Fall in Rhode Island is the best time to make sure your plumbing is ready for winter. Getting inspections and repairs done before it starts to freeze can mean the difference between preventative maintenance and burst pipes! Use this list to check the plumbing as you walk through your home. If you find any problems with your plumbing, Evergreen Plumbing & Heating is available to help you get your home ready for the cold months ahead!
Inspecting the Plumbing in Your Home:
- Check drains for sounds and smells. If you hear gurgling sounds or smell sewage from any of your pipes, you may have a significant clog in your sewer line. The best way to test this is to see if running water or flushing a toilet affects any of the other drains in your home.
- Check faucets for leaks. Check your indoor and outdoor faucets to make sure they don’t leak or drip water. Water leaks can cause cracks in your pipes when it freezes.
- Disconnect garden hoses. The air and water that sits in your garden hoses can allow air to come into your home and cause cracks and leaks.
- Inspect showers, tubs, toilets, and appliances for any small leaks or cracks. Minor leaks can cause major damage to floors that you may not notice until it is too late to save the flooring.
- Run garbage disposal and make sure it works correctly. If there is a slow drain, you may need to have it serviced before the clog worsens.
- Your water heater should be inspected. All the pipes and the pressure valve need an inspection to make sure it works well all year. Fall is the best time to flush the sediment out of your water heater because it will give you maximum efficiency during the coldest months.
- Have a professional check the gas line to your water heater and other appliances.
- Have any new appliances, faucets, and fixtures you want to install done in the early fall. You can avoid having your water shut off during the winter months if you plan to have your new purchases installed early.
