Spring Cleaning? Don’t Forget these 4 Outdoor Plumbing Tips

There is nothing more invigorating than the beginning of spring here in Miami, FL, which is probably why that is the season that homeowners seize the opportunity to do home maintenance and spring cleaning. It’s time to throw open the windows, do a deep cleaning and shake all the winter dust out.

It’s also the perfect time to take care of your plumbing- namely your outdoor plumbing. In the spring and summer your watering needs increase for your lawn and garden, so make sure that your outdoor plumbing is ready to go. Here are some handy tips.

Gutter Inspection and Cleaning

Your gutters have an important job. They are in charge of draining away water from your home during the rainstorms. When they get clogged with leaves and other debris (as they often do), you can run into trouble.

With the path to the downspout blocked, the water either pools on your roof or runs down towards your home’s foundation. Either way, you could suffer a lot of water damage from leaks.

That’s why you need to inspect your gutters regularly for breakage or signs of leaking. Poke leaves out using a broom and make sure that the path to the downspouts is free and clear.

Check the Hoses

Also, take a few minutes and look at your hoses. Are they cracked or broken? Do they screw well into the hose bib?

Extend your hose’s life by unkinking them; don’t let them lie in the sun too long; coil your hose to store it and either store it on the wall on a hook in your garage or on a hose caddy.

Check the Sprinkler

Wondering if there is a leak in your sprinkler system? If you see sunken patches, areas of dead grass or pooling water, those are all trouble signs.

Check the valve boxes too. They shouldn’t have any water inside. If you see water, you have a leak.

Outdoor Faucet Issues

If you’ve got a leak in your hose bib or supply line, that could cause damage and waste water. You can usually see if you have a leak on your hose bib because you’ll see drips or pooling moisture.

To check if there is a leak in the supply line, place your thumb firmly on the spigot and turn the tap on to full. If you can hold the water in with your hand, this low water pressure means that you have a leak.