The weather is finally warming up and it's hard to resist the temptation to get out in garden or wash your car after a long winter.
But before you turn on your outdoor water hoses and spigots, make sure you do these simple steps first!
After winter, there are some important things to look for to ensure there are no tiny fractures or leaks in your pipes or hose bibbs (spigot). Left undetected, not only do you have a wet mess, but a leaky, exterior spigot could lead to exterior, interior, or even foundational damage to your home.
Take These Simple Steps Prior to Turning on Your Outdoor Water After Winter
If you insulated or covered your hose bibb (commonly known as a spigot) for winter, remove any insulation and be sure the spigot is turned off.
Locate your water shutoff valve for this spigot. It may be on the opposite side of the wall from the spigot or may be found in the basement, crawl space or utility room.
Open the water valve to get water flowing. Look around the valve and caps to make sure there are no leaks or drips obvious.
Turn your outdoor spigot on and inspect for any leaks or splits.
Monitor for low water pressure or a sudden drop in pressure. This is a quick sign that there may be a leak somewhere. If you find a leak, or aren't sure, we'd be happy to take a look. Shut off your water valve and give us a call right away at 406-756-3218.
So before you head outside to turn on the hose after winter, make sure you take these simple steps to ensure your system is working well and there are no cracks from winter.