Spring is a Good Time to Check for Water Leaks in Marblehead, MA
It’s been a long winter, a very long winter. Now that spring is finally here, now is a good time to check for water leaks. Summer fun is right around the corner, so let’s get some home maintenance out of the way.
Check for Pipe Damage
Cold weather and pipe damage seem to go hand in hand with the severe temperatures that came our way last winter. Grab your flashlight and let’s start exploring the dark crevices under the sinks and in the basement. Leaks can start out small and are not as obvious as spraying water from a busted pipe can be.
Toilets
Toilets are often the cause of high water bills, and many homeowners never realize it. The silent loss of water from corroded water valves or flappers can waste 30-250 gallons a day, depending on the leak size. That’s a lot of water (and your dollars) needlessly going down the toilet
Toilet Leak Test
Checking your toilet for leaks is so easy, it can be done in your PJs while drinking your morning coffee! Put 1 teaspoon of food coloring into the tank. Wait about 10-15 minutes. Do not flush the toilet during that time. Look inside your toilet bowl. If the water is still clear, you do not have to worry about a toilet water leak. If the water changed color, uh oh! You can find more information on our blog post How To Fix a Running Toilet for tips.
Check Yard for Poor Drainage Areas
Choose a nice dry day to take a walk around your yard. Are there any areas that seem to be taking longer to dry? Did you have a drainage problem in that area before winter set in? If this is something new, you might have a pipe leaking underground.
Sump Pump
If you have a sump pump, have you checked on it lately? Pour a couple buckets of water into the pit where you have your sump pump installed. If it doesn’t automatically drain the water, you will want to find out the reason why before April showers bring more than May flowers.
Test Outside Faucets
Don’t forget to check on your outside faucets. They are often times forgotten until you need water outside. Turn them on for several seconds. Then check for leaks. Now is the time to find out if they sustained any winter damage … before you want to use them.
Waldman Plumbing & Heating has been helping the residents of Marblehead and the North Shore area for over 100 years with their plumbing repairs and installations. If you found any plumbing leaks, check out our coupons and then give us a call for an appointment.