5 Essential Spring Plumbing Tips for Your Jersey Home

Remember to include a little TLC for your plumbing system while sprucing up your home on the South Jersey Shore this spring.

Scheduling a professional inspection and preventative maintenance can ensure water pipes, drains, and water-using appliances operate smoothly, without leaks or clogs.

At Broadley’s Plumbing, our qualified and licensed plumbers service plumbing systems in year-round residences and vacation homes in Marmora. We maintain, repair, and install plumbing systems, fixtures, water heaters, drains, and pipes.

Spring Maintenance Plumbing Tips

As a homeowner, you can help keep your plumbing system in top shape with these five tips:

1. Drains

Place hair-catching drain screens in your tub, shower, and sinks. Depending on the density of the mesh, you may screen out larger particles in addition to hair. A stainless-steel kitchen sink strainer can trap food that might otherwise clog pipes.

Try using a plunger to dislodge any blockages. If all of the drains run slowly, your sewer line may be clogged. Unclogging it is not an easy, do-it-yourself project. Call our licensed New Jersey plumbing pros to remove built-up debris, grease, and tree roots.

An annual spring cleaning of your main sewer line keeps the water flowing through your Marmora drains.

2. Bibs and Sprinklers

Check outdoor hose bibs for cracks. Turn the water on and look for leaks in the bib and the pipe supplying water to the bib. Clean and adjust sprinkler heads and note any leaks in the system.

Call us at Broadley’s to repair leaks or replace damaged pipes, heads, and bibs.

3. Water Heater

Drain several gallons of water from the tank to remove sediment inside your water heater. Sediment can cause corrosion, which shortens lifespan and may lead to leaks. Corrosion also reduces energy efficiency.

Consult your manufacturer’s instruction booklet or website for guidance on flushing your brand and model.

Consider a replacement if your water heater is 12 to 15 years old. You will gain better efficiency and a tank without corrosion and leaks.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the average American household spends 14 to 18 percent of their utility bill on water heating, or about $400 to $800 annually. An energy-efficient water heater is essential for saving money on water bills.

If you are looking for longer service life, superior energy efficiency, and on-demand hot water, ask us at Broadley’s if a tankless water heater is the best fit for your household.

4. Sump Pump

If you have a sump pump, now is the time to inspect and test it before spring rains cause problems.

Pour a few buckets of water into the sump pump pit. The float switch should turn the pump on to drain the water. If it does not start, the pump needs attention.

Call us to repair the main pump and to check your battery-powered backup pump. You will be relieved to know your sump pump will work with or without power before the next big rainstorm.

5. Main Water Valve

If you ever experience a water emergency in your Marmora home, such as burst pipes and leaking appliances, you may need to cut off your home water supply by turning off the main water valve. Find it now to avoid a frantic search and potential water damage if you ever need to stop the water flow while waiting for professional assistance.

Bookmark our Broadley’s website and add our phone number to your contact list for easy access. Our licensed plumbers are available 24/7 to help with emergencies.

The water shut-off is likely in the basement close to where your main water supply line enters your Marmora home. Look near the water meter. It may be in the crawl space or near the water heater or a sink if your home sits on a slab.

After finding the valve, test to see if it budges and then return it to its open position. You want to be sure you can shut the valve in an emergency.

Test other valves that cut the water supply to individual fixtures. You will find valves on or near the walls by your toilets, under sinks, and in the plumbing access to your bathtub.

Make Plumbing a Priority

Ask our qualified team at HOME to give your plumbing system a spring checkup. You will gain peace of mind knowing your Marmora, NJ, home is safe from plumbing leaks. Call us at  609-875-2756 or request service online.