Spring Plumbing Tips For Your Home

Spring has officially sprung! I'm sure you are more than ready for winter to come to an end. However, is your home ready as well? Keep reading to learn more about our spring plumbing tips to help you get your house in tip-top shape for spring and summer.

Give Your HVAC A Tune-Up

Summer is the most challenging season for your AC and is just around the corner. So be sure to schedule an HVAC tune-up for your system this spring. A well-maintained HVAC system doesn't need to work as hard as one that is neglected. Your yearly tune-up is the best chance for catching and preventing problems that can cause you to have inconvenient breakdowns later on. In addition, proper cleaning and tuning can help to reduce the amount of energy you are wasting, and keep your equipment operating at peak efficiency - and there will be a big difference on your utility bills in the future.

Reverse The Ceiling Fans In Your Home

As you probably know already, your ceiling fans can help to cool your home during the summer and heat it during the winter - depending on the way that they rotate. So whenever the weather heats up, your ceiling fans should be reversed so that they rotate counter-clockwise so that cool air is pushed down to the walls in the direction of the floor and also pull up warm air towards the ceiling. To tell whether a fan is rotating in the counter-clockwise direction, stand under it and watch to ensure that the blades are moving in the direction of top left, and down to the right, and then to the top again. In order to reverse a fan's direction, turn it off, get up on a ladder, and then flip the direction switch that is next to the motor, then turn the fan on again at a low speed. That will give your AC a good break while saving a lot on your energy bills as well!

Seal and Insulate Your House

Air leaks and warm temperatures do not mix well. All of the holes, gaps, and cracks inside your house may leak up to 25% of all its air. Sealing the air leaks inside of your house is one of the easier ways to reduce your energy costs. Be sure to seal the leaks that are around the cable and phone lines that are coming into your house, outdoor faucets, heating, and cooling units, electrical outlets, and light fixtures. Drafts from those leaks waste energy and also cause stuffiness and humidity that make very uncomfortable conditions in your house.

Reset Your Thermostat

Having a programmable thermostat is an affordable way for you to control your cooling expense without having to sacrifice your personal comfort. Turning your thermostat up by 7 to 10 degrees F from its regular setting for 8 hours per day can save up to 10% on your heating bills. The US Department of Energy advises homeowners to increase the temperature a couple of degrees when you are gone from home, and then only go back to 78 degrees F when you're actually home. One important thing to note is that the smaller the difference is between the outdoor and indoor temperatures, the lower your cooling expenses will be. So you consider having a programmable thermostat installed if you don't already have one.

Clear Your Downspouts and Gutters

Prepare for spring showers by having your downspouts and gutters cleaned ahead of the wet weather. Your gutters have been designed to divert away rainwater from your home. However, if your gutters get clogged up, the water won't have anywhere to go except over the sides of your gutters and into your walls and roof. This backup can result in rotting siding, leaky ceilings, and even a damaged foundation. So if you notice the water is not flowing freely from your downspouts, that means your gutters are overdue for their cleaning. If you dread the thought of having to clean them yourself, then you can hire a professional to do it. Some gutters might need to be cleaned multiple times per season, especially if there are a lot of trees around.

Get Your Plumbing Inspected

A Suffolk County Plumber can help to ensure that your plumbing system is working properly and might be able to detect signs of problems before expensive repairs are required. Find out if your plumber offers a Home Plumbing System maintenance program to pinpoint blockages, leaks, and other warning signs in plumbing connections, pipes, and fixtures before they become expensive problems. It doesn't necessarily need to be done in the spring but should be an annual habit at least.