It's not quite springtime yet, but already thoughts are turning towards spring cleaning and maintenance activities within your home. Many families use this time of year to get a nice, fresh start on cleaning out closets, their garage and even their plumbing pipes! While you may not have access to the technology used for a formal review of your plumbing system, these "high tech" options will help you determine if there are bigger problems that will require you calling in the professionals. 

Food Coloring for Leaky Toilets

A leaking toilet can really cost your family money over time due to the water that is constantly running through the system. Even a slow leak can cost you hundreds of dollars a year — definitely more than you would expect from such a "small" amount of water that is moving through the system on a daily basis. One of the quickest and easiest ways to check for a leaky toilet is to drop some food coloring in the tank of your toilet. If you find that the color has seeped into the bowl of your toilet within 30 minutes (without flushing!), then it's a good bet that you've got a leak and need to get some assistance from a licensed plumber. 

Check Your Sump Pump

If your home has a sump pump, it's a good idea to do a quick check during the rainy season. This check can be as easy as pouring a bucket of water directly into the tank. Turn on your sump pump and make sure the water drains out quickly. If you don't see draining quite quickly, you'll need to call your plumber immediately. A malfunctioning sump pump can cause your basement to flood very quickly and cause all sorts of additional problems. Your plumber may determine that you need an additional sump pump to handle the volume of water that you have.

Verify Hoses Haven't Cracked

Hoses and faucets outside your home or in your basement have a bad tendency to crack over the winter. While sometimes this causes water to flood immediately, sometimes the problem isn't found until you turn on the faucet for the first time in the spring. Take a glance around your home to check all of the faucets and hoses to ensure they aren't stopped up or leaking. Any frozen pipes that have burst over the winter will need to be replaced. 

Get your plumbing in shape for the new year with one of these (not-so-high-tech) spring maintenance solutions for your bathroom. It doesn't always require a great deal of money to get something that works great! When you need a maintenance check-up for your plumbing, contact Amanda Plumbing, Sewer & Drain about an upgrade today at 740-369-5161 to learn more.