Check Your Washer’s Supply Hoses
As you remove the washing machine from the wall, look for any leaks or drops on the floor. Next, look over the entire length of the machine’s water supply hoses. If the hoses are made of rubber, keep an eye out for cracks and other signs of wear and tear. It’s critical to keep in mind that rubber hoses lose quality over time, and studies show that failure rates drastically rise for hoses older than five years. Replace them when they reach the five-year mark. Don’t run the washing machine when no one is home in the meantime.
Clean Your Sump Pump
Remove the pump, including the pump screen or inlet, and clean it while cutting off the power source. Consult your owner’s handbook to find out how. Every three to four months, the pump screen or inlet needs to be cleaned. After that, return the appliance, put the power back on, and give it a test run by adding some water to make sure everything is in working order.
Remove Obstructions in Your Sprinkler System
To ensure that individual sprinkler heads do not get blocked with impediments like dirt, grass clippings, or other debris, it is crucial to keep an eye on your system during the growing season. If a sprinkler head becomes clogged with this debris, the system’s water main may break due to an unneeded increase in water pressure. To ensure that all heads are functioning as they should, test your system at the beginning of the year and keep an eye on it during the campaign. Checking each head to make sure it hasn’t been damaged, possibly from a thoughtless lawnmower pass, is also a good idea. A damaged head can be a water waster since fluid is still assigned to it by the system but isn’t being distributed as it should be. This goes beyond merely failing to water the area it is supposed to. If you do discover a broken sprinkler head, have it changed right away.
Inspect Your Hoses for Expansion
Warm air induces expansion, even in your water pipes and hoses, but cold air causes things to contract. If you’re concerned about how expansion will affect the pipes in your home, keep a close eye on any hoses near the exterior of your property, such as your garden hose, since they will initially exhibit indications of expansion. These hoses or pipes are susceptible to rapid expansion brought on by temperature changes and direct sunshine, which can result in cracking. If you find this type of damage anywhere in your house, it’s crucial to get these items replaced as soon as you can. The more water will be lost to unwanted leakage the longer a crack is permitted to exist.
