As the seasons change, so does how you use your plumbing. Summer brings sunshine and outdoor activities, but it also brings a unique set of plumbing problems. Whether you’re hosting out-of-town guests, or your kids are out of school for the summer, your home will be experiencing an increase of foot traffic these next few months. Your plumbing will surely feel the impacts of this. Here are 6 common summertime plumbing problems homeowners face – and how you can avoid them.
1. Clogged Toilets
School is out for the summer, which means your kids (and their friends from school or from your neighborhood) will likely be using your bathrooms more and more for bathroom breaks. The additional flushes your plumbing system will experience can increase the wear and tear on flappers, chains and handles. Or, you may find your child has that one friend who uses a bit too much toilet paper and ends up clogging your toilet. Not only that, but if you’re having out-of-town guests staying with you and they have young children, you may find that things that shouldn’t be flushed are getting flushed.
How To Avoid It: Make sure everyone in your home knows what’s flushable and what’s not. And encourage less toilet paper usage to avoid clogs.
2. Clogged Garbage Disposal
Are you planning on hosting cookouts and parties this summer? Be mindful of what this could do to your garbage disposal! More guests in your home means more materials going down your garbage disposal that you maybe don’t want down there. It can be hard to monitor everyone coming in and out of the kitchen and who’s disposing of what. Things like peels, corn cobs, meat grease, chicken bones, and more will block your garbage disposal.
How To Avoid It: Ask your guests to stay out of the kitchen, and have a garbage can easily accessible outside. If you fear a clog may happen, run cold water for a few seconds before and after you use the garbage disposal.
3. Overusing Washing Machines
Your washing machine will likely be working overtime this summer with all your wardrobe changes. Whether you’re just getting back from vacation, you took a trip to the pool, or you went for a nice sunny jog, you’re going to want to wash those clothes when you return. Overusing your washing machine can lead to potential leaks in the hose, which could increase your water bill and cause floods.
How To Avoid It: Refrain from using your washing machine until it is full to limit the amount of uses.
4. Slow Draining Showers
Slow draining showers is especially a problem in the summer when it comes to sand and dirt. If you’re taking a trip to the beach, make sure to rinse off before stepping into your shower. Those tiny bits of debris can wreak havoc on your drains, leading to clogs.
How To Avoid It: Rinse off all sand, dirt and debris before stepping into the shower. If a clog does occur, don’t use chemical drain cleaner and call a professional drain cleaning company instead.
5. Leaky Outdoor Faucets
Your outdoor faucets don’t get much use during other parts of the year – but they surely get a ton of use when it’s time to whip out the sprinklers and slip n’ slides! It’s important you make sure your faucet is sealed tightly and that it’s not leaking. Otherwise, you could be looking at pretty high utility bills this summer.
How To Avoid It: Inspect your outdoor faucet and if you notice any signs of leaking, contact a plumber right away.
6. Sump Pump Problems
Do you have a basement? Then a sump pump is essential in making sure your basement stays dry during those heavy rainstorms. This summer, your area may experience some pretty intense summer storms. If that’s normal for your area, then you want to make sure your sump pump is working. Otherwise, you could be dealing with a flooded basement.
How To Avoid It: Have your sump pump regularly inspected and maintained by a professional.
Want To Avoid These Common Summertime Plumbing Problems? OnTime Service Is Here For All Your Plumbing Needs in Birmingham, AL and Surrounding Areas!
The pros at OnTime Service are here for all your plumbing needs. Schedule your appointment with us now. Your comfort and safety is our top priority. Contact us today at (205) 872-1944 or online by filling out our form here.
