Aug20

By Dave Bangar

How to Maintain Your Outdoor Plumbing Fixtures

As with your indoor plumbing, your outdoor plumbing systems require attention and maintenance from time to time to stay in good working order. 

If you have outdoor plumbing fixtures that provide water to your sprinklers, hoses, fountains, ponds, and more, here are some things you should do to keep the water flowing.

Tips For Maintaining Your Outdoor Plumbing Fixtures

Test Your Outdoor Faucets

The cool Kelowna winters can be a nightmare for your plumbing. If you are worried about frozen pipes, you should test your outdoor faucets. 

Turn on the faucet. If water pours out as expected, there are no problems so there is no need for a further plumbing inspection. 

If the water is only a trickle, flows slowly, or starts leaking, it is possible that you have a cracked pipe, old pipes that require repiping, or a leak somewhere in the system. It is best to call for a plumber to conduct an investigation to uncover the root of the problem. 

Clear Your Gutters

Gutters, downspouts, and yard drains allow water to flow freely through your outdoor plumbing system. 

Unfortunately, each of these elements can become clogged with dirt, leaves, and debris. The good news is that you don’t have to clean them too often. Once in the spring and again in the fall should be enough. This allows you to clear debris after the spring thaw, and to clear fallen leaves before winter hits. 

Failure to keep your gutters clear can do more than interrupt your outdoor plumbing, it can cause ice dams or water backups that can destroy your roofing and allow water to seep into your walls. 

If you do end up with clogged or damaged drains, call a trusted plumber for drain snaking, drain cleaning, or repair, as needed. 

Clean Window Wells

Window wells are magnets for leaves and other types of debris. These items can clog the drainage system, causing water to back up and pool, doing potential damage to your windows, walls, and siding. 

Again, this cleaning task is recommended for the spring and fall but it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at them in the summer and winter, too. 

While winter is not the ideal time to be outside doing home maintenance, snow and ice buildup can block drainage and lead to water seepage into the home, damaging the structure and increasing the likelihood of mould growth. 

Consider a Sewer Line Inspection

Occasionally, Kelowna can get above-average rain or snow. If this happens, consider a sewer line inspection. 

Tree roots can shift underground, which can lead to damaged or burst pipes. Definitely call a plumber if you notice a strange odour coming from your lawn, wet areas around the property, bright green patches on the lawn, or waste building up in your toilet and drainage system. 

Alternatively, you can be proactive and schedule a sewer line inspection each spring, when water levels tend to be at their highest. 

Damage to the sewer pipe can also lead to slab leaks. Damaged sewer lines can cause wastewater to erode the ground under the slab and do catastrophic damage to your home’s foundation. Call a plumbing professional to conduct slab leak detection if you notice cracks, odours or other signs of trouble. 

Check Vent Pipes

While you’re cleaning your gutters, take a look at your vent pipes. Your vent pipes deliver fresh outdoor air to your plumbing fixtures and prevent sewer gases from entering the home while eliminating waste odours.

But from time to time, birds and insects build a nest inside these vents leading to blockages and problems with your plumbing system in general. 

Inspect Your Septic Tank

Your septic tank should be inspected at least once every three to five years. This task should be handled by a professional. While you may feel like this is an unnecessary expense, any recommended repairs will be less expensive than replacing the leach field or addressing an emergency scenario. 

Maintain Your Outdoor Plumbing with My Plumber Kelowna

Many of these maintenance tasks make for the perfect weekend DIY project. But some, require the professional expertise that can only come from local plumbers in Kelowna. 

Whether you need an emergency plumber, drain cleaning, slab leak detection, sewer line repair and more, My Plumber Kelowna has you covered. 

Our team of licensed, trained, and experienced plumbers can diagnose and treat any and all of your home plumbing problems. From routine inspection and maintenance to installation and repairs, we provide the reliable service you need. 

If you live in the metro Kelowna area, contact us today.