If you haven’t already performed your annual spring maintenance on your plumbing and septic systems, now’s the time to get it done! There are a few simple steps all homeowners should take each year to prepare their plumbing for the season so it will work smoothly and efficiently throughout the warmer months of the year. When you consider the stress the winter weather can place on much of your home’s infrastructure, it’s important to be proactive in getting projects like septic pumping checked off your list in 95368.
Here’s a quick overview of four of the most important processes you can engage in this season.
Clean the roof and gutters
This might not feel like something that’s directly related to your plumbing system, but it is—the gutters and storm drains should be considered a part of the plumbing system, because they divert water to where you want it to go. If your gutters and roof are dirty and packed with debris, water will fall off next to the foundation and potentially cause leaks, or build up next to your septic system, where it could cause flooding. Clean gutters allow you to control water flow and prevent incidents that could affect your plumbing.
Check the sump pump
Spring and summer see the return of rainstorms, so you need to make sure your sump pump is prepared to handle yet another season’s worth of heavy rains. You need to make sure your pump is going to work when you need it. Check it at the beginning of the season and then every couple months afterward.
You can easily test the equipment by pouring water down into the sump pit until the float rises. This should result in the pump switching on. You can also check the drain that leads outside, and remove any debris that might block the flow of water through the outlet.
Check the pipes
While you’re checking your plumbing infrastructure, take a look at your pipes, particularly any exposed pipes outdoors. These pipes could sustain some damage over the winter months—exposed piping is very much at risk of cracking and bursting. If you notice problems, get a plumber out to your property.
It can also be beneficial to take steps now to insulate and protect those pipes so you don’t have to worry about further damage occurring to them in the future.
Test the water pressure
Check the water pressure in your home and make sure it seems normal. Turn on a faucet in the house and see if the water pressure drops. This could be a sign there’s a leak somewhere in your plumbing, or that you have another issue that will require the attention of a professional plumber to address.
Interested in learning more about basic plumbing maintenance in Modesto, CA? We encourage you to contact Alvarado Pumping Septic Service to learn more about the steps you can take to keep all of your plumbing infrastructure in good condition all season long and avoid calls for emergency septic pumping in 95368. We look forward to answering your questions.