Outdoor faucets and drains can be particularly difficult to maintain, especially in the inclement weather of North Central Florida. However, without some maintenance and intervention, these systems can fail, resulting in more than just a minor inconvenience.
Sunshine Plumbing and Gas is providing these tips for outdoor faucet and drain maintenance that any homeowner or business owner can do to help save time and money in the long run.
Even with proper maintenance, age and other factors can cause outdoor plumbing to need repairs. When that time comes, you can depend on our reliable plumbing repair services. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.
Regularly Clean Parts
Cleaning the washer, spigot, inside valve, aerator, and the inside of the spout can save you the need for faucet repairs. You should also make sure to clear debris from drains, especially after lawn maintenance as grass clippings and dirt can cause a clogged drain. Another culprit of clogged drains is leaves, so you’ll want to keep an eye on drains during the fall.
Check Water Flow
Make it a point to do routine checks on all outdoor faucets, hose bibs, and drains. Reduced water flow could point to accumulated debris, a clog, or a cracked pipe. Before calling a plumber, check the washer, spigot, inside the valve, aerator, and the inside of the spout. If these are all clean, there may be a deeper cause for the low water pressure. If water isn’t flowing easily down the drain, you will probably need a plumber for piping services.
Always Prepare For Winter
A frozen pipe can result in hundreds to thousands of dollars in damage, depending on the severity and location. To prevent pipes from freezing in the winter, flush and close the pipes before temperatures start dropping. This simple maintenance task is easy to do and only requires that you know where the water supply valves for each faucet are located. Once these are turned off, turn on all faucets and spigots and allow for the water to drain into a bucket. Leave the faucets in the open position until you’re ready to use them again.