Fall maintenance is important in order to make sure everything in your mid-Ohio home is working properly before winter comes. Getting stuck with faulty equipment that needs to be replaced or repaired in the middle of winter is a giant headache. If you have already begun fall maintenance, then have you checked the plumbing? You’re going to want hot water during the cold months, so make sure that you have checked the plumbing before fall ends by following these tips:
- Check all of your pipes for any leaks, including pipes that run through your walls or through the foundation.
- Check for corrosion. You can do this by looking for any green stains around the shut-off valves. Corrosion can lead to leaks, bad connections or problems with the water itself.
- Check for rust flakes in the burner chamber of your water heater.
- Check the color of the flame in the burner chamber. It should be blue. If it's yellow, it means that there's a problem with soot or with the gas-air mixture. This means that the jets will have to be cleaned.
- If you feel confident in doing the job, drain your water heater in order to remove any sediment that may have settled at the bottom. Over time, this can lead to water heater failure (and a big mess). You may want to ask a professional to do this, unless you have detailed instructions.
- Check your water pressure. If the pressure is too low, there’s a chance that there is a problem with the line or that the faucet aerator or shower head contains sediment buildup.
- Make sure that your drains are draining at a normal speed. If it's taking longer than it should to drain, you may have a clogged pipe or a blocked vent pipe. If there are bubbles visible during draining, you may have a problem.
Though it's relatively easy to check for most of these problems, having an expert technician perform an inspection will result in a more thorough checkup. Have your plumbing checked or repaired by contacting Joe Behr Plumbing & Heating. We have been serving the mid-Ohio area since 1965.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Mid-Ohio area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about checking your plumbing and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
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