Been Away From Home For The Winter? How To Get Your Plumbing Ready For Spring

Winter is almost over. If you're a snowbird, it's time to prepare for your trip home. If you closed your permanent home up for the winter, there are steps you'll need to take once you return. This is particularly true where your plumbing is concerned. Winter can wreak havoc on the plumbing — even a system that has been shut down for the season. Once you return home this spring, here are four steps you'll need to take to get your plumbing up and running again. 

Flush the Water Heater 

If your water heater hasn't been used all winter long, there could be a thick buildup of rust and sediment in the tank. Unfortunately, once you start heating up the tank, you could end up with plenty of dirty water. To help avoid the sediment, it's best to flush your water heater before you fire it back up. When you flush your water heater, you remove dirt, rust, and other contaminants that can ruin your tank and undermine the quality of your water. If you're not sure how to flush your water heater, contact a plumbing service near you. They can take care of that service for you. 

Clean Your Drains

If you've been gone all winter long, you may think that your drains are clean and ready for use. Unfortunately, that's not actually the case. You might not realize this, but while you were away for the winter, your drains may have been invaded by roots and small animals. A thorough drain cleaning will remove the roots, debris, and nesting material that can lead to clogs and other plumbing problems. 

Inspect for Leaks

If your home has been exposed to freezing temperatures while you've been away this winter, your pipes may be in pretty bad shape, especially if you didn't turn the water off before you left. The water inside your pipes may have frozen over the winter, causing small cracks to develop. To make sure you don't have any leaks in your plumbing, be sure to have your pipes inspected once you return home this spring. 

Service the Septic

Finally, if your home is connected to a septic system, schedule an inspection as soon as possible once you return. Freezing temperatures can cause extensive damage to your septic system, especially if the septic field was covered in snow all winter long. An inspection will identify issues that will need to be repaired before you begin using your septic system again.