Preventive Maintenance Areas for Summer

The air is warming, the leaves are blooming, and summer is clearly on the way. This means a few things for homeowners, including a few important areas of home plumbing maintenance.

At All Hours Plumbing, Drain Cleaning, Heating & Cooling, we’re here to help. A residential plumbing system works very hard during the summer, especially if you have a sprinkler system, and the right bits of preventive maintenance throughout the hot season can go a long way to maintaining your system for years into the future. Here are some basics to consider as you move through the hottest months of the year.

Outdoor Areas

There aren’t too many major plumbing issues to worry about outside, and those that can take place are pretty simple to spot. If you’re in the yard and notice wet patches or spots despite there having been no rain in the last few days, this could be a telltale sign that you have an issue with a water line, sewer pump or even your sprinkler system.

Toilet

The summer is often a time when many people have a larger number of guests or home gatherings, but they often don’t think about the extra strain this puts on the toilet. For one, make sure any guests know what can and can’t be flushed down the toilet, to prevent clogs. For another, be sure to have the toilet maintained regularly if it’s undergoing higher traffic.

Sump Pump

• Take basic twice or thrice annual maintenance procedures to ensure the sump pump is working well – our plumbers can help here
• Ensure the discharge line is clear of all debris so water can leave the home easily
• Consider a backup system that’s battery-powered in case the primary system loses power during a storm

Hoses and Bibs

If you’re going to be regularly using the hose during the summer, it’s important to be sure the hose bib works properly. Ask our pros for some basic tips here.

Water Heater

Many people forget about the water heater during the summer, but it’s still working hard and very important. Regular preventive maintenance and visual inspections are a must, and if you’re having lots of guests stay in the home during the summer, try to space out hot showers as well as you can if you’re on an older system so as not to strain it too badly.

For more on smart summer plumbing tips, or to learn about any of our other plumbing services, speak to the pros at All Hours Plumbing, Drain Cleaning, Heating & Cooling today.