The WPJ blog

Spring is a prime time to carry out all of those plumbing checks that you’ve been putting off all winter.

By checking your bathroom, kitchen, and other appliances around the house, you could prevent plumbing problems arising and ruining the sunny days to come – just think of it as an extension of your spring clean!

Our top eight spring plumbing tips are:

1. Remove leaves and debris from your gutters

The UK experiences heavy rainfall in the spring, and if your gutters and drains are still blocked with autumn leaves or broken winter tree branches, you run a risk of them clogging, which can lead to water damage, leaks and mould growth.

2. Ensure that your hose bib is not damaged

Outdoor water faucets should always be disconnected in the winter as water supply pipes are prone to freezing in colder climates, leading to pipe expansion and consequent cracks. If your outdoor tap has been connected, check the faucet for leaks and promptly have broken parts replaced by a professional plumber to avoid ensuing water damage.

3. Check your sump pump is functioning correctly

Test your sump pump by pouring a few buckets of water into it, after which it should kick in to action, allowing water flow before automatically turning itself off. If it does not perform properly, your home could be at risk of flooding, so have the sump pump seen by a local plumbing company before it completely burns out.

4. Repair heating appliances

Your boiler, radiators and gas fires have to work hard in the winter, sometimes leading to ill functioning and leaks. Whilst it’s easy to think that fixing heating issues isn’t necessary with summer just around the corner, waiting could place you and your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which is why it’s so important to have a Gas Safe engineer see to your broken heating appliances as soon as you spot a problem.

5. Replace any broken window and door seals

Icy winter weather can cause draught guards to crack, particularly plastic ones, so inspect all of your windows and doors and provide replacements for those that require it. This will allow your heating and air conditioning systems to run more efficiently as energy escape is reduced.

6. Inspect your toilet for leaks and ineffective flushing

Put a few drops of food colouring in your toilet tank for a fast and inexpensive way to check for leaks – if the colour shows up in the bowl within thirty minutes, you’ll know it’s time to call out a plumber to fix that leak before it worsens.

As for the flushing mechanism, you shouldn’t have to hold or shake the handle in order for it work, so have the parts replaced for a more effective flush, which coincidently will save water.

7. Take note of any leaky taps and showerheads

Many people just ‘put up’ with a dripping tap or shower but over the course of a day significant amounts of water can go to waste as a result. Getting minor fixes like this done in the spring is a great way to help protect the environment and get your home in good working order at the same time.

8. Turn the stopcock off and on again

It’s a simple little trick to ensure your water supply is connected properly and to avoid it sticking when you really need it.