Tag: Leaky Sinks

Spring is Prime Time for Plumbing Check-ups and Repairs

Spring is finally here and it’s time to make some quick checks around the house. Here are some quick and immediate plumbing tips for you to consider as the weather starts to warm.

By checking the bathroom, kitchen, appliances, equipment and more common areas, both within and outside the home, you can be prepared and help prevent any plumbing problems that occur. Just think of it as an extension of your spring cleaning project!
Check your drains, gutters and downspouts – which should be clear and free of debris to ensure proper operation. Many regions of the country experience a large amount of rainfall this time of year and you want to make sure you’re ready. If you let the debris build up, gutters and drains can clog, causing water damage, leakage and mould growth – not something you want to deal with!
Make sure your plumbing pipes and vents are clear of bird nests, leaves, sticks etc.

Check Your Hose Bib in the Spring

Check out the faucet for leaks – this is especially common in colder climates where hoses have been left on the hose bib for the winter. If the water supply pipe has frozen the once frozen pipe can be expanded and may have cracked. This pipe will leak and should be replaced as soon as possible before water damage can occur. This is something Baker can take care of!

Stop Flooding Check Your Sump Pump for Proper Function

The most important thing you can do to keep your plumbing system safe this spring is to make sure your sump pump is primed and ready for some hard work. If you have not seen to your sump pump (do not worry – you probably are not the only one), test it by pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should kick on in a few seconds, allow the flow of water and then turn itself off automatically. If it does not do it, call Baker Plumbing and have the sump pump seen firsthand – before it completely burns out.

Other Plumbing Repair Tips

• Check the faucet in the kitchen and bathroom for leaks. The improvements will help save water and money.

• Make sure you have your filters on each drain. This is to prevent hair, soap and other substances that may block your drains.

• Check your toilet for leaks. A fast and inexpensive way to do this is to put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If there is a leak, the food color will end up in the bowl within half an hour. While you’re at it, check out the bowl for any cracks or leaks.

• Check your toilets to make sure they are flushing correctly. If you must hold or shake the handle, you need to replace the parts of the toilet which are responsible for flushing.
• Check your water supply valve by turning on and off occasionally. This will prevent them from sticking.

• Finally, clean your shower head with vinegar to remove mineral deposits that can clog. I know most people don’t know this little trick of the trade. Take a Zip Loc bag and fill it with white vinegar. Place the Zip Loc bag on the shower head in place and wrap the bag with a few heavy rubber bands securing the bag to the shower head. Leave for 24 hrs and the mineral deposits should breakdown leaving your shower clean as a whistle.

Completing this inspection now will prepare your home for the heavy rains of spring and will help you discover sooner and not later any damages caused by a long, cold winter.

Every home is bound to have at least one during its lifetime, and if gone un-checked, can cause serious damage to both your home and bank account. We’re talking about a leaky sink. Even if your sink is only dripping 10 times per minute, that can amount to more than 500 gallons per year! Not only that, it can be causing damage to your cabinets, floors and ceilings which could cost you even more money.  So, to help you save both time and money down the road, we’ve compiled some easy tips to help you identify and repair some common water leaks in your sink(s).

Things you’ll need for the job:

• Flashlight
• Sponge
• Towel
• Wrench (optional)
• Caulking Solution (optional)
• Caulking Gun (optional)

Identifying The Type Of Leak You Have

The first step to repairing any water leak is identifying the type of leak you have. There are three common areas where a leak can develop in and around your sink; leaks will occur around the rim, water supply and drain lines. Depending on both the severity and type of leak you have, you may or may not need to call a professional plumber to help you repair it.

Problem: The Rim Of The Sink – This type of leak is often caused by  either old/worn out caulking solution or a loose faucet base . To find out if this is the leak you have, take a sponge and soak it with water. Next, squeeze out the water from the sponge around the rim of the sink. Now, take your flashlight and look in the cabinet underneath the sink. If you see any drops or pools of water under the sink, you likely have a leak in the rim of your sink.

Solution: To fix this type of leak, all you have to do is either replace the bead of caulking solution or use a wrench tighten the faucet base.

Problem: The Water Supply Line – This type of leak is caused by a loose connection or hole somewhere in the supply line. Unless you’re a certified plumber, we’d recommend calling a professional to have it fixed. Though, you can always inspect the connections and supply line itself to see if that’s the issue. To do this all you will need is a dry towel. first, turn on the water to the sink and let it run for a minute or two. While the water is running take a dry towel and rub it along and around any connections in the water supply line. Inspect the towel after wiping each connection point to see if it’s at all damp. If so, you’ve likely spotted the loose connection in your water supply line.

Solution: Call Baker Plumbing and have them inspect and determine just what needs to be done to repair the line.

Problem: The Drain – This leak is often attributed to a leaky joint, slip nut, ring nut or strainer under the sink. To test for this, fill up your sink with water. Now, open the drain and allow the water to drain out of the sink. As the water is draining take a dry towel and flashlight and wipe all the connections along the drain line. If at any point you find water on the outside of a connection, you’ve likely found a water leak.

Solution: Try taking a wrench and tightening any loose connections you may have. If this doesn’t stop the leak, you’ll need to contact Baker Plumbing for further assessment.