During the summer, homes typically experience more plumbing-related stress due to warmer temperatures, additional water use, and more people at home. A lot of plumbing issues occur with many different components of a home’s plumbing systems; including garden hoses and sprinkler systems, toilets, sinks, drains, and water heaters. These various plumbing components may have to function more vigorously than normal during the hotter months.
By following some basic plumbing ideas and recommendations for the summer season, homeowners will be able to avoid numerous potential problems, minimize their overall water consumption, and find plumbing issues sooner rather than later – which could save them money by preventing costly repairs.
The first tip below addresses finding and fixing leaks around your home. Summer is a good opportunity to review all of the faucets, pipes, hose connections and plumbing fixtures in and outside of your home for leaks. While a single dripping faucet might appear to be insignificant in terms of wasting water over time, the constant presence of moisture caused by these types of drips will ultimately lead to water-damaged surfaces.
To find the following types of leaks look for:
Small amounts of water running from or coming out of:
Faucet(s)
Leaky pipe(s)
Garden hose(s)
Hose connections
Plumbing fixture(s) (i.e., sink, toilet, shower/bathtub)
Water spots or staining
Areas of moisture or dampness
Increased levels of water used within your home
If you see a leak you are unable to locate or fix yourself, consider hiring a plumber who specializes in leak detection to assist in identifying where the leak originated.
Tip #2 involves keeping your drains free flowing. Many households tend to consume more food, cook more meals, host parties and entertain guests during the summer. As a result, there tends to be more grease and/or oil going into household drains along with hair, food scraps, etc.
Do NOT ever pour grease/oil down the drain. Allow the grease to cool completely then throw it away like any regular garbage.
Use drain catchers on your kitchen sink(s), bathroom sink(s), etc. to aid in minimizing/eliminating food scraps, hair, etc. from entering your plumbing system. If you continue to get clogs in a particular drain, professional drain cleaning will likely be required.
Tip #3 deals with checking your outdoor faucets and hoses. Your outdoor plumbing gets considerable use during the summer. Therefore, inspect your garden hoses/sprinklers and other outdoor faucets/Irrigation equipment regularly. Look for:
Cracks in garden hoses
Tighten loose connections
Broken/damaged faucet handles
Leaks from hose bibs
Pooling water adjacent to outdoor plumbing
While having a broken/hole in your hose may just cause a minor inconvenience (you’ll lose some water while trying to replace it), if it causes a significant enough flow of water to escape from the hose, you may incur unnecessary water loss. In addition, you may be dealing with a severely damaged component or dislodged hose connection. Identifying and repairing any leaks prior to them becoming a bigger plumbing concern will help ensure continued proper functioning and will save you money by helping you conserve water.
Tip #4 focuses on giving your water heater some TLC. While you’re enjoying warm weather and spending quality time with friends/family members, your water heater is working hard behind-the-scenes to supply you with the hot water you desire. Monitor the following warning signs:
Hot/Cold water fluctuations
Unusual sounds/Noises coming from your water heater
Visible leaks around your water heater
You don’t have enough hot water available
It may be wise to hire a plumber who offers both installation/repair service for your current water heater, or consider replacing your old unit altogether. Depending upon how old your current unit is, there may come a point when you would benefit from installing a new model.
Tip #5 emphasizes being mindful about flushing your toilet. One of the easiest plumbing tips for the summer is simply this: Don’t flush anything but toilet paper and human waste down your toilet!
Items such as baby wipes/paper towels/wipes/cotton products/etc. are not intended to be flushed through a toilet and WILL create clogs/blockages in either your septic tank or municipal sewage lines.
Your toilet is NOT a garbage disposal. Avoid putting unwanted objects down your toilet and take steps to help protect your home’s drainage system.
Tip #6 suggests considering using a plumbing camera inspection. There are times when you may encounter repeated backups/drains that run slowly/other plumbing problems that you cannot attribute directly to an obvious obstruction in your drain lines. At times like those, there may be an issue further down inside your pipes that needs attention.
Using a plumbing camera inspection tool can give plumbers access to view inside your drain/sewer lines and provide them with valuable data regarding possible obstructions/buildup/pipe damage/and other plumbing concerns without having to rely strictly on guessing what is wrong. For problems that recur frequently, a camera inspection can offer useful insight into the status of your plumbing system.
Tip #7 tells you when to call for professional assistance. Sometimes, even though you’re aware something is amiss in your plumbing system, it does not always qualify as an emergency situation right away. However, if you’ve got continuous clogs/leaks/odor emitting from your sewer lines/water damage/repeated backups/etc., it would be best to contact a professional plumber ASAP.
