5 Tips to Prep Your Homes Plumbing for Maximum Summer Fun
Summer is around the corner, and that means barbecues, graduation parties, Fourth of July excitement and other outdoor gatherings are probably part of your seasonal schedule. But before you wrap up the summer calendar, you’ll want to ensure your plumbing system is equipped for higher use.
A plumbing crisis while having guests is an inconvenience that will undoubtedly dampen 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 beneficial plumbing maintenance tips. Handle them now to better assure your summer fun will be as fulfilling as expected.
1. Examine your hose spigot, sprinkler and irrigation systems
After winter and holiday indoor parties, it’s easy to overlook the plumbing on the outside of your home. But it’s really a great place to start your plumbing maintenance and review. Damaged sprinkler heads will need to be replaced, as they’ll soon be depended on more intensely to keep your grass healthy and your kids cool as they happily sprint 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 outside hose spigot leaks may be obvious to discover yourself, a professional can lead you to 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 common rooms for a plumbing disaster. You can start your evaluation by moving all items below sinks to examine drain pipes and the bottom of faucets for leaks. Your cabinets can offer clues as well. Mildew, warped wood and old drip spots are symptoms of leaks from either drain pipes or fixtures. Fill sinks with water and monitor how quickly the drain operates. All clogs and leaks should be dealt with straight away by a professional, and you won’t want to fall back on liquid agents as a long-term treatment 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 leave out your sump pump
Summer produces mild weather but also heavy rain in several places of the country. Those rains can produce floods in basements if your sump pump is unprepared. A properly functioning pump lowers the potential for mold and water problems that can develop even from minimal soil seepage throughout the year. The pump has to be professionally examined, debris cleaned away, the power cord looked at, and most important, water put in to the pit to see how soon it responds. If it quits or responds slowly, it may need to be repaired.
4. Fix toilet leaks
Your water bill might be grateful for this move the most. A few simple inspections by a certified service professional can save you water and help you prevent a costly repair. Toilets usually leak nearby the flapper in the tank, which can wear down over time. A specialist can also promptly examine other hardware in the tank and around the entire toilet as well. The pieces within the tank, in particular, are pretty inexpensive; so, if hoses or washers look worn or the fill valve seems slow, all these components can be swapped out by a professional quickly and cost-effectively. And don’t forget, putting off even the tiniest toilet repair today will only produce larger, more expensive problems in the future.
5. It’s a convenient chance to flush the water heater
Even though a water heater failure might not seem like it’s as unpleasant in the summer as it can be during colder months, it’s a hassle regardless. If you haven’t emptied your water heater this year, you’ll want to take action before the summertime fun starts and showers are in high demand by guests. Water heaters collect minerals and other debris at the tank’s base, which could produce rust and the need for a water heater repair or replacement. A professional plumber can perform this simple task for you while also attending to other maintenance items.
“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 arrange a Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing technician to help get your home ready for maximum summertime fun? You can also stop by our website today for details about our seasonal maintenance specials and repairs.
Disclaimer: Source: GET Creative, a division of USA TODAY
