With the summer months before us, you can expect more family gatherings and activities like barbecues, pool parties, or even trips to the beach. But with the warmer weather also come potential problems for your home plumbing system. Before any issues happen, it’s best to learn what to expect. Here are some common plumbing problems you might encounter during summer:
- Clogged Disposal and Toilet
Since more people are at home for the summer–your kids are on vacation and relatives are visiting–it means your toilets and garbage disposal will be used more often. Because of the extra usage of these plumbing fixtures, clogs are more likely to happen.
One way to prevent this is to ensure everyone knows what should and shouldn’t go down the disposal and toilets. For instance, grease and hard food items like fruit rinds and bones shouldn’t go down the drain. For toilets, avoid flushing anything besides a reasonable amount of toilet paper. To be safe, it’s also best to have a plunger ready.
- Sprinkler Issues
Besides the increased foot traffic in your backyard from activities during summer, lawn mowers also contribute to broken sprinkler heads. A broken sprinkler may leak, wasting gallons of water and increasing your bills. So, it’s crucial to inspect whether they’re still in good condition and make necessary repairs or replacements right away to prevent further problems with your sprinkler system.
- Slow-Draining Showers
A trip to the beach is a staple during summer. But, be careful of washing off in the shower when you get home as sand, dirt, and other debris caught in your swimwear may cause blocked drains. When this happens, you might have to deal with slow-moving drains or water pooling in your shower. To prevent this, use an outdoor shower at the beach or rinse off in your backyard beforehand.
- Sewer Line Backups
Along with the summer are the unexpected heavy rain showers that can bring trouble to your sewer line. The rainwater that soaks into the ground can seep through the cracks in your drain. This water usually brings along soil or tree roots and branches, which may further damage your pipes. In worse cases, this may lead to a sewer line blockage or backup.
Get Residential Plumbing Services Today!
Now that you know more about common summer plumbing problems, you can better prepare and handle these issues should you encounter any of them. If you are unfamiliar with what to do or suspect any severe damage, consult a plumbing expert. Contact HJ Pertzborn Plumbing & Fire Protection in Madison, WI today for the list of residential plumbing services we offer.