Owning a home is great, but it also means getting ready for all the responsibilities. Even the newest and most well-made homes are bound to have problems occasionally, especially those concerning plumbing. Many of those are a part of the normal wear and tear, while others are caused by how the plumbing system is maintained and used.
Then, on top of that, there are also seasonal plumbing issues. If frosted pipes are to winter, overheated pipes are to summer. Especially during this season when you’d be heavily reliant on a good water supply, the last thing you’d want is to be under the sun’s scorching heat, giddy to get home for a nice bath, and then later on realize your plumbing system needs some work.
The Fergusons plumbing group has assembled this list of common plumbing issues during the summer. As seasons change, you’ll know what to expect and whom to give a call for an effective fix.
1. Clogged Drains And Toilets
Clogged drains are a whole-year plumbing issue, but they’re more prevalent over the summer season. When the outside temperature starts to get warmer, you’ll find yourself drinking more fluids than usual. This also translates to more trips to the toilet, where the use of toilet paper increases too. The bathrooms may have difficulty keeping up and start to overworked. This will eventually result in toilets getting clogged.
A quick fix for clogged drains would be to use a plunger to loosen clogs using air pressure. Ideally, this should work as long as the blocked drain is only minor. If this doesn’t work, call your trusted plumber instead of using a chemical product.
2. Slow Shower And Washer Drains
The summer season means spending more time out than usual. Even if it’s just in your backyard, there are all those summer barbeque nights you’ll be hosting with friends or afternoons in the sun with the children. For those with summer or beach houses, this also means spending more time by the shore.
Your home’s shower and washer drains may take quite a beating. Thanks to all the sand and pebbles you bring to the shower, the drains will start working slower than usual.
This is why it’s highly encouraged to rinse first outside before showering in your inside bathrooms. Swimsuits and towels should be washed quickly outside before placing them inside the washing machine. That way, you can reduce the amount of sand and pebbles you bring inside, helping preserve your shower and washer drains’ condition.
3. Basement Flooding
The summer season can also mean rainstorms, depending on where you’re reading this from. Heavy rains can cause flooding, especially in your basement, which is one of the most expensive plumbing issues.
Taking a proactive approach is one of the best ways to combat this. You can start by ensuring your sump pump is in good condition after the cold winter months. If you haven’t already, installing a drain plug in your sewer line is also recommended, as this helps prevent any backup.
4. Sprinkler Issues
In-ground sprinklers are also one of the plumbing-related components of a home that are most vulnerable in summer. The great weather means you’ll spend more time on your lawn than usual. This increased foot traffic then becomes a threat to the sprinkler heads.
Guests are unaware of the sprinklers and may accidentally step on them, and this can cause cracks which can lead to leakage. The difficulty with this is that leaking sprinkler heads are also hard to detect, as they could be mistaken for being switched on. They are, after all, meant to spray water.
Check your sprinklers if you notice an increase in your electricity bill in the summer or if certain parts of your lawn are wetter than usual. Sprinkler issues could be the culprit.
5. Dishwasher Leak
Another water-related appliance that’ll be used more often in the summer is the dishwasher. Family may come over more frequently, or you could host more parties. This means more washing of dishes, beyond the usual.
Many homeowners could easily attempt to overfill each rack to keep up with all the dishes and have fewer loads. While this does the job, you’re also hurting your dishwasher’s health. It’s working harder than it’s supposed to in every load, resulting in a higher chance of leaks and other damage.
The Bottomline
When summer is right around the corner, it’s normal to have that high sense of excitement with all the fun this good weather brings. You’re ready for the good, but this also means getting ready for the bad: plumbing system problems. As soon as you notice any of the symptoms of plumbing issues like those above, call your trusted plumber ASAP. It’s better to leave the remedy to those who know what they’re doing rather than attempt a DIY and then make the problem even worse. These are common and expected, and you’re certainly not alone; hundreds of other households have those plumbing dilemmas, too.
