Winter is over. Time to check what froze,leaked, or failed while nobody was looking. Spring plumbing maintenance catches winter damage before it becomes summer problems. Part of our complete Annual Plumbing Maintenance Checklist for NWA Homeowners.
Found winter damage? Bearnwa handles spring repairs. 479-321-1313.
Check Outdoor Faucets First
Turn water back on slowly. Watch for leaks. Frozen hose bibs crack internally. The damage does not show until water turns on. Drips or sprays mean freeze damage. See pipe repair for fixes. No leaks visible but water pressure is weak. Internal pipe damage possible. Needs inspection.
Test Sump Pump
Spring means rain. Sump pump needs to work. Pour bucket of water in sump pit. Pump should activate and drain pit. No activation means dead pump or float switch failure. Fix before heavy rains come. Pump runs but does not drain pit efficiently. Discharge pipe might be clogged or damaged from winter freeze.
Inspect Crawl Space and Basement Pipes
Look for moisture. Water stains on floor joists. Damp insulation. Active drips. All signs of winter freeze damage that leaked slowly. Check for corrosion on pipes. White or green buildup on copper. Rust on galvanized. Pinhole leaks happen in corroded sections. See leak detection if you suspect hidden leaks.
Water Heater Spring Check
Temperature setting. Verify still at 120°F. Settings sometimes get bumped over winter. See temperature guide. Pressure relief valve. Lift handle briefly. Water should flow then stop when released. No flow means valve is stuck. Needs replacement. See water heater service. Tank bottom check. Look for rust or moisture. Tank corrosion means replacement coming soon.
Irrigation System Startup
If you have sprinklers. Turn on slowly. Check each zone for proper operation. Look for broken heads or leaking pipes. Winter freeze damage shows up when system starts. Adjust sprinkler heads after winter ground settling. Make sure they are still aimed correctly.
Drain Care After Winter
Run hot water through all drains. Kitchen, bathrooms, laundry. Melts any grease or soap buildup from winter. See drain maintenance. Check drains that were unused all winter. Guest bathrooms. Basement sinks. Run water to refill P-traps that may have dried out.
Spring is Maintenance Season
Everything survived winter. Now is when you fix what did not. Catching problems in spring beats emergency repairs in summer.
📞 Call 479-321-1313 for spring plumbing checkup. Find problems before they find you.