Follow These Plumbing Tips Every Season

Your plumbing is one of your essential home systems and, as such, should be taken care of year-round. The last thing anyone wants is to have to deal with a messy or costly plumbing leak or water heater replacement.

These tips will help you care for your plumbing in every season.

Winter

Ho ho—oh no! Wasting water and paying for costly repairs during the holidays can be an expensive way to finish out the year. These winter plumbing problems may seem minor, but they can leave you in a major bind if ignored.

Seek Out Leaks

February is typically the peak of the rainy season for Northern California, which means you’ll want to seek out and discover any plumbing leaks before they can contribute to or create any mold, mildew, or water damage issues.

Sink Leaks

Did you know a dripping faucet can waste as much as 3,000 gallons/year? Checking for leaks in the cooler months, such as January and February, can help you to determine whether you’re losing more water than you’re actually using. Simply check the water meter while you aren’t using any water. Leave for a few hours, then check the meter again once you return home. If your meter reading has changed, you likely have a leak.

Toilet Leaks

Toilet leaks can be a little more problematic than a dripping sink because they may be more difficult to locate. A leaking flapper can be a simple and inexpensive fix for your toilet troubles, but make sure to check your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to ensure you get the correct replacement part.

Use Your Exhaust Fan

Hot showers and baths are a great way to warm up on a chilly morning or after a long day, but they can also contribute to water damage if you’re not careful! It can be tempting to turn off your exhaust fan while taking a steamy shower, but your bathroom is not a sauna, and it’s not equipped to handle excess moisture in the same way.

Excess moisture sits on your walls and ceiling and can lead to mold and mildew growth. Mold takes 24-48 hours to start growing, and once it’s in your home, it can be hazardous to your health (and your wallet). Make sure to turn your exhaust fan on and run it for at least 20 minutes after you shower to ensure that you vent out any excess moisture.

Don’t Use the Toilet as a Trash Can

Winter is a time for family and friends to gather and celebrate the season. If your home is typically reserved for the party, make sure your guests know what they can and can’t flush in the toilets to prevent clogs. Some examples of non-flushable items include:

• Flushable wipes
• Feminine hygiene products
• Paper towels
• Q-Tips
• Diapers
• Dental floss

Pro tip: Keep trash cans in the bathroom to cut back on non-flushable items ending up in your toilet!

Know Who to Call for Emergencies

The holidays are a time for joy and cheer, but when the family dinner takes a turn into a plumbing disaster, it’s important to take action immediately. Know which plumbers are available for 24/7 emergency service and keep their phone number on the fridge or in another common space to make sure everyone knows who to call in case of a plumbing emergency.

Spring

April showers bring May flowers, but they can also bring a slew of plumbing problems to your home.

Check Sprinklers for Leaks

You may not be using your sprinklers just yet, but it’s important to make sure they’re working correctly to ensure that you don’t waste water once you start your irrigation system in the warmer months. A leaking faucet can waste 3,000 gallons in a year, but a leaking sprinkler head can waste the same amount of water in just one month!

Flush Your Water Heater

Flushing your water heater is an important maintenance task that you need to complete at least once a year. Ignoring this task could result in major problems for your water heater and your hot water supply.

Follow these simple steps to flush your water heater’s tank each spring:

Summer

Summer vacations are fun and games…until plumbing problems take center stage.

Check Water Pressure

Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, but with everyone in the family spending more time outside and sweating more, you’ll likely be using your showers and washing machine more often.

You can check your water pressure with a store-bought gauge that you can attach to any outside spigot. The typical standard for water pressure is 40-45 pounds per square inch (psi), and your water pressure shouldn’t be higher than 60 psi.

Fall

Fall is the best season to set your plumbing (and your home) up for the winter. Make sure to check these tasks off your list each fall:

Know Which Foods Can Go in the Disposal

Knowing which foods belong in the trash and which belong in the garbage disposal can save you massive time, money, and headaches. Keep this list near your kitchen sink to ensure that everyone knows where the following food waste products go:

Winterize Your Plumbing

Winterizing your plumbing is an essential task to ensure that your plumbing doesn’t freeze and break in cold temperatures. A broken water line is not only expensive, but it can also cause major water damage to your home if not caught in time.

Clean Out the Gutters

Cleaning your gutters may not seem like a task that would impact your plumbing, but the truth is that pine needles, leaves, and other debris can cause major clogs! Enclosed downspouts are easy to clog, and once they’re clogged, water has no escape route and will start to fill up (and eventually overflow) out of your gutters. Not only can this cause problems for your landscaping, but it can also create the perfect conditions for standing water and water damage on your roof.

Turn to the San Jose Plumbing Pros

Plumbing emergencies are no joke. Rain or shine, summer or winter EJ Plumbing is here to help you get the most out of your plumbing and solve any problems that may arise. Our team has the expertise and know-how to fix any sewer, drain, blog, gas line, or water heater issue! Give us a call today at or contact our team online to schedule an appointment.