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3 Of The Most Common Plumbing Issues During The Summer Months

With the summer months finally here, most of our thoughts are turning to ideas of what we are going to do with the extra time we have with family and friends, where we are going to take a trip to when we cash in those save up vacation hours, and how much fun we are going to have out by the pool or out on the water.

There are so many fun things to do during the summer months that it can be easy to forget about everything else that’s going on, and unfortunately, there are several things around your home that need your attention during the summer, one of them being your plumbing system. The summer months can be somewhat rough on your home’s plumbing system, whether you realize it or not, as there are several potentially damaging issues that occur more often during the summer months.

No one wants their summer fun interrupted by walking into a flooded bathroom or kitchen. In an effort to make sure that you know what kind of issues you should be on the lookout for this summer when it comes to your plumbing system, and what you can do to prevent them, our team of professionals have taken the time to put together this short list detailing what several of the most common of these issues are.

Clogged Disposals

Many homeowners out there love the summer months for the simple fact that they get to break out the grill more frequently and host cookouts for family and friends alike. While these cookouts do give you a wonderful opportunity to showcase your culinary prowess, they also likely mean that you are going to have more waste food and the like, and that can mean a lot of additional strain on your garbage disposal.

You need to be careful about how you are disposing of this waste food and any leftover cooking oils that might result from all of this cooking, as even though some of the things you are putting down your disposal might be organic, they might not be good to put down there. This is particularly the case with hard vegetable and fruits, as they can cause damage to your blades and lead to stubborn clogs.

You will also want to find somewhere else to dispose of your used cooking oils, as when these substances are exposed to hot water, they tend to congeal and adhere to the mechanisms in your garbage disposal, and can very quickly cause issues. Finally, no matter what you are putting down your disposal, you want to be sure that you are running cold water through it for a few seconds before and after grinding, as this will clear away most lingering debris.

Sewer Lines Backups

While the summer months definitely bring the heat and the sun, they also tend to bring rains fairly frequently as well. While this can be a good thing for your garden and trees, too much of it can mean that all of this excess water can start finding its way into the cracks of your sewer lines, and can cause them to start backing up into your home. This can also be an issue if the trees in your yard start invading your sewer lines with their growing roots.

In either case, you might notice water starting to back up into your toilets, tubs, and sinks, and if that’s the case, you will want to call in a plumber immediately, as this is both problematic, and can be a serious health hazard if you have actual sewage backing up into your home.

Clogged Toilets

The summer months mean no school, and with the kids home more often during the day, and their friends coming over from time to time as well, it means that your home’s toilets are going to be seeing more use during the daytime hours than they normally would. While this usually just means that your water bills are likely going to be a little bit higher, this increased usage can easily lead to clogged toilets if your kids and their friends aren’t being careful about what they flush or how much toilet paper they are using. The easiest way to remedy this issue is to make sure that everyone is on the same page about what can and can’t be put down the toilet, and what is a responsible amount of toilet paper to use.