7 Home Maintenance Tips For Spring

Sometime outside faucets get damaged during the winter. The pipes closest to an exterior wall are most susceptible to freezing temperatures. A frozen pipe doesn’t always cause large holes in the plumbing pipes and sometimes the small cracks that leak over time can end up causing more damage. Place your thumb or finger over the opening of your outside faucet, where you would screw your garden hose, if you can stop the flow of water, it could mean you have a damaged pipe and you may want to have it looked at by a plumber.

Needless to say, 40 gallons (or more) of water suddenly flowing through a basement isn’t a good thing. Take a minute to visually inspect your water heater. Look for signs of water on top of the heater or the floor, water should stay inside your water heater. Rust is another RED FLAG, especially around the bottom. A 30 second spot check can save you thousands of dollars in water damage and help you to see that your water heater needs replacing before it causes a problem. If you’re really proactive, manufacturers recommend flushing your hot water heater and inspecting the anode rod once a year. If you’re not sure how to do this, plumbing companies offer this service but be sure that they include checking the anode rod as part of the flush and inspection.

Did you know that there are water alarms you can put underneath the sinks in your home as well as by your water heater to alert you when there’s water present? Leaks often occur in a location that are out of sight and out of mind. The earlier you find a leak the less damage it has time to do and you can usually pick the alarms up for a relatively low cost. You can also install a small plastic tray or linoleum tiles under sinks to protect wood cabinets in case a leak happens.

You just want to be able to turn your Air Conditioner on when you need it, right? Make sure the outdoor unit is clear of obstructions and debris. Change the batteries in your thermostat and the thermostat setting from heat to cool. Check the air filter monthly and replace it as needed. Make sure you keep all of your air vents open and return air vents clear of obstructions. Manufacturers recommend you have a properly trained HVAC technician inspect and service your system regularly, once a year should be fine. That will help it operate more efficiently and have better performance.

All of the outlets in your garage, kitchen, bathrooms and outside should be GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) protected. You’ve probably seen those outlets with the “test” and “reset” buttons. This protects people from shock hazards wherever they might come in contact with water and electricity at the same time. Push the test button and then the reset button. If power comes back on, the outlet should still be working.

Before you trim tree limbs and shrubs, make sure there are no power lines hiding behind them. If you are concerned about tree limbs growing on or around overhead power lines on your property, call your local utility provider.

Underground power lines are just as dangerous as overhead power lines, and since you can’t see them, it’s almost impossible to know where they are! If your spring plans involve digging of any kind, like adding an addition to your home or even planting a tree, make sure you call 811 to confirm that it’s safe to do so! For more info, go to http://www.call811.com.