Outline:
The Most Common Plumbing Emergencies During Summer
- Clogged Toilets
- Clogged Disposal
- Sprinkler Damage
- Leaky Faucets
- Slow Washer and Shower Drains
- Roots
- Sewer Line Backup
- Irrigation Leaks
- Sump Pump Failure
- Basement Flooding
- Tips for Summer Plumbing Maintenance
- Need Professional Plumbers?
You are bound to water the plants, fill the pool, and flush the toilet more often during the summer. However, all these activities could put a strain on your plumbing system. One plumbing problem can ruin your summer vacation. To help you avoid unnecessary stress and hefty repair costs, we have compiled the most common plumbing emergencies you can encounter during the summer.
- Clogged Toilets
Flushing cotton swabs, tampons, dental floss, toilet paper, baby wipes, and other foreign items down the toilet often causes clogs. You can use a plunger to get rid of simple clogs and teach kids about proper toilet and bathroom etiquette to prevent the same thing from happening. Pouring a baking soda and vinegar solution can also help unclog the toilet. Combining baking soda and vinegar creates a chemical reaction that produces bubbles, which can loosen up clogs. If it didn’t work, call a plumber to inspect the toilet and solve the problem.
- Clogged Disposal
The garbage disposal allows you to eliminate food waste through the kitchen sink drain. Corn husks, potato skins, and other fibrous items can clog the drain. If the garbage disposal no longer grinds food or refuses to turn on, it’s time to call professional plumbers to inspect the garbage disposal.
- Sprinkler Damage
Water sprinklers help keep lawn grass healthy during summer. However, repeated usage can take a toll on the water sprinkler. Before summer begins, inspect the sprinkler head for signs of leakage to avoid water wastage, withered grass, and high water bills.
- Leaky Faucets
Leaky faucets can be an expensive problem that a blocked aerator or old O-ring often causes. A rusty valve seat can also lead to a leaky faucet. That’s why you must check the faucet regularly to ensure it works correctly. Proper maintenance can help you save a lot of time and money.
- Slow Washer and Shower Drains
Summer is packed with trips to the lake, beach, and the great outdoors. Pebbles, dirt, and sand can clog the washer or drain. Consider rinsing off in public showers or outside before using the shower at home to avoid clogging the drain. You should also remove hair and other foreign materials from the drain cover.
- Roots
During the summer, tree roots seek more water by extending further underground. However, it also means they could find sewer lines and pipes instead of groundwater. The roots could break open pipes and sewer lines to find water. To avoid this problem, determine the location of the sewer lines and pipes and avoid planting in that area. Professional plumbers can help find your home’s outdoor plumbing.
- Sewer Line Backup
Waste and water can flow in reverse due to summer storms and heavy rain. It exits your home through the drain pipes and sewer line and empties into shared sewer lines. When backups happen, water and waste from the shared lines have nowhere to go because the lines are clogged or overwhelmed.
The flow will return to your home through sink drains, basement floor gutters, shower drains, or toilet drains. Sewer line backups pose a danger to your health. Human waste produces airborne and physical contaminants. Breathing in particles and fumes from sewage waste can cause respiratory problems and gastroenteritis. It also exposes your family to harmful viruses and bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, and hepatitis.
- Irrigation Leaks
If your home has an underground irrigation system for landscaping and lawns, you might notice some issues with your plumbing during the summer. Low output from the sprinkler head and wet areas in the garden are indicators of leaks due to broken irrigation pipes.
- Sump Pump Failure
The sump pump prevents flooding during heavy rains. Crawl spaces and basements are prone to flooding. So, if the sump pump works too hard, it could malfunction. It’s also possible that there’s debris blocking the sump pump. If this device malfunctions during a storm or heavy rain, your basement could flood.
- Basement Flooding
Basement flooding usually happens when the floor drain is clogged. Rainwater can seep through gaps and cracks in the foundation wall, eventually causing the structure to collapse. Moisture can also make the basement a breeding ground for mold, which triggers different health problems like skin allergies and asthma. Use a mop, pool pump, vacuum, or sump pump to remove the water and keep the basement dry.
Tips for Summer Plumbing Maintenance
Regardless of your summer plumbing emergency, you should find out the cause of the problem and solve it as soon as possible. So, here are some tips for summer plumbing maintenance.
- Check for leaks
Summer is the perfect time to inspect the plumbing system and check for leaks. It will allow you to fix the problem before it worsens. Check all plumbing system elements, including the pipes, shower heads, faucets, water softener, pool, sprinklers, bathtub and outdoor spigots, to see if they’re in good shape. Look for leaks, bent parts, rust, or corrosion. Use a flashlight to check dark corners and underneath cabinets.
- Check the water pressure
Attach a gauge to an outdoor spigot to check the water pressure. The standard for households is 40 to 45 psi and shouldn’t exceed 60 psi. You can ask the plumber to adjust the pressure regulator if the pressure is too low or too high.
- Inspect the sprinkler system
A faulty sprinkler can kill the grass in your backyard because it cannot survive on too little or too much water. It can also increase your water bills. So, check the sprinkler system for leaks. Replace the sprinkler head if you find damaged, rusted, or broken parts.
Need Professional Plumbers?
DIY repairs are tempting to do, but some situations require plumbing services. But you might ask yourself, “where can I find plumbers near me?”
If you wait too long to fix a plumbing emergency, your property could sustain considerable water damage. If you need professional plumbers in Waco Texas, contact us! Our team of experienced and trained plumbers will get your plumbing system back up and working in no time.
