Five Plumbing Tips for Summer:

Summer should be a time for traveling, swimming, and enjoying the sunny weather, not dealing with plumbing problems. And while winter can bring frozen pipes, you can’t neglect the plumbing emergencies hot weather can cause. Our water usage increases during the summertime (typically by about 50%!) and our pipes and drains certainly feel the strain.

We want you to enjoy your summer free of plumbing-emergencies. So here are five common seasonal plumbing problems and tips to prevent them.

1. Clogged Drains

A clogged shower drain is no stranger to the summer. With pool days, beach visits, and more regular guests, comes more showering and more importantly, more hair washing. Don’t be surprised if your shower drain is slow to do its job. It’s likely clogged with hair, sand, and debris.

To prevent this, shake bathing suits outside, brush your hair before showering, and be sure to use a drain cover (and clean it often). These simple steps can help ensure a clean drain and may even save you a service call.

2. Washing Machine Maintenance

While some people swear winter generates more laundry, summer often wins this battle. We spend more time outside, at the beach, or in the pool. We play in the yard, guests visit and need linens, we all get dirty and sweaty. We shower, we change clothes, and then of course, we wash them.

Before summer begins, inspect the washer and all of its parts. To do this, pull it away from the wall and check the connections and appearance of the hoses. Look for bulges, cracks, water, mold, or mildew. You’ll need to replace any hoses that show signs of cracks or distress. We recommend stainless steel hoses for increased durability.

3. Backed-Up Disposal

With summer comes a lot of outdoor grilling, fresh fruit, and more hosted meals. It can be tempting to throw food waste into the garbage disposal but solid objects will damage the system overtime. Avoid throwing anything but small amounts of cooked, soft food scraps down the drain.

In the event of a clogged disposal, try a vinegar and hot water rinse.

4. High Water Pressure

With summertime comes increased water usage. So be sure to check your water pressure. Too much water at once can strain or crack valves, joints, and even pipes.

To prevent damage caused from high water pressure, set your water pressure no higher than 80 psi. You can pick up a water pressure gauge at your local hardware store and if you discover it’s too high, give us a call. We can help you install a regulator.

5. Sewer Line Backups

Toilet, bathtub, or shower backups are signs that your sewer line has a problem. Most commonly, cracks that have allowed excess water to seep in. These can be caused from rainstorms, tree roots, and other natural phenomena.

While you can diligently check for backups and do your best to prevent them, there isn’t much you can do as a homeowner once they occur. We recommend you immediately call for sewer and drain cleaning services.

If you’re interested in learning more about plumbing maintenance, we’re always here to help.

Thanks for reading!

-The Bob Oates Family