Spring is here, and that means it’s time for spring cleaning. When you think of spring cleaning, you might dust your blinds and reorganize your closets. Most people forget that your plumbing needs some TLC during this time of year. Spring cleaning your plumbing can increase the efficiency and longevity of your home’s plumbing system. Below are some essential parts of your plumbing and some tips for how you can easily clean them.
Sink Faucet Aerator
Since your faucet aerator is similar to a filter, dirt and debris can quickly build up around the aerator. If not kept clean, a dirty aerator can lead to water pressure issues and impact your water’s taste and smell. To clean your aerator, remove the insert from the faucet’s end. Prepare a cleaning solution such as dish soap and water, or three parts water to one part vinegar. Rinse and spring your aerator with a sponge or rag while also running the water to loosen any debris.
Showerhead
Over time mineral deposits can build up in your showerhead, disrupting water pressure or a clog. Luckily, there is an easy way you can clean your showerhead. First, dislodge any mineral buildup in your nozzles by massaging each nozzle with your finger or gently scrubbing them with an old toothbrush. Next, you’ll want to soak the showerhead in vinegar. The easiest way to do this is to leave the showerhead attached to the wall and fill a plastic bag with vinegar, and wrap it around the showerhead, securing it with a rubber band or tape. Leave the bag around the showerhead for a few hours. Remove the bag turn the water on for a few minutes to rinse all the vinegar from the showerhead.
Garbage Disposal
Your garbage disposal is an essential part of your home plumbing, but not one you probably think of often. Cleaning your garbage disposal can reduce odors and improve the overall function of this appliance. You should first fill your garbage disposal with about six ice cubes, one tablespoon of baking soda, three lemon slices, and one teaspoon of bleach, with six more ice cubes on top. The ice will help loosen the food debris that builds up around the walls of your disposal. The lemon slices will help freshen the odors, and the bleach will disinfect it. Turn on your disposal with the water running until you hear the grinding of the ice stop, then flush with water for 30 seconds. This natural cleaning remedy is very effective, simple, and safe for your appliance. Never put chemical drain cleaners down your disposal.
Schedule Your Routine Plumbing Maintenance
An essential part of spring cleaning for your plumbing is keeping up with regular maintenance. It is vital to make sure that your pipes are in prime working order so you can prevent pipe leaks, cracks, and breaks that can be costly. Routine plumbing maintenance is the best way to catch problems upfront and avoid repairs. At Michael’s Plumbing of Orlando and Central Florida, we encourage you to schedule a plumbing maintenance visit every year. If you wait until you have flooding, leaking pipes, or a sump pump failure, it can lead to a more expensive plumbing repair service in the future. Plumbing maintenance becomes more critical if your home is ten years old or older. Older pipes require more frequent maintenance, as they are less resilient than new plumbing.
Call us at (407) 219-9772 to schedule a service today.