Spring is a good time to check over your plumbing and heating before the system gets less use over summer. A few simple checks now can save you from bigger problems (and bigger bills) later.
Here’s a practical checklist you can work through yourself, with notes on when to call in a professional.
1. Check for leaks
Walk around your home and look for signs of leaks. Common places to check:
- Under sinks (kitchen, bathroom, utility)
- Around toilets (base and pipework)
- Behind appliances (washing machine, dishwasher)
- Near the boiler and hot water cylinder
- Visible pipework (especially in basements, lofts, and cupboards)
What to look for:
- Water stains or damp patches
- Drips or pooling water
- Rust or corrosion on pipes or fittings
If you find a leak, don’t ignore it — even small drips waste water and can cause damage over time. See: Leak Repairs
2. Test your taps
Turn on every tap in the house (hot and cold) and check:
- Water pressure: Does it feel weaker than usual?
- Drips: Do any taps drip when turned off?
- Temperature: Does hot water come through quickly?
Dripping taps are usually caused by worn washers or cartridges — straightforward to fix and worth doing before they get worse.
Low pressure can indicate a blockage, a leak, or an issue with the mains supply. If it’s just one tap, it’s likely a localised problem. If it’s all taps, check your stopcock is fully open and call a plumber if the issue persists.
See: Plumbing
3. Check your drains
Slow-draining sinks, showers, or baths are often a sign of a partial blockage. If water is draining slower than it used to, there’s likely a buildup of hair, soap, grease, or debris.
What to do:
- Remove and clean any accessible drain covers or traps.
- Pour boiling water down the drain to help dissolve grease (not suitable for plastic pipes).
- Consider a drain maintenance product (follow the instructions carefully).
If the drain is completely blocked or you’re noticing gurgling noises or bad smells, call a plumber before it turns into a bigger problem. See: Drainage
4. Inspect your boiler
Even though you won’t be using the heating much over summer, spring is a good time to check your boiler is in good shape before you switch it off for the season.
What to check:
- Boiler pressure: Should be around 1–1.5 bar when the system is cold. If it’s too low or too high, there may be an issue.
- Error codes: Check the display for any warning lights or error messages.
- Leaks: Look around and under the boiler for any signs of water.
- Strange noises: Banging, whistling, or clunking sounds can indicate limescale buildup, air in the system, or a failing pump.
If anything looks or sounds unusual, book a service. Catching boiler problems early is almost always cheaper than waiting for a breakdown. See: Boiler Servicing
When was your boiler last serviced?
Annual servicing is recommended for most boilers. If it’s been more than a year, spring is a good time to book it in. Engineers are usually less busy in spring/summer, so you’ll often get a quicker appointment.
5. Bleed your radiators
If your radiators are cold at the top but warm at the bottom, there’s air trapped in the system. This is normal over time and easy to fix.
How to bleed a radiator:
- Turn the heating on so the radiators are warm.
- Turn the heating off and wait for the radiators to cool slightly.
- Use a radiator key to open the bleed valve (usually at the top corner of the radiator).
- Hold a cloth or small container under the valve to catch any water.
- Turn the key slowly anticlockwise — you’ll hear a hissing sound as air escapes.
- Once water starts dripping out, close the valve by turning the key clockwise.
- Check the boiler pressure afterwards and top up if needed.
If you’re bleeding multiple radiators and the pressure drops significantly, you may have a bigger air problem or a leak somewhere. See: Central Heating
6. Check your gutters and downpipes
Blocked gutters can cause water to overflow and seep into walls, leading to damp and potential damage to your property’s structure.
What to do:
- Clear out any leaves, moss, or debris.
- Check the downpipes are clear by running water through them (a hose works well).
- Look for any leaks or sagging sections.
If your gutters are overflowing or you’re noticing damp patches inside near the roofline, it’s worth getting them checked sooner rather than later.
7. Test your stopcock
Your stopcock controls the water supply to your whole house. In an emergency (like a burst pipe), you need to be able to turn it off quickly.
What to do:
- Find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink or near the front door).
- Turn it clockwise to close it.
- Turn on a cold tap — water should stop flowing within a few seconds.
- Turn the stopcock anticlockwise to open it again.
If the stopcock is stiff, won’t turn, or doesn’t stop the water, you may need to replace it. Don’t wait until you need it in an emergency.
8. Check your washing machine and dishwasher connections
Appliances with water connections can develop leaks over time, especially at the hose connections.
What to check:
- Hoses for cracks, bulges, or wear.
- Connection points (where the hose meets the tap or appliance) for leaks or corrosion.
- The drain hose is secure and not kinked.
If any hoses look worn, replace them. Burst washing machine hoses are a common cause of flooding, and replacement hoses are cheap and easy to fit.
9. Test your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms
Not strictly plumbing, but while you’re doing maintenance checks:
- Press the test button on each alarm.
- Replace batteries if needed.
- If the alarm is more than 10 years old, replace it.
If you have gas appliances (boiler, gas fire, gas hob), a working carbon monoxide alarm is essential.
10. Consider a professional inspection
Some checks are best left to a professional, especially anything involving gas or complex heating systems. Consider booking:
- Boiler service: Annual servicing keeps your boiler efficient and can prevent breakdowns.
- Gas safety check: Required annually for landlords, but a good idea for homeowners too.
- Power flush: If your radiators are slow to heat up or your boiler is noisy, a power flush can clear out sludge and debris.
See: Plumbing for general maintenance and repairs.
What if you find a problem?
Small issues (like a dripping tap or a slow drain) are often straightforward to fix and relatively inexpensive if caught early.
Bigger issues (like a leaking boiler, low pressure across the whole system, or recurring blockages) usually need professional assessment.
If you’re not sure whether something is serious, it’s worth getting it checked. Ignoring plumbing problems rarely makes them go away — they just get worse and more expensive.
Final thoughts
Most of the checks on this list take less than an hour in total, and they’re a good way to spot problems before they turn into emergencies. If you do find something that needs fixing, spring is a good time to get it sorted — plumbers and heating engineers are usually less busy than they are in winter.
Book a plumbing inspection or get in touch if you’d like a professional to check over your system.