The one thing you can predict about Southwest Michigan spring weather is…nothing.
It’s completely unpredictable!
We’ve already seen temperatures in the 70’s one week, followed by temperatures in the 40’s and 30’s overnight the next week. And then, snow. With such drastic spring temperature fluctuations, the one thing we do know is: It’s hard on your plumbing!
Warm spring days bring open windows, lawn mowing, and maybe you’ve even turned on the lawn hose already this year.
But those cold days and nights still come around this time of year and can actually freeze your pipes and cause them to burst, spilling water everywhere resulting in a big mess.
So how can you prevent plumbing issues throughout fickle spring weather? Here are 5 tips to help keep your plumbing working the way it should:
1. Make sure you close your windows at night.
The warm spring air during the day is nice but it can really cool off overnight and freeze those pipes priming them to potentially burst once things warm back up. Make sure the windows are closed at night to keep pipes from freezing (and to stay warm and cozy in the evenings).
2. Turn off the garden hose on cold spring days and nights.
You may want to turn your garden hose off if the temperatures drop below freezing at night. If they do (and depending on how fast it freezes and for how long), the hose faucet and even your garden hose could be damaged. Likely, you’ll be able to run your hose consistently soon, but just be cautious of those night-time temperatures.
3. Clean your gutters.
This might seem like an odd PLUMBING suggestion but you’ll see why in a moment: Over the course of a long winter, leaves, sticks, and other kinds of debris can collect in your gutters. Then when springtime rains come, the water runs into your gutters and spills out over the sides, pooling at your foundation instead of running down the downspout and away from your house.
Once pooling at your foundation, the water then runs down and can collect in weeping tiles… but it could also enter your home and cause flooding. So, make sure you have a sump pump all set up to collect and move water that could be rising underneath your house, and send it away from your home.
4. Check exposed and below-sink pipes
Make sure any exposed pipes in the basement, under sinks, or outside, don’t have any cracks or damage from freezing, which again can cause major water damage if left unchecked. This is also a good time to check your pipes for rust or corrosion. If you find water pipes showing significant corrosion, it’s best to simply have the part replaced immediately rather than risking flooding down the road.
5. Spring cleaning: Don’t forget about your pipes!
Lastly, when you’re doing spring cleaning, show your pipes some love too; especially the wastewater pipes that move water out of your home. Have a plumber come in and inspect your pipes and clean them out each year so you never have to worry about backed up lines that won’t drain.
Summary
Everyone has been anxiously anticipating warmer weather, and thankfully spring is finally here and showing us some pleasant temps! If you’ve gotten to this point in our blog, give yourself a pat on the back because you probably know that preventative maintenance can save you from potential homeowner headaches later. Hopefully, you can check these tasks off your list to make sure your plumbing is in good shape for spring and summer so you won’t have anything to worry about except enjoying all the outdoor activities you’ve been waiting for all winter!
