Spring Plumbing Home Inspection Checklist

The Metrowest sees some of the wettest, most temperamental weather in the entire state. While you may think a little gutter cleaning and yard work is enough to prepare for spring, your pipes need extra help. Preventive plumbing maintenance catches all the subtle (and not-so-subtle) problems left by rainy, windy weather. Our spring plumbing home inspection checklist for the MetroWest will help you clean up and prep your home for the rest of the year.

How MetroWest’s Climate Affects Your Pipes

Massachusetts may be beautiful, but its climate wreaks havoc on your pipes. This region’s proximity to the ocean brings rolling salt air, high humidity, and no shortage of storms. Pipes in the MetroWest face frost and freezing temperatures in winter, then lots of wind and rain during spring. Let’s take a look at what that means for important upkeep like gutter cleaning and sewer line cleaning.

Hard Water

The entire state has water quality ranging from soft to a little hard. Hard water isn’t a danger to your health, but it wears out your pipes by building up sticky residue that can’t be washed away. Homes that rely on groundwater wells often have harder water than those that rely on surface water. Hard water can reduce your water pressure by reducing the available space for water to travel. Over time, this sticky residue thickens and becomes heavy, increasing the risk of leaks. Water softener services are a reliable way to keep hard water under control and protect your pipes, no matter the weather.

Spring Thaw

It’s wonderful seeing the trees and flowers bloom in spring, but this thawing period comes with a downside. Spring is one of the worst seasons for pipes because winter can freeze the water inside them, causing your system to expand and stiffen from the cold. Once the warmer weather rolls in, these pipes can deflate too quickly, resulting in cracks and leaks. In extreme cases, they can burst and flood your home or lawn.

Heavy Rain

Heavy rainfall quite literally puts extra pressure on your piping systems. The drenched soil around your home can affect tree roots and water pressure, reducing how smoothly water moves through your pipes. Old piping systems can sometimes shift out of place during heavy rain, increasing the risk that you’ll wake up to a flood. You’re also more likely to see clogged storm drains, making the issue even worse.

General Debris

Spring brings all kinds of muck to your home, such as leaves, mud, sticks, and clumps of trash. While you may be tempted to clean your gutters out and call it a day, your setup may require more diligence. For example, if you have a sump pump, the pit can sometimes get clogged with dirt and litter during spring. Without spring maintenance, a clogged sump pump is a messy flood just waiting to happen.

Plumbing Home Inspection Checklist for the MetroWest: 5 Important Signs

Plumbing in the MetroWest does best with a proactive attitude. This home inspection checklist will examine common warning signs of underlying problems and outline ideal courses of action.

1. Look Out for Foul Smells

Your first order of business is to check your indoor and outdoor piping, including faucets, hoses, sprinklers, downspouts, and drains. If the area around these pipes smells a little dirty or musty, that’s normal. You shouldn’t be smelling anything like sulfur, rotten eggs, sewage, or rotting food. These scents usually point to clogs that need cleaning as soon as possible. In the case of a sump pump, rotten eggs could be a problem with your discharge line or even a gas leak. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you smell sulfur or spoiled eggs, call a technician for an inspection. You may need sewer line cleaning or even a replacement.

2. Double-Check Your Water Bills

A slight fluctuation in your water bills is normal during winter and spring. If your water bills gradually increase throughout the year with no explanation, you may have a hidden leak in your pipes. Other common signs of a leak are gurgling pipes, discolored spots in your wall, and unexplained wet spots in your yard. Even if you find a leak in your home, it’s best to get a professional inspection, as there may be hidden leaks you can’t detect.

3. Inspect Your Water Heater

When’s the last time you listened to your water heater for any strange sounds? Keep a close eye on it as you complete your checklist, and it shouldn’t make any cracking, popping, or rattling. These sounds usually indicate sediment buildup or corrosion, both of which can make it hard for your water heater to function. Neglecting it can result in unreliable water pressure or a complete loss of heat when you still need it. A technician can inspect your water heater for possible corrosion, leaks, or signs of old age. They can also flush it to break up sediment build-up and maintain its performance.

4. Search for Discolored Water

Go through each part of the house and turn on your faucets and hoses. Your water should run clear and not have strange colors like yellow, brown, or orange. Spring storms sometimes damage old, corroded pipes, loosening sediment or rust and leaving your water looking funny. Don’t drink discolored water, and reach out to a local technician for water quality testing to make sure you don’t have a potential leak or broken pipe.

5. Review Your Water Pressure

If your water pressure is acting funny during spring, get that checked as soon as possible. Your water should come in a steady stream, not sputter, trickle, or turn off at random. Bad water pressure puts a lot of strain on pipes, especially older systems that are already brittle and prone to cracks. Massachusetts can get pretty hot and humid in the summer. Our spring plumbing home inspection checklist should also be paired with spring AC maintenance. If you need help keeping track of all these tasks, one of our team members is ready to help.

Finish Your Spring Cleaning Checklist With Notturno

You have months of warm weather and fun times ahead of you. Don’t lose valuable free time worrying about your pipes or water quality: let one of our technicians pick up the slack. Our expert team knows the MetroWest like the back of their hand. For years, we’ve helped homeowners in Franklin, Bellingham, Medway, and beyond protect their pipes, improve their water quality, and upgrade their home comfort systems. Thanks to our diverse service area, we can stop by your home more quickly to deliver dependable home plumbing maintenance. We’re happy to get your plumbing up to speed with repair, installation, and maintenance services, such as:

Give your plumbing home inspection checklist a second opinion. Call us for a consultation today!

Spring Plumbing Home Inspection Checklist: MetroWest Edition