5 Tips to Prep Your Homes Plumbing for Maximum Summer Fun
Summer is on the horizon, and that equals barbecues, graduation parties, Fourth of July fun and other outdoor gatherings are potentially part of your seasonal plans. But before you finalize the summer calendar, you’ll want to ensure your plumbing system is prepared for higher use.
A plumbing problem while entertaining guests is an inconvenience that will undoubtedly stifle your summer groove. So, the team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, the nation’s trusted name for plumbing, heating and cooling repairs and maintenance, has offered some important plumbing maintenance tips. Try them promptly to better assure your summer schedule will be as exciting as intended.
1. Examine your hose spigot, sprinkler and irrigation systems
Coming out of winter and holiday indoor parties, it’s easy to overlook the plumbing surrounding the outside of your home. But it’s really a good place to start your plumbing maintenance and review. Broken sprinkler heads will need to be replaced, as they’ll soon be depended on more often to keep your grass healthy and your kids cool as they repeatedly splash through them for an afternoon refresher. Underground sprinkler and irrigation lines should also be assessed for leaks as well as your hose spigot too. While exterior hose spigot leaks might be obvious to discover yourself, a professional can warn you of ones that may occur on the interior of the wall, too.
2. Clean and unclog bathroom and kitchen drains, examine fixtures
Kitchens and bathrooms are the most likely spaces for a plumbing disaster. You can begin your evaluation by removing all items underneath sinks to examine drain pipes and the underside of faucets for leaks. Your cabinets might supply clues as well. Mildew, warped wood and old drip spots are signs of leaks from either drain pipes or fixtures. Fill sinks with water and monitor how fast the drain functions. All clogs and leaks should be dealt with as soon as possible by a professional, and you won’t want to fall back on liquid agents as a long-term solution for clogs either.
“We strongly discourage homeowners from tackling drain problems with a liquid agent. They may address the clog, but they may also damage plastic or metal pipes,” said BJ Richardson of Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. “A professional can clean out all your drains, fix a bad one and bring peace of mind with a warranty.”
3. Don’t ignore your sump pump
Summer brings mild weather but also substantial rain in several regions of the country. Those rains may produce floods in basements if your sump pump is unprepared. A properly functioning unit reduces the potential for mold and water damage that can occur even from trivial soil seepage throughout the year. The pump must be professionally inspected, debris cleaned away, the power cord checked, and most important, water added to the pit to watch how easily it responds. If it stops or acts slowly, it may have to be repaired.
4. Fix toilet leaks
Your water bill will be grateful for this task the most. A handful of simple inspections by a certified service professional could save you water and help you avert a costly repair. Toilets often leak nearby the flapper inside the tank, which will break down over time. A pro can also promptly review other components in the tank and surrounding the whole toilet as well. The pieces within the tank, in particular, are quite affordable; so, if hoses or washers look worn or the fill valve seems slow, all these components can be changed out by a professional quickly and cost-effectively. And keep in mind, ignoring even the smallest toilet repair today will only become larger, more expensive complications in the future.
5. It’s a good opportunity to drain the water heater
Even though a water heater failure won’t always seem like it’s as bad in the summer as it would be in colder months, it’s a headache all the same. If you haven’t drained your water heater this year, you’ll want to handle it before the summertime fun begins and showers are in high demand by guests. Water heaters amass minerals and grime at the tank’s base, which may lead to rust and the need for a water heater repair or replacement. A certified plumber can perform this simple task for you while also attending to other maintenance tasks.
“A lot of these inspections may seem like common sense, but they can easily go overlooked when our lives get busy,” Richardson added. “You can schedule a certified professional to inspect all of your plumbing systems today. That way you can confidently plan your summer fun without the worry of unexpected surprises.”
Eager to request a Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing technician to help get your home ready for maximum summertime fun? You can also check out our website today to learn about our seasonal maintenance specials and repairs.
Disclaimer: Source: GET Creative, a division of USA TODAY
