Summer is finally here. You may have a long itinerary of summer activities, attending parades, going for picnics, or jetting off to a exotic destination.
It’s quite easy to forget that your plumbing system may need a little attention too. Regular checkups and maintenance will only prolong the life of your plumbing system and prevent breakdowns that require emergency services. So, what should you be checking come summer time?
- Check for any drain issues
Drains are responsible for carrying wastewater away from your showers or kitchen sink. You may also have a perimeter drain installed underground and around your home’s foundation. If you check your basement, you’ll also find a floor drain.
Heading into summer, you should ensure that all your drains are free from any blockages. Some techniques you can use for cleaning drains include:
- Flush the drains with boiling water. It can help dissolve stubborn build-ups such as grease and fats.
- Clean your bathroom floor trap by removing the drain guards and discarding any collected debris such as hairs.
- Clean your kitchen sink trap too. You will only need simple tools such as a wrench to open the sink trap’s slip nuts and bucket to collect any dripping water.
- You can also pour a mixture of vinegar and baking soda down various drains to unclog them.
- Use safe and organic drain cleaning products or an all-purpose cleaner to flush out the drains.
2. Inspect for leaks
Transitioning from winter to summer may cause outdoor pipes to spring leaks as a result of ground movements and shifts. It’s important to watch out for any leaks both indoors and outdoors, and the following pointers can help:
- Inspect for the presence of any patches of lush grass around your yard.
- Water bills tend to be fairly consistent and predictable month after month. Come summer, your water usage me increase. But you should also have a long-term record to check for any unusual water usage.
- Another great tip is to turn off all faucets around your house along with any appliances, and check if the water meter is still running.
- Inspect for further leaks by checking near bathroom, laundry, and kitchen areas.
- You can also detect hidden water leaks behind walls by checking for any discoloration of the drywall, bubbling paint, or pealing wallpaper.
Everything is becoming more modernize, and you can take advantage of smart leak detectors. The devices are placed in kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, garages, boiler rooms, or cellars. When water comes into contact with the device, it produces an alarm to alert you. Some sensors have batteries that can last for up to 10 years.
3. Check for low water pressure
The water pressure may be either too high or too low. Low water pressure is easily noticeable. You may experience problems having a shower or washing the dishes. Excessive pressure can be damaging to your pipes and even contribute towards connection leaks. So, what should be your water pressure setting? Ideally, it should be about 80 PSI.
You may need a pressure gauge to test for low water pressure but there are other DIY techniques such as the jug water flow test. You only need a 1-2 liter jug and stopwatch. The idea is to open the tap for 6 seconds and record the water level and multiply it by 10 to get a flow rate per second. Ideally, the number should fall between 10 – 15.
If you’re having low water pressure issues, you need to seek the services of a plumber. They can determine the root cause of the problem and the best way to resolve it.
4. Annual sewer maintenance
The health of your main sewer line is important whether your home drains into the municipal sewerage system or septic tank. If your sewer line has gone for a long time without any cleaning, scheduling a hydro jetting service can be worth it.
Plumbers can also perform professional line inspections to check for any blockages and the presence of tree roots. You may not need septic tank pumping every summer, but it can help to check for any septic tank warning signs such as pungent odors, gurgling noises, sewage backups, overflows, or slow drains.
5. Pool leaks
If you have a pool, it’s important to watch out for leaks during summer. Pool leaks are often silent and may go unnoticed for an extended time. They can occur with the piping, connections, or lining. Watching out for unusual water level changes can help determine if the pool is leaking, but sometimes it’s not so obvious.
Begin each summer the right way by scheduling a routine maintenance with a plumber. During the service, they can help perform other routine maintenance tasks such as draining your water heater tanks to clear out the sediments.
