumbing issue that is important to address in the summer. Since things freeze in the winter, it's no wonder you may have some clogs in the depths of your drain lines. Though you can attempt to unclog the drain yourself with a drain snake, you may want to consider a professional drain cleaning with Mr. Rooter Plumbing. I mean, if you are already cleaning everything in and around your home for spring cleaning, why not consider giving your drains a thorough clean too? Mr. Rooter Plumbing uses HydroScrub^® Jetting technology to blast away unwanted food debris and nasty blockages, leaving the walls of your pipes sparkly clean!

6. Consider Deep Cleaning Your Pipes

On that note of drain cleaning, this is your sign to get your pipes cleaned. Your bathrooms and kitchens are arguably the most important spaces for maintaining the health of your pipes and fixtures. Though more tedious, bathrooms and kitchens require regular pipe cleanings to keep the functionality of your fixtures smooth. You want to make sure that your faucets are sparkly clean and free from blockages to ensure smooth function.

Also, if you have a garburator connected to your kitchen sink, all the more reason to make sure your kitchen pipes are clean. Because food and other compostable material go down the garburator, it could lead to blockages in your pipes.

7. Inspect Your Sewer Lines and Septic System

To ensure that your septic system is always in optimal condition, you will want to have a professional inspect your septic tank on a regular basis since a professional has the eye and training to tell you if your household could benefit from septic tank pumping. Make sure to also check out your sewer lines to see if there are warning signs for drain clogs. In Calgary, though the trees contribute to the overall beauty of the city, tree roots are sewer line enemy number one. Tree roots can lead to nasty clogs and even extreme pipe damage, so when you hire a professional plumber at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary for spring maintenance, have them check out your sewer line as well.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary: Stampede City's Number One Choice For Spring Plumbing Maintenance!

Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary is a dedicated, honest, and trustworthy plumbing company that has been serving Calgarians since the early 2000s, so we know the ins and outs of every plumbing issue your household has encountered. A few of the many reasons why Calgarians always trust Mr. Rooter Plumbing:

• Ensuring you have a “plumber near me” available when you need us– without charging overtime fees
• Guaranteeing our parts and labour
• Providing efficient and exceptional results from an experienced plumber
• Sending courteous, respectful and tidy Calgary plumbers to your home
• Making sure our Calgary plumbers are licensed and fully insured
• Always having the same prices for work done by your plumber, Calgary statutory holidays included
• Providing quotes and prices when the service starts

In addition to your spring plumbing checklist, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary offers:

• Backflow preventer installation
• Boiler repair
• Gas line repair and installation
• Sump pump installation
• Water heater repair
• Faucet installation
• Drain repair
• And so much more

Let’s Get Started on Your Spring Plumbing Checklist, Calgary! Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing Today

From Southwest Calgary to Forest Lawn and beyond, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary is proud to serve the Calgary community with quality workmanship and smiles on our faces.

To get started on your spring plumbing checklist in Calgary, contact our excellent customer service team!