With summer finally here, most of us are gearing up for time in the sun, family vacations, trips to the water, backyard cookouts, and generally just more time to spend with family and friends. While summer is the prime time for many things, and with so much going on, most of us don't take the time to consider what this season bodes for other areas of our homes, especially when it comes to our plumbing systems. While you might be outside enjoying yourself in the backyard with your family, your plumbing system could be suffering under all of the additional strain its being put under, and by the time you think to take a look, the damage might already be done. Summer can be a particularly rough time for your plumbing system, and there are a number of different things you need to be on the lookout for. In an effort to help you with this task and ensure that your plumbing system gets the care it needs to make it through the coming summer months, our team of professionals have taken the time to put together this short list highlighting some of the most common plumbing issues customers in the area face during the summer and how to remedy them.
Clogged Toilets
With the kids home from school, your house is likely going to be seeing a bit more traffic during the daytime hours. Between them and their friends, your house is going to be a bit fuller, and this means that your toilets are going to be seeing about double the amount of use that they normally have to cope with. This increased usage normally translates to an increase in the number of toilet clogs as well unfortunately. Usually this is the result of kids using too much toilet paper, or flushing things down the drain that shouldn't be flushed, like disposable wipes, paper towels, tampons, etc. While most of the simple clogs can be taken care of with a plunger and a little bit of work, more serious clogs might require the assistance of a professional plumber to dislodge. One of the easiest ways to avoid these incidents is to make sure that everyone in your home knows what can and can't be flushed, and how much toilet paper is a responsible amount to use.
Sewer Line Backups
With all of the extra rain and the summer storms that crop up from time to time, the ground around your home can become saturated with moisture, and when that happens, it can sometimes back up into your sewer lines, causing serious issues around your home. Sewage water that backs up into your toilet or your bathtub can not only be a hassle to clear, but it can also be a health hazard as it is usually rife with contaminants. If you live in a particularly wet area, and think that this might be an issue you could wind up dealing with, there are a couple of things that you can do to avoid the worst of the problems and keep your home protected. Having your sewage lines professionally serviced before summer gets into full swing can help a great deal, or you can look at having drain plugs installed in each of your drains to prevent water from backing up into them after a storm.
Sprinkler Head Issues
The sprinkler heads on automatic sprinkler systems tend to see a great deal of wear over time, and this can lead them to break, or just not function like they should. Broken sprinkler heads can be a massive waste of water, causing your energy bills to spike and also robbing certain areas of your lawn of the water they need to live. Before we get into the real heat of summer, you will want to walk over your property, and make sure that all of your sprinkler heads are functioning like they should be. If you notice any that are broken or malfunctioning, you can remove the old ones and likely find a replacement at your local hardware store.