Springtime is once again upon us. Shoots of green have begun peeking out from beneath the soil, birds are busy building nests, and homeowners throw open their windows to let the fresh air usher in relief from the long, cold winter. 

For many homeowners, the nice spring air also brings with it spring cleaning. At JJ’s Plumbing, we often get called in at this time of the year to deal with repair works that could have been prevented with some simple maintenance. To help you avoid the hassle, we’ve prepared a spring cleaning checklis t to make spring cleaning a lot easier for you.

Clean Behind the Toilet

The area behind the toilet is a notorious dust gatherer. Start with removing the dust from the floor, toilet, and pipes. Wipe surfaces clean with an anti-bacterial cleaning agent. 

Once dry, rub a dryer sheet over the baseboard and the wall behind the toilet, as well as any exposed pipes. The dryer sheet will repel dust, making the area easier to clean at the next pass.

Empty the Gutters

Head out with a steady ladder and a set of gutter cleaning tools to make sure your gutters are free from any debris. 

Thanks to technology, you may even skip the ladder if you have the right tools. Using telescoping attachments with wet/dry vacs is now a possibility. There are even pressurized telescoping wands you can use to clean the gutters without having to trek up and down a ladder all day long.

Clear Drains

Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on a drain cleaner to achieve clean, functional drains. A simple, inexpensive way to clear your drains is to pour baking soda and vinegar into them before following it up fifteen minutes later with boiling water. We have video logs demonstrating how you can do this environment-friendly way of clearing your drains.

We highly recommend that you clean your drains using this method at least once a month, but we understand that families are busier than ever these days. In that case, you can just add this task to your spring cleaning checklist, and your drains will thank you for it.

Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals can harbor odors and bacteria that can make any kitchen smell unpleasant. A good scrubbing once a year will mitigate this problem and extend the life of your garbage disposal as well. 

First, empty a few cups of ice cubes into the garbage disposal. Follow this up with about half a cup of rock salt. Turn on the garbage disposal for about a minute.

Afterward, unplug the garbage disposal. Next, take out the vinegar and baking soda again so you can pour a good mixture down the drain. Make a paste out of the vinegar and baking soda and use a toothbrush or a long wire brush to scrub everything — the blades, the side, the rubber in the drain, all of it. 

Lastly, rinse the whole thing very well. Moving forward, you can give the entire kitchen a fragrance boost by putting citrus peels inside the garbage disposal and running it for about fifteen seconds. 

Check Pipes for Leaks/Drips

Last but certainly not least, check your pipes for leaks and drips. The most efficient and easy way to do this is to monitor your water meter for a little while. 

Find the meter and write down the current numbers shown where the meter displays usage. Set a timer and go do something else for an hour, but make sure not to run any water while you’re waiting. When the timer goes off, check the numbers again, and if the numbers have moved, you’ll know you’re dealing with a leak.

This is where JJ’s Plumbing comes to save the day. 

Book Professional Plumbing Services Today

We have all the latest leak detection equipment that can help you locate the source of the leak in your house. We are ready to provide plumbing services; for our team of professionals, no job is too big or too small. 

Call us today at 604-479-2232 or visit our website to find out how we can make spring cleaning easier for you and your plumbing system. If you want, do feel free to email us a picture of your house’s problem area so we can come prepared to offer the appropriate plumbing services to meet your needs.