Summer is here, and you know what that means. It is officially the season for home buying. Unfortunately, too many new home buyers will find out way too late that their new dream house is riddled with water leaks, appliance issues or just a poor overall plumbing system.
The hard truth, is 44 percent of consumers call a plumber within a year of purchasing their new home. To prevent such unexpected and expensive problems, we recommend that you inspect your plumbing for any noticeable issues and read more about our top plumbing tips for the summer so you can prevent a plumbing issue before it worsens.
Top Plumbing Tips for Summer
Here are some plumbing tips for summer to get you started:
Bathroom Plumbing Tips
- Examine the area around the base of the toilet for signs of water damage. You want to look for black spots, rolled vinyl or soggy areas of flooring.
- Look out for a soft or soggy floor. Take a wide stance in the bathroom and rock back and forth from foot to foot. If the floors feel spongy in any way, you could have rotting wood that needs to be examined right away.
- How fast does your toilet flush? Slow flushing toilets can be a sign of a larger problem.
- Tile on the walls? Make sure to feel them out by putting pressure on them. If they do not feel secure, there could be water damage behind the tiles.
- Always, always, always keep a waste basket in the bathroom. This will help guarantee that items are throwing in the trash rather than down the toilet. You want to avoid flushing cotton balls, wipes, feminine hygiene products, diapers or anything comparable down the toilet.
Water Pressure & Supply Tips
- If you happen to notice a decrease in your water volume when you turn on either your bathroom or kitchen sink, you may have calcium and mineral deposits restricting water flow. The most common solution is to have the piping in those areas replaced.
- Make sure to check exposed piping for signs of leaking. Even check for recent repairs. This will help you better gauge the overall health of the plumbing system.
Plumbing Tips for your Water Heater
- Make sure you know the age of your water heater. You can determine the age by checking the first four numbers of the serial number on the water These represent the month and the year of when it was manufactured.
- See rust on the tank? This is a sign of a pending problem. Call a plumbing right away.
Extra Plumbing Tips for the Summer
- Check to be certain the garbage disposal and dishwasher connections are tight and leak free. Also take this time to check the tubes and traps to make sure there are no leaks or blockages.
- Assess washing machine hoses for rupture. To test to make sure all is working properly, turn valves off and on.
- Water your lawn at the right time of day. If you choose to tend to your yard directly in the middle of the day, that water could be lost due to evaporation from the warmth. Watering early in the morning or once the sun has gone down, are both better options.
Look out for Standing Water
Standing water is just another common problem resulting from potentially broken or leaking pipes. Surplus water at a lawn may be coming out of a damaged sewer line and might contain waste out of the home. Standing water isn’t healthy for kids or pets, and is a breeding ground for germs and insects. Inspect the lawn for regions that are too wet and with unusual plant or bud development.
Evaluate the Sewer Lines
If you’re planning to get a house, doing a video review of the underground sewer pipe may be a good idea, especially in older homes with concrete or clay sewer pipes. The inspection will reveal any defects with the sewage before purchase and will allow you to know exactly what you are getting yourself into. The expense of replacing or repairing an underground sewer may cost many thousands of dollars making a relatively cheap camera inspection a fantastic investment.
Don’t Overlook the Garbage Disposal
Another part of the plumbing system that’s guaranteed to see increased action in the summer is the kitchen garbage disposal. Barbecues, societal parties and swimming parties are great reasons to fire up the grill, but don’t go putting all of that corn on the cob down the disposal. Of all our plumbing tips for the summer, this one is the easiest to follow. To prevent clogs, do not place corn husks or other stringy meals down the disposal. Fatty foods may also stick to drain pipes and lead to clogs, so don’t put any leftover hamburger meat down the drain. And always dump the grease anywhere but down the kitchen sink!
Replace the Washing Machine Hoses
Whether it is your children, pets or just increased activity outdoors, somebody is bound to have dirty clothes during the entire year. Ensure that your washing machine is prepared for the additional work by having the hoses inspected for cracks, leaks, or bulging. Additionally, it is a fantastic idea to change washing machine hoses at least once every three years.
Plumbing issues are not always as visible as we would like and when there is a problem, often times it will cost lots of time and money to have it prepared. While you cannot preempt or even prevent every issue, by taking some of the steps above seriously, you can cut down on the headache.
