Spring in Northern Ontario hits differently than anywhere else. One day you’re shoveling snow, the next you’re dealing with massive puddles in your basement because something went wrong with your plumbing over the winter months.
Thunder Bay plumbers know this cycle all too well. Every year, when the snow starts melting, the emergency calls start pouring in. Burst pipes, failed water heaters, overwhelmed sump pumps. It’s like clockwork, really. But here’s what most people don’t realize: most of these disasters could have been avoided with some basic spring maintenance.
Sure, nobody wants to crawl around their basement looking at pipes when the weather finally gets nice. You’d rather be outside, maybe working in the garden or just enjoying some sunshine. But think about this for a second. Would you rather spend one Saturday morning checking things out, or would you prefer dealing with a flooded basement right in the middle of your summer vacation?
Start With Water Pressure Checks
Go around your house and turn on every tap. Kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, everywhere. Pay attention to how the water flows. Does it feel weaker than usual? Sometimes low pressure means there’s a blockage somewhere in your system.
Check both hot and cold water while you’re at it. If only the hot water seems weak, that’s probably a water heater issue. If it’s both, you might have a bigger problem with your main supply line.
Don’t skip the outdoor taps either. These poor things took a real beating all winter long. They’re usually the first to develop leaks, and honestly, those little drips can add up to serious water waste. I’ve seen water bills double because someone ignored a dripping outdoor spigot for months.
read more : Your High School Hero Jacket is Back
Your Water Heater Needs Some Attention
That water heater in your basement worked overtime during the cold months. Every time you turned on the hot water, it had to heat up freezing cold water coming from outside. That’s a lot of extra stress on the system.
Walk around the unit and look for any rust spots or small puddles on the floor. These are warning signs that something’s not quite right. Maybe it’s just a loose connection, or maybe it’s the start of a bigger problem. Either way, it’s worth investigating before it gets worse.
Try testing the pressure relief valve too. Lift that little lever and see if water comes out. If nothing happens, the valve might be stuck. This is actually a safety feature that prevents dangerous pressure buildup, so you want it working properly.
While you’re there, listen to the unit when it’s heating water. Strange sounds like banging or rumbling usually mean sediment has built up inside the tank. This stuff reduces efficiency and can cause the whole unit to fail sooner than it should.
Look at All Your Visible Pipes
Take a flashlight and walk through your basement or crawl space. Look for any cracks, bulges, or weird discolouration on the pipes. Sometimes, freeze damage doesn’t show up until temperatures start fluctuating in spring.
Pay extra attention to pipes near outside walls. These spots get hit with the worst temperature changes and are most likely to have problems. Even tiny cracks can turn into major floods once the water pressure goes back to normal.
Check your pipe insulation while you’re at it. Missing or damaged insulation leaves pipes vulnerable to those surprise cold snaps we sometimes get well into May. Northern Ontario weather doesn’t follow the calendar, that’s for sure.
If you have one, you should also take a look at your backflow prevention device. This little gadget protects your drinking water from contamination, but cold weather can mess with the internal parts. Most people forget this thing exists until it stops working completely.
Test That Sump Pump Now
Your sump pump might have been sitting there all winter doing nothing, but spring melt and rain can overwhelm it fast. Pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure the pump kicks in. It should start up quickly and move the water out without making weird noises.
Go outside and check where the discharge pipe ends up. Ice and debris love to block these pipes during winter. If water can’t get out, it’s going to end up back in your basement when the pump tries to run.
Think about how old your sump pump is, too. Units that are seven years or older tend to fail more often during busy periods. The absolute worst time to discover pump problems is during a heavy spring rainstorm.
Don’t Forget About Gutters
This might not seem like plumbing work, but trust me, clogged gutters cause plumbing headaches. When gutters overflow, water can seep down to your foundation and eventually affect basement pipes and fixtures.
Clean out any ice, leaves, and random debris that built up over winter. Make sure those downspouts are directing water well away from your house. Standing water near your foundation can refreeze during those spring temperature swings and potentially damage nearby pipes.
Consider Professional Help
Some jobs really need a professional touch. A good plumber can run pressure tests, check hidden pipes, and spot problems you’d never notice on your own.
Professional maintenance costs money upfront, but emergency calls during flood season cost way more. Plus, if you build a relationship with a reliable plumber now, you won’t be scrambling through Google reviews when your basement starts filling up with water.
Don’t Put Off Small Problems
The biggest mistake people make is ignoring minor issues. That slightly weaker water pressure could mean a blockage is developing. Those occasional strange sounds from your water heater might indicate sediment buildup that’s about to cause real trouble.
Spring plumbing maintenance isn’t exciting work. Most people would rather focus on fun outdoor projects or redecorating inside. But investing a few hours in checking your plumbing system can prevent disasters that wreck your entire summer plans.
Your plumbing survived months of brutal conditions. It deserves some attention before things get busy again. Handle these maintenance tasks early, and you’ll sleep better knowing your home is ready for whatever spring weather brings.
