Spring is the perfect time to take stock of your home’s plumbing. After months of cold Louisiana winters — even mild ones — your pipes, fixtures, and appliances have been under extra stress. A simple spring plumbing checklist can save Monroe homeowners from costly repairs down the road and keep everything running smoothly heading into the hot, humid summer months.
At Mark Johnson & Sons Plumbing, we’ve been serving Monroe and Northern Louisiana since 1997. Every spring, our licensed technicians respond to a wave of calls for problems that could have been caught early with a quick inspection. This guide walks you through exactly what to look for — room by room and system by system.
1. Inspect All Outdoor Faucets and Hose Bibs
Outdoor spigots are among the first casualties of winter temperature swings. Even in Monroe’s relatively mild climate, nighttime freezes can crack the internal valve seat or split the supply line behind the wall — damage that doesn’t always show up until you actually turn the faucet on in spring.
What to check:
- Turn on each outdoor faucet fully and watch for drips at the spout or around the handle packing nut.
- Check for water stains or damp spots on the exterior wall near the faucet — a sign of a slow behind-wall leak.
- Attach a garden hose and look for reduced pressure or water spraying from the coupling threads.
- If you notice water flowing slowly or not at all, the anti-siphon valve inside may be seized or cracked.
A leaky hose bib is typically a minor repair when caught early. Left alone through a hot summer, it can waste thousands of gallons and cause mold or rot behind your siding.
2. Flush Your Water Heater
Sediment accumulates at the bottom of tank-style water heaters over time — a natural result of minerals in Monroe’s water supply. When left for a year or more, that buildup forces your heater to work harder, shortens its lifespan, and creates popping or rumbling noises that many homeowners mistake for a much bigger problem.
Spring is the ideal time to flush the tank before the summer demand for hot water picks up. Here’s a quick overview of the process:
- Turn the thermostat to the “pilot” or lowest setting and shut off the cold-water inlet.
- Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the base of the tank and run it to a floor drain or outside.
- Open the drain valve and let the tank empty fully — you’ll see discolored water with sediment if it’s been a while.
- Flush with cold water until it runs clear, then close the valve, refill the tank, and restore the thermostat setting.
If your water heater is more than 10–12 years old, or if you notice rust-colored water during the flush, it may be time for a replacement conversation. Our team handles water heater installation and repair across Monroe and all of our Northern Louisiana service areas.
3. Test Your Sump Pump
Monroe receives significant rainfall throughout spring and summer, and a failed sump pump during a heavy storm can mean a flooded basement or crawlspace in a matter of hours. Testing your sump pump takes only a few minutes and can spare you from a major headache.
How to test it:
- Locate the sump pit — usually in the basement, utility room, or crawlspace.
- Pour a bucket of water slowly into the pit until the float rises and the pump kicks on.
- Watch to make sure the water is being pumped out and the float drops back down when the pit empties.
- Check the discharge pipe outside to confirm water is exiting well away from your foundation.
If the motor hums but doesn’t pump, or if the pump doesn’t activate at all, call a plumber before the rainy season arrives. Don’t wait until a storm is bearing down on Monroe to discover your sump pump has given up.
4. Check All Supply Lines Under Sinks and Behind Appliances
The braided stainless-steel or rubber supply lines connecting your faucets, toilets, dishwasher, refrigerator, and washing machine to the water supply are easy to overlook — until one fails catastrophically. A burst supply line under a kitchen sink can dump dozens of gallons of water into your cabinets before you even realize what’s happening.
What to look for:
- Bulging, cracking, or discoloration on rubber supply lines (replace anything older than 5–7 years).
- Corrosion or mineral buildup around the fitting connections.
- Small drips or water stains inside cabinet doors under sinks.
- Loose connections where lines attach to shutoff valves — these can often be hand-tightened slightly.
Braided stainless lines are far more durable than older rubber hoses and are a worthwhile upgrade for any appliance that hasn’t had its supply line replaced in years. This is a quick, affordable fix when done proactively — and an expensive mess when done after the fact.
5. Test Your Home’s Water Pressure
Ideal household water pressure in Monroe falls between 40 and 80 PSI. Pressure that’s too low makes showers frustrating and appliances inefficient. Pressure that’s too high is far more dangerous — it stresses every joint, fitting, and valve in your plumbing system and significantly increases the risk of a burst pipe or appliance failure.
How to check water pressure:
- Purchase an inexpensive pressure gauge (under $15 at most hardware stores) that threads onto a hose bib.
- Turn off all water-using appliances and open the spigot fully to get a static reading.
- Readings above 80 PSI indicate you need a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) adjusted or replaced.
- Readings consistently below 40 PSI warrant a call to a plumber to rule out a supply line issue or failing pressure regulator.
If your PRV is original to a home that’s 10 or more years old, spring is a good time to have it inspected as part of your overall plumbing tune-up.
6. Inspect Toilets, Faucets, and Visible Drain Lines for Leaks
A slow-dripping faucet or a toilet that runs for 20 seconds after every flush can waste thousands of gallons per year — and a noticeable dent in your water bill. Walk through every bathroom and the kitchen with fresh eyes this spring.
- Toilets: Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing within 15 minutes, the flapper is leaking and needs replacement.
- Faucets: Look for drips at the spout when closed and water around the base when running (indicates a failing O-ring or cartridge).
- Drain lines: Run water and watch the P-trap connections under sinks for any seeping or dripping.
- Caulk and grout: Check the seal around tubs, showers, and sink bases. Cracked caulk lets water infiltrate walls over time.
7. Know When to Call a Professional
Some spring plumbing checks are genuine DIY territory — testing your sump pump, dropping food coloring in a toilet tank, or tightening a supply line connection. Others require a licensed plumber’s expertise.
Call Mark Johnson & Sons Plumbing if you find:
- Signs of a leak inside a wall or under a slab (discolored flooring, unexplained water bill spikes, hot spots on the floor)
- Low water pressure throughout the whole house rather than a single fixture
- Rust or sediment in your water when you run a cold tap
- A sump pump that fails to activate or makes grinding noises
- Any gas-connected water heater issues — always treat these as a potential safety issue
We offer 24/7 emergency plumbing service throughout Monroe and all of Northern Louisiana, so if a spring inspection uncovers something serious, you don’t have to wait until Monday morning to get it addressed.
Schedule Your Spring Plumbing Tune-Up in Monroe Today
Working through this checklist yourself is a great start — but there’s no substitute for a trained eye. Mark Johnson & Sons Plumbing has been serving Monroe homeowners for nearly three decades, and our licensed technicians can complete a full spring plumbing inspection quickly and affordably before small issues become big ones.
We’re family-owned, veteran-operated, and BBB A+ accredited since 2012. We serve Monroe, West Monroe, Ruston, Bastrop, Shreveport, and communities throughout Northern Louisiana.
Call us today at (318) 319-0220 to schedule your spring plumbing inspection. Don’t wait until a summer emergency forces the issue — a little prevention now goes a long way.
