Spring is a great time for cleaning and taking care of those little, nagging chores that just seem to linger. Here are some quick and easy maintenance tips to keep your plumbing in tip top shape.

Faucets – At the tip of each faucet is an aerator. Screw off the aerator. Rinse the screen, the washer and the aerator housing in water to clean them. If you have really stubborn lime build up, soak in vinegar for an hour and use an old toothbrush to loosen and remove the scale.

Toilets – Check the flapper in the toilet tank for cracks and wear. If the rubber looks cracked at all, you may want to replace it. A cracked and worn out flapper equals leaks and higher water bills. Check around the toilet base for leaks. Catching leaks early will save you money. To find out more about how to check for water leaks read, “How To Determine If You Have A Water Leak”.

Drains – Hair is the most common item in clogged drains. The easiest way to keep hair from clogging your sink is to purchase a hair screen to place in your drains. These catch the hair before it goes down the drain and makes trouble. The best way to maintain your drain is to keep clogs from happening. To find out more about keeping your drains clog free read, “Advice From A Plumber: How To Keep Your Drain Clog Free”.

Water Heater – Watch the outside of your water heater for small leaks. Water leaks start as small pin holes and progress and get larger. As you use your water heater, it will have lime and scale build up in the tank. To keep your tank running at optimum efficiency you’ll need to drain it and clean it at least once a year. You need to check the the release valve to make sure it’s working properly.

These are all tasks that you can perform yourself, but you may want to hire Oceanside Plumber, John Stevenson to come out and do these tasks for you. Give him a call at (760) 918-0456.