checklist Archives - Kokesh Plumbing

Spring Plumbing Maintenance

Mar 28, 2024

Spring Plumbing Maintenance is so important because it helps prevent problems throughout the year and can save you money on water bills.

De-winterize and test backflows

Winter is especially hard on any outdoor piping- having your backflow checked along with irrigation for any freezing or broken parts is a necessary part of Sprinkler maintenance. The Test that comes along with this service is especially important to stay in compliance with your local municipality or St. Louis County

Clean gutters and downspouts

While gutters and downs spouts may not technically be part of your plumbing system, it is an important part of spring maintenance as they carry water away from your home and when backed up can lead to costly water leaks inside your home

De-winterize outside faucets

Like any outside pipes, winter is especially tough on outside faucets. Checking these by opening the shut off valves and slowly turning on the faucet so that you only have a small amount of water running and can check for leaks at the faucet and the pipe that runs into your home, will save you a surprise when its time to start watering in a few months.

Check/test your sump pump

Being prepared for spring showers means checking your sump pump regularly. Grabbing a bucket or two of water and pouring into the sump pit till the float switch is raised will allow you to watch and see that the sump is turning on properly and the water is lowering

Exercise all shut off valves

Turning your shut off valves on and off or exercising them will help make sure they don’t seize after years of not being used. Remember the shut off valves should be located at all fixtures: toilets, sinks, water heater, fridge water lines, and the main shut off to your home.

Sprinkler head watering the flowers in garden

With so many spring projects and maintenance to attend to, don’t forget that you can always schedule Kokesh Plumbing to come out and lend you a hand with all your plumbing needs!

So why wait? Get started on your spring projects and ensure your plumbing is ready for the season with a little maintenance and a touch of Kohler flair!

Winter Plumbing Checklist

Nov 2, 2023

What to do when the temperatures stay below freezing:

The first thing to do is when the temperature drops below freezing is to keep your water running. By allowing a small trickle of water to run, water will keep moving through your pipes lowering your chances of your pipes freezing over. Remember that the cost of the extra water you use is usually much cheaper that the cost of repairing a broken pipe.
Another thing that you can do to help your pipes is to open the cabinet doors of your home to let the warm air in your home reach the pipes. This will also help your pipe keep warm enough to help stop them from freezing over.

Image credit: www.liveabout.com/how-to-tell-if-your-pipes-are-frozen-2124985

What to do if your pipes freeze over:

The first thing you should do in the event of frozen pipes is to shut the water off immediately. You should not attempt to thaw your pipes out without turning off the main shut off valve to your home.
The next step that you should take is thaw the frozen pipes with warm air. The idea is to melt the frozen water in the pipes by warming the air around it. Be sure not to leaving any space heaters you use unattended and also do not use kerosene heater or open flames. If you do not feel comfortable doing this part on your own, JJ Kokesh and Son has a special machine that we use to thaw pipes.
Finally, it is important to be careful turning the water back on. Once you get the pipes thawed out, slowly turn the water back on and check pipes and joints for any cracks or leaks that might have been caused by the frozen pipes. If you do find the pipes have been damaged, please give us a call at 636-391-1233 so that our dedicated team of plumber can help you get your pipes back in working order.