You have been away from your Southwest Florida home for a few months. Before everyone starts showering, doing laundry, and using the plumbing normally again, take a few minutes to walk through the house.
Look for leaks, check drains that have been sitting unused, and take a look at the water heater.
Before You Start Using the Plumbing Normally
Start with a quick walk through the house.
Look under sinks and around toilets for moisture or water stains. Check the floor around the water heater. Listen for running water when no fixtures are turned on and note any sewer or drain odors.
If something looks or sounds different from when you left, check it before the plumbing goes back into regular use.
Check Faucets, Toilets and Visible Plumbing for Leaks
Turn on faucets and watch the connections underneath the sink. Check around toilet bases and supply lines for moisture.
Look for corrosion, damp cabinets, stained walls, or flooring that feels wet.
If you see signs of water but cannot find the source, leak detection can find the hidden leaks before they cause additional damage.
Run Water Through Drains That Have Been Sitting Unused
Water sits inside the P-trap below a sink, shower, or tub and blocks sewer odors from coming through the drain. That water dries out when a fixture sits unused for a long time.
Run water through guest sinks, showers, tubs, and utility drains. If the smell clears and the drain works normally, the dry trap was the problem.
Check for Slow or Backed-Up Drains
Run water through sinks, tubs, and showers and watch how quickly they empty.
Hair, soap, grease, and other buildup slow a drain over time. Drain cleaning clears that buildup when it starts restricting the line.
Several drains slowing down or backing up together points to a problem farther down the system. For a blockage or damage in the main sewer line, Aztec's sewer services can find the problem and determine if the line needs cleaning or repair.
Inspect Your Water Heater Before Heavy Use
Look around the water heater for moisture, rust, or corrosion before your household starts using a lot of hot water again.
Listen for new noises and check the hot water once the unit is back in regular use.
Southwest Florida water leaves minerals and sediment behind inside water heaters. Regular water heater maintenance gives us a chance to check that buildup and the condition of the equipment.
Pay Attention to Water Quality After Being Away
Run the fixtures after you return and pay attention to water that stays discolored or has an unusual smell or taste after normal use resumes.
Look for heavy scale around faucets and fixtures as well.
If mineral buildup keeps showing up throughout the house, water filtration gives you options for treating the water before it reaches your plumbing and water-using equipment.
Check Outdoor and Less-Frequently Used Plumbing
Check the plumbing you do not use every day:
- Guest bathrooms
- Laundry supply connections
- Outdoor faucets
- Utility sinks
- Pool-house plumbing
- Plumbing in detached areas
Look for leaks, stains, slow drains, and fixtures that are not working normally.
When Should a Returning Snowbird Call a Plumber?
Call when you find an active or hidden leak, several slow drains, a sewer odor that stays after running water, or a leaking water heater.
An unexplained change in water pressure or a plumbing problem that returns after you start using the house again also needs to be checked.
Start Your Southwest Florida Season With a Plumbing Check
If your return-home check turns up a leak, drainage problem, sewer odor, or water-heater problem, have it checked before the house is back to full use.
Aztec works with seasonal homeowners in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, and across Southwest Florida.
Schedule Online(239) 932-2959
