Summer can be busy for families. You might take vacations, enjoy the outdoors, and spend more time with your kids. There’s so much to do! You’re likely letting some plumbing issues slide until you have more time to address them. Here are five major plumbing issues you might face at home. It’s best to tackle them before fall arrives.
1. Slow Drainage
One of the easiest plumbing problems to let go throughout the summer is slow drainage. It happens gradually over time. You may notice your plumbing fixtures and sinks aren’t draining as fast as they used to. Often, the reason behind this is a partial blockage in your sewer line.
After a long summer, roots from nearby trees and plants can slip into tiny cracks in your sewer line. As the roots grow larger, they can snag debris in your wastewater and continue to increase in size. It’s best to have one of our plumbers come to clear out your sewer line to prevent a complete blockage from happening.
2. Leaky House Bib
Another easy problem to let go of is a leak at your hose bib. Since the water is dripping outside your home, it may not seem like it’s creating a whole lot of damage. Unfortunately, not only are you wasting water, but that water is accumulating right next to your home’s foundation. Over time, this could lead to issues with foundational cracking.
Before the fall season sets in, opt to fix your leaky hose bib. In some cases, all that’s needed is to replace the internal O-ring. In other cases, you may need one of our professionals to replace the entire hose bib.
3. Irrigation Leaks
Another problem that is easy to let slide throughout the summer is a leaky irrigation head or line. Since these are leaking into your lawn, it may not seem critical to fix them. But it is best to get the issue fix by a plumbing repair expert before you continue to waste water and likely forget about the issue going into next year.
In cases of a leaky sprinkler head, you may be able to do a simple DIY fix by replacing the head. When it comes to leaky irrigation lines, you’ll likely need one of our professionals to locate and make the necessary repairs.
4. Water Pressure Issues
Unless there is a stark decrease in the water pressure for your home, water pressure issues will likely develop over time. If you’ve noticed lower water pressure from your faucets, please let one of our plumbers check it before winter.
Plumbing issues are easier to deal with when the weather is warmer than when it is cold. A corroded water valve that needs replacement may be the simple problem behind your low water pressure issue. In other cases, a plumber may need to replace a more extensive issue, like a corroded water supply line.
5. Gutter Blockages
Throughout the summertime, when thunderstorms roll through your area, it’s common to get a lot of heavy downpours. If you’re starting to notice water overflowing your gutters, it’s a key sign that there’s likely a blockage in your gutters. Before the fall and winter set in, it’s best to clean out your gutters and downspouts to remove those blockages. This will stop water and snowmelt from overflowing your gutters. It keeps them from pooling around your home’s foundation.
Fall Plumbing Preparation
There’s no doubt that late summer is an ideal time to address any plumbing issues you may have before the upcoming fall and winter seasons. It’s also a perfect time to prepare your plumbing for the colder seasons. Here are some top tips to help you prepare your plumbing for the cold months ahead. This will reduce the risk of any unpleasant plumbing problems.
Check Your Sump Pump
Having a sump pump is a great way to protect your home’s foundation and belongings from floodwaters and snowmelt. Before the colder seasons of the year arrive, it’s best to test your sump pump to ensure it’s working. You can do this by pouring water into the sump pump pit and ensuring that your unit turns on to remove the water. Be sure to watch the water level to ensure it’s decreasing.
Cover Your Hose Bib
As we enter the fall season, it’s a good time to wrap up your hose bibs and hoses. Be sure to drain your hoses and store them in a safe location for the winter months. Consider covering your hose bib to protect the internals of your outdoor spigot. Also, if you lack a frost-free spigot, shut off the water supply. Then, drain the water line to avoid freezing problems in winter.
Drain Your Irrigation Lines
To drain your irrigation lines, start by turning off the water supply and the irrigation controller. Next, open all manual drain valves to let the water drain out. If your system has automatic drain valves, they will activate once the pressure drops. If needed, use compressed air to blow out any remaining water and prevent freeze damage.
Consider doing one last check to see if any damaged irrigation heads need replacing. If you don’t know how to drain your system, hire one of our experts. We can winterize your irrigation and stop cold-weather damage.
Get Water Heater Service
Your water heater receives a lot of use during the colder months of the year due to increased demand and having to combat the cold weather. It’s best to have one of our professionals perform maintenance on your water heater, including flushing it. This will clear sediment from your tank. It helps your tank last longer and work better.
To get ready for winter, wrap your water heater with insulation to stop heat from escaping and to use less energy. Put a water heater blanket around it, but make sure it doesn’t cover key parts like the thermostat or burner. This helps keep the water warm, lowers your energy bills, and protects your heater from the cold and freezing.
Check Your Hidden Water Leaks
One of the most damaging things for your home is a hidden water leak. Too much water on your home’s materials can cause mold and mildew. This will harm your building materials. One of the best ways to check for hidden plumbing leaks in your home is by shutting off all your plumbing fixtures and water-using appliances.
Please take a look at your water meter to see its reading. Allow it to run for 15 to 30 minutes without using any water in your home, then recheck the meter. If the meter reading increases, you likely have a hidden plumbing leak. You can do some inspections yourself, but it’s quicker to have our expert handle leak detection in your home. They’ll find hidden leaks and fix them.
Expert Plumbing Repair Service
Burgess Plumbing Heating & Electrical Co Ltd offers expert plumbing repair services for the Williams Lake, BC area. We can also help with all your household plumbing installation, replacement, and maintenance needs. Call our friendly office staff today to book your next service appointment.
