Tureks Plumbing Services Blog: Posts Tagged ‘spring cleaning tips’

Spring Cleaning for Drains and Sewers

Wednesday, March 11th, 2020

Spring Cleaning for Drains and Sewers - Tureks Plumbing ServicesAs spring approaches, homeowners can’t help but think about spring cleaning from purging the garage to decluttering drawers. One aspect of spring cleaning that people tend to forget is the drains. Like everything else, your home’s drains also need to be cleaned.

Plumbing professionals highly recommend having your drain cleaned around this time of the year. You need to go through your home and mark every drain from the sink to bathtubs. Cleaning the drains will help decrease the chances of clogs. The following tips will help you take the right step to prevent your drains from getting clogged:

Start with the Kitchen

Your kitchen sink is put through a lot. All those plate scrapings going down the drain can accumulate and result in a clog. You want to make sure that when washing dishes, you throw any leftover food into the trash, no matter how small it may be. This will help prevent your kitchen drain from clogging. 

The Bathroom

The shower drain can clog up easily if you don’t take care of it. All the hair that gets caught up in it, as well as residues from shampoo and soap you use, can easily get caught up in the drain. To prevent this from happening, Sacramento HVAC company and plumbing experts recommend that you set a hair catcher on the drain, so it catches all the gunk. You won’t have to worry about having to get it cleaned out of the drain due to it clogging up.

Outdoor Drains

Outdoor drains are a bit trickier as they need to be inspected properly. You need to check the roots and everything around them so you can see if the pipes are damaged or not due to them as well as check for leaks. You may want to consult the professionals at Tureks Plumbing Services to inspect the drains in your home. Not only will they inspect the drains, but they can ensure that preventative measures are taken to stop clogs. 

Should you Consider Commercial Cleaners to Clean Drains?

Commercial cleaners can help you unclog drains, but they result in more problems in the long run. First off, the cleaners don’t actually tackle the main problem causing the clog, instead act as a temporary solution. The chemicals in the cleaner are also harmful to the environment. Instead of relying on commercial cleaners, contact the best plumbing company in Appleton, Wisconsin, for professional plumbing services.

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Essential Plumbing Spring Cleaning Tips

Tuesday, April 19th, 2016

Plumbing spring cleaning tips

Essential Plumbing Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring is the season of rebirth and renewal, so it makes sense that Appleton, Wisconsin locals make use of its arrival to give their homes a thorough inspection and cleaning to get rid of all the damage and debris left behind by the harsh winter. Making a fresh new start in a house that is orderly and free from functional issues is the best way to welcome spring.

On that note, here are some important spring cleaning plumbing tips that will help protect your property against all kinds of plumbing problems:

For general plumbing maintenance:

  • If you suspect slow leaks, take a water meter reading before you go to bed and refrain from using water overnight. In the morning, take another reading. If you have no idea what a water meter reading is or your reading is fluctuating, call a plumber!
  • Inspect all exposed pipes under your sinks and in the basement for signs of leaks.
  • If sewers frequently back up into homes in your Fox Valley neighborhood, talk to your local Plumber who can install a backflow valve in the floor drain helps prevent this from happening in the future.
  • If there are infrequently used drains around the house, pour a gallon of water into them to fill the trap. This also prevents odors from finding their way into the house.
  • Got any slow drains? Use a snake to make sure that they will effectively carry water away from the house in case of a flood. Also, installing flood alarms is a good idea for folks who have larger homes. Slow drains can also be a sign of a larger problem, learn more HERE. 

For bathrooms and kitchens:

  • Make sure that there are strainers in all drains so that soap scum, hair and other debris won’t clog drain lines. You can find them for about $2 in any hardware store. 
  • Check all faucets, toilets, tanks and bowls for drips, cracks or leaks. For toilets, add six drops of food coloring to the water in the tank — if color appears in the bowl within 30 minutes, you may have a leak.
  • Turn the water supply valves under toilets and sinks to make sure they aren’t sticking. But be sure to turn them back. 

For home appliances:

  • Clean out the lint trap in your washing machine and attach some pantyhose or a wire trap to the end of the hose that drains out the washer.
  • Your washing machine, dishwasher and ice maker all have supply hoses, so check them all for leaks or bulges (or if they are already 10 years old or older). If they must be replaced, stainless steel hoses are recommended.
  • Drain several gallons of water from your water heater tank to flush out sediment buildup. Make sure that the temperature setting does not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider getting a water heater that is more than 15 years old replaced to prevent major issues down the line. 

For outdoor spaces:

  • See if your outdoor faucets and hoses allow water to flow freely. If water leaks inside your house the first time you use a faucet or hose outside, there may have been a frozen pipe that is now cracked, and it must be replaced.
  • Clean out all gutters, downspouts and yard drains.
  • Inspect plumbing vent pipes for any birds that may have built nests there.

We hope you find these tips useful and you learned something new! Give us a call if you have any concerns when it comes to the plumbing in your home.

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