Are Your Outdoor Plumbing Systems Ready for Spring? Try These Tips
A great time to take care of home maintenance tasks is when the seasons change. The spring is a particularly good time to check your outdoor plumbing because you’ll need to be able to rely on it working well for you through the high watering season.
Our team of experts here in Stuart, FL have put together a to-do list to make sure that your outdoor plumbing is ready to go before the heat of late spring and summer hit.
Inspect Hoses
You should check your garden hoses annually, and the spring is just as good a time as any to take care of this job. Look for cracks, breakage, and signs of wear. Even a small tear can equal a big leak and water waste.
Also, check the nozzles to ensure that they aren’t bent. Hoses should also screw tightly inside the hose bib.
Clear out the Gutters
This is a job that you should tend to regularly, but make a point of doing it thoroughly in the spring. When leaves gather in the gutters, they get in the way of the water’s path on your roof down through the downspouts. This can create a lot of pressure on your roof’s structure and will eventually cause water damage.
Don’t use a hose thought to clean those gutters out, as that wastes water and raises your water bill unnecessarily. Use a broom instead.
Irrigation Inspection
Start by walking about your lawn and garden and doing a visual inspection of all of the nozzles. Trim any grass that might be growing over top. Remove stones and dirt that might get in the way of the nozzles.
Take a good look to see if you can spot any leaks in your irrigation system. You may see pooling water, bubbling areas, sunken patches or dry patches, all of which can signal a problem.
Check each and every valve box, which can be time-consuming, but it’s important. Rodents like to reside in there. You need to make sure that there are no leaks there. If you find water inside your valve boxes, that could signal a leak.
Faucet Duty
Just like you fix your leaky faucets in your bathroom, you need to do the same outside. Tighten any dripping faucets and look for other signs of water leaks, like rust or mineral buildup.
It’s not enough simply to tend to your indoor plumbing. Leaks happen outside too, which is why it is important inspect both outdoor and indoor plumbing.