Common Summer Plumbing Problems
Summer is a time to relax and enjoy the sunshine with friends, not a time to get stuck inside dealing with plumbing problems! Preparing for backyard barbecues shouldn’t include repairing that leak under your kitchen sink.
Fear not, because your plumber is here to help with a few tips to prepare your pipes for the demands of summer. These tips may not help you end your plumbing problems completely, but they may help you to see less of your plumber this summer and keep the water where it belongs—in the pool!
Garbage Disposal Issues
With great garbage disposal power comes great responsibility. People like to think they can put anything they want down their garbage disposal, but unless you want to really get to know your plumber, that’s probably not the best idea.
In the summertime, you have more fresh produce on hand. This means you must be careful about what you do with the scraps because highly fibrous waste from your summer garden belongs nowhere near your garbage disposal. You should avoid putting these things down your disposal:
- Potato peels
- Melon rinds
- Corn husks
For the things you do put down your disposal, make sure you run the water for at least 15 seconds to clear out any debris and keep waste from building up in your pipes. This may use water, but it’s still better than sending food waste to a landfill!
Washing Machine Problems
Summertime calls for more fun in the sun, but that fun comes at a price: more laundry. All those beach towels and sweaty clothes from working or playing outside adds up to more use of your washing machine. You should check your washing machine hoses in order to make sure the connections are tight and the hoses are in good shape. Test the hoses by looking at them while they are in use. If you see any bulges or feel weakened places along the hose, you should look at getting them replaced. Also, check the drain hose for wear and tear and look for signs of leakage behind your washer.
Sump Pumps
Summer thunderstorms can easily flood your basement if your sump pump isn’t working right, which is why it’s a good idea to check it regularly. Flooded basements are definitely no fun and can cost a lot of money to repair since they can lead to potential health problems from mold and bacteria.
You need to test your sump pump in order to make sure it’s working. This can easily be done by lifting the float to see if the pump turns on. If it does, you’re good to go. If it doesn’t, then you have sump pump problems on your horizon!
You probably like your plumber, but you don’t want to spend your summer with him. So, do some detective work and make sure your plumbing is pumping along as it should. If you detect a problem and feel it needs a professional eye, then call your plumber in to help today!
