How to Prepare Your Plumbing for Summer: Essential Tips
SkidShield • March 24, 2025
How to Prepare Your Plumbing for Summer: Essential Tips
As the summer months approach, the warmer weather often means an increase in water usage and more frequent plumbing issues. Whether you're planning to host family barbecues, enjoy the garden, or just stay cool with air conditioning, it’s important to ensure your plumbing is ready for the season ahead. In this blog post, we’ll share some essential tips to prepare your plumbing for summer and help avoid costly repairs or inconvenient plumbing issues.
1. Check Your Outdoor Plumbing
With summer comes more outdoor activities like gardening, grilling, and even pool maintenance. Here's what to check before things get busy:
- Inspect Outdoor Faucets and Hoses: Ensure your outdoor faucets are working correctly and free of leaks. Check hoses for cracks, and replace any worn-out ones to avoid water waste.
- Clean and Maintain Sprinklers: Summer means more lawn care, so make sure your sprinkler system is functioning properly. Clean the sprinkler heads to avoid clogs and test the system to make sure it's watering evenly. If you have a drip irrigation system, ensure it’s intact and free of blockages.
2. Service Your Water Heater
Summer is an excellent time to inspect and service your water heater before the high-demand seasons, like winter, arrive. Consider the following:
- Flush the Tank: Sediment can build up in your water heater over time, which affects its efficiency. Flushing the tank will remove the sediment and help your unit run more smoothly.
- Check the Temperature Setting: Adjust your water heater’s temperature to a lower setting (120°F) to conserve energy during the warmer months and avoid scalding water.
3. Inspect Your Plumbing Pipes
Hot weather can cause plumbing pipes to expand, which could reveal potential issues. You don’t want to wait until you’re facing a water leak to discover problems. Here’s how to inspect:
- Look for Leaks: Check visible pipes under sinks and around appliances for signs of leaks. Even small drips can add up over time and waste water.
- Check for Visible Cracks: Hot temperatures can cause certain pipes (especially older ones) to crack or burst. If you notice any signs of wear, it’s better to replace or repair them before you run into bigger issues.
4. Prepare Your Plumbing for Vacation
Planning a summer getaway? It’s a good idea to make sure your plumbing is ready before you leave:
- Shut Off the Water Supply: If you're going on vacation, it’s smart to shut off the main water supply to your home to prevent any potential leaks or flooding while you’re away.
- Empty the Water Heater: If you're leaving for an extended period, consider turning off the water heater or draining it to prevent unnecessary energy usage.
5. Avoid Summer Drain Clogs
The summer heat and the increase in outdoor activities can often lead to clogged drains, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Here's how to prevent clogs:
- Be Careful with Grease: If you do a lot of grilling or cooking outdoors, make sure to dispose of grease properly, not down the drain. Pour grease into a container and dispose of it in the trash to prevent clogged pipes.
- Use Drain Screens: In the bathroom or kitchen, use drain screens to catch hair, food particles, and other debris that can lead to blockages.
6. Check Your Sump Pump (If You Have One)
If your home has a sump pump, it’s essential to test it before heavy summer rainstorms. Sump pumps help prevent flooding in basements, and they need to be in good working order to function properly when needed. Here’s how to check:
- Test the Pump: Pour water into the sump pit to make sure the pump activates and drains properly. If the pump doesn’t turn on or drain water correctly, it may need maintenance or replacement.
7. Examine Your Sewer Lines
Summer heat and extra water usage can put extra strain on your sewer lines. It’s a good idea to schedule a sewer line inspection to catch any potential issues, such as tree roots infiltrating pipes or blockages that could lead to backups. By addressing small problems early, you can avoid major plumbing emergencies later in the season.
8. Keep Your Plumbing Insulated
During the warmer months, it's easy to forget about freezing pipe problems. However, extreme summer temperatures can also cause issues with expansion and contraction. Insulating exposed pipes, especially those in outdoor areas like basements and attics, will help protect them from damage caused by the heat.
9. Schedule a Plumbing Inspection
To give yourself peace of mind before the summer rush, schedule a plumbing inspection with a professional plumber. They can assess your entire plumbing system to catch minor issues before they turn into major, costly repairs.
Conclusion
Preparing your plumbing for the summer is a great way to avoid unexpected issues and ensure your home runs smoothly during the warmer months. By inspecting your outdoor plumbing, servicing your water heater, and checking for leaks or clogs, you can keep your system in tip-top shape. Don’t forget to schedule regular maintenance and make adjustments to conserve water and prevent damage caused by the heat.
FAQ: Preparing Your Plumbing for Summer
1. Why should I prepare my plumbing for summer?
Summer brings increased water usage and warmer temperatures, which can strain your plumbing. By preparing in advance, you can avoid costly repairs, clogs, and unexpected issues, ensuring your plumbing runs smoothly all season.
2. How can I prevent my outdoor faucets from leaking?
Inspect your outdoor faucets for any visible cracks or leaks and check for proper water flow. If you notice any damage, replace the faucet or the hose. It’s also a good idea to turn off outdoor water supply lines to prevent freezing or leaks during extreme temperatures.
3. What maintenance should I do for my water heater before summer?
Before the summer heat sets in, consider flushing your water heater to remove sediment buildup. This helps improve efficiency and extend the lifespan of the unit. You can also check the temperature setting to ensure it’s not too high and save on energy costs.
Roman Fairchild
CEO, Skid Shield
Website:
skidshield.store
Email: skidshield@gmail.com
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