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 fun and other outdoor gatherings are potentially part of your seasonal schedule. But before you wrap up your summer calendar, you’ll want to make sure your plumbing system is equipped for higher use.

A plumbing problem while entertaining guests is a headache that will surely 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 worthwhile plumbing maintenance tips. Handle them soon to better assure your summer satisfaction will be as fulfilling as planned.

1. Test your hose spigot, sprinkler and irrigation systems

After winter and holiday indoor parties, it’s easy to forget about the plumbing around the outside of your home. But it’s in fact a good place to start your plumbing maintenance and assessments. Broken sprinkler heads will have to be replaced, as they’ll soon be relied on more heavily to keep your grass healthy and your kids cool as they repeatedly run through them for a mid-day refresher. Underground sprinkler and irrigation lines should also be reviewed for leaks as well as your hose spigot too. While outdoor hose spigot leaks might be obvious to recognize yourself, a professional can warn you of ones that may occur on the inside of the wall, too.

2. Clean and unclog bathroom and kitchen drains, check fixtures

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most likely areas for a plumbing catastrophe. You can begin your inspection by moving all items underneath sinks to inspect drain pipes and the underside of faucets for leaks. Your cabinets might supply 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 fast the drain functions. All clogs and leaks should be dealt with straight away by a professional, and you won’t want to depend on liquid agents as a long-term answer 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 provides mild weather but also substantial rain in a few sections of the country. Those rains can produce floods in basements if your sump pump is unprepared. A properly functioning pump reduces the potential for mold and water damage that might occur even from slight soil seepage at all times of year. The pump must be professionally reviewed, debris cleaned away, the power cord reviewed, and most important, water put in to the pit to observe how quickly it responds. If it quits or responds slowly, it may need to be fixed.

4. Resolve toilet leaks

Your water bill might appreciate this move the most. A couple of basic inspections by a licensed service professional can save you water and help you avert a costly repair. Toilets often leak around the flapper inside the tank, which tends to wear out over time. A pro can also easily assess other components inside the tank and around the entire toilet as well. The components within the tank, in particular, are particularly inexpensive; so, if hoses or washers look worn or the fill valve sounds slow, all these components can be changed out by a professional quickly and cost-effectively. And keep in mind, putting off even the tiniest toilet repair today will only result in larger, more expensive issues in the future.

5. It’s a good time to drain the water heater

Even though a water heater problem might not feel like it’s as difficult in the summer as it can be in colder months, it’s a bother all the same. If you haven’t flushed out your water heater this year, you’ll want to take action before the summertime fun begins and showers are in high demand by guests. Water heaters collect minerals and other debris at the tank’s base, which could result in corrosion and the need for a water heater repair or replacement. A skilled plumber can complete this simple task for you while also addressing 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 arrange a Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing technician to help get your home ready for the highest level of summertime fun? You can also visit our website today for more info about our seasonal maintenance specials and repairs.

Disclaimer: Source: GET Creative, a division of USA TODAY