Fall in Las Vegas may not bring the freezing temperatures experienced in other parts of the country, but the change of season is still an important time to give your home’s plumbing system some attention. Cooler nights, hard water, irrigation changes, and increased hot water use can all affect your plumbing.
At Mach 1 Plumbing, we recommend taking a preventative approach before winter arrives. A little maintenance now can help Las Vegas homeowners catch leaks, improve plumbing performance, and reduce the chance of unexpected repairs later.
Here is our fall plumbing checklist for Las Vegas homeowners.
1. Check Outdoor Faucets, Hose Bibs, and Exposed Pipes
Las Vegas is known for hot summers, but temperatures can change quickly as fall turns into winter. Start by inspecting outdoor faucets, exposed water lines, irrigation connections, and plumbing in garages or other unconditioned areas.
Look for dripping faucets, damaged connections, corrosion, or exposed piping that may need additional protection.
Disconnect garden hoses when they are no longer being used regularly. Leaving a hose connected can trap water around the faucet and create unnecessary problems when temperatures drop.
If you have exposed plumbing that could be affected by cold weather, ask a licensed Las Vegas plumber whether additional pipe insulation is recommended.
2. Inspect Your Home for Hidden Plumbing Leaks
A small plumbing leak can become a much larger problem when left untreated.
Walk through your home and check:
- Under kitchen and bathroom sinks
- Around toilets
- Near your water heater
- Around washing machine connections
- Outdoor hose bibs and irrigation connections
- Ceilings, walls, and floors for unexplained moisture or staining
You should also pay attention to an unexpected increase in your water bill or a water meter that continues moving when water isn’t being used.
Some leaks aren’t visible. Mach 1 Plumbing offers professional leak detection in Las Vegas, including tracer gas leak detection for certain hard-to-locate plumbing leaks.
3. Schedule Water Heater Maintenance
Your water heater works year-round, but you’ll probably notice problems with it much faster once cooler weather arrives.
Southern Nevada’s hard water can contribute to mineral and sediment buildup inside plumbing equipment. Routine water heater maintenance in Las Vegas can help identify potential problems and keep your system operating properly.
Depending on your water heater and its condition, maintenance may include inspecting the system for leaks, checking components, flushing accumulated sediment, and evaluating the condition of the anode rod.
Anode rods are particularly important in traditional tank water heaters because they’re designed to help protect the tank from corrosion.
Have a tankless system? Tankless water heaters also require routine maintenance, particularly in areas with hard water.
4. Pay Attention to Slow or Smelly Drains
Don’t wait for holiday guests to arrive before dealing with a slow kitchen sink.
Hair, soap residue, grease, food particles, and other debris can gradually accumulate inside drain lines. If you’ve noticed slow drains, recurring clogs, unpleasant drain odors, or gurgling, fall is a good time to have the problem evaluated.
Mach 1 Plumbing provides drain cleaning, hydro jetting, and sewer camera inspections in Las Vegas to help diagnose and address drain and sewer problems.
Avoid repeatedly pouring harsh chemical drain cleaners into your plumbing. They may not address the underlying cause of a recurring blockage.
5. Prepare Your Kitchen Plumbing for the Holidays
Thanksgiving and the holiday season can put additional stress on kitchen plumbing.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is treating the garbage disposal like a trash can. Avoid putting large amounts of grease, fats, fibrous foods, bones, and other difficult-to-grind materials down your disposal.
Grease is especially problematic because it can cool and accumulate inside drain lines.
Before entertaining, make sure your kitchen sink, garbage disposal, and drains are flowing properly. Addressing an existing slow drain now is much easier than dealing with a backed-up kitchen during a holiday gathering.
6. Check Toilets and Plumbing Fixtures
A running toilet isn’t just annoying—it can also waste water.
Check toilets throughout your home for continuous running, weak flushing, loose handles, or water around the base. Also inspect faucets and showerheads for dripping or unusual changes in water pressure.
If something doesn’t seem right, having a professional plumber inspect it early may prevent a relatively simple repair from becoming a larger issue.
7. Don’t Forget Your Water Quality Equipment
Hard water is a common concern for Southern Nevada homeowners. If your home has a water softener or reverse osmosis system, fall is a good opportunity to make sure it is being maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Water treatment equipment requires maintenance just like other systems in your home.
Mach 1 Plumbing provides water softener and reverse osmosis services in Las Vegas and surrounding Southern Nevada communities.
8. Consider a Professional Fall Plumbing Inspection
You don’t have to wait for water to start pouring through the ceiling to call a plumber.
Preventative plumbing maintenance gives you an opportunity to identify concerns before they become emergencies. A professional plumbing inspection can include checking accessible pipes, fixtures, shut-off valves, water heaters, drains, and other components for signs of leaks, wear, or improper operation.
This is especially valuable if you have an older home or haven’t had your plumbing system inspected recently.
Your Local Southern Nevada Plumbing Company
Mach 1 Plumbing is a family-owned plumbing company with more than 30 years of experience serving Southern Nevada. We provide professional residential and commercial plumbing services throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin, Boulder City, Pahrump, and surrounding communities.
Our plumbing services include emergency plumbing repairs, leak detection, tracer gas leak detection, drain cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer camera inspections, water heater repair and installation, tankless water heater service, water softeners, reverse osmosis systems, repiping, water main repairs, sewer repairs, and preventative plumbing maintenance.
Get Your Plumbing Ready for Fall
Fall is the perfect time to take care of those plumbing issues you’ve been putting off. Whether you’ve noticed a small leak, need your water heater serviced, have a slow drain, or simply want your plumbing system inspected, Mach 1 Plumbing is here to help.
Don’t wait until a small plumbing problem turns into an emergency.
Call Mach 1 Plumbing at 702-643-1886 to schedule plumbing service in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada.
Fast Service. Friendly People. Professional Results.