Although your residential plumbing system is used throughout the year, plenty of strain is placed on your pipes and water-operated appliances during the summer. Plumbers usually do field requests throughout the season to clear clogs and repair damaged components. To avoid a frantic call for help, below are common summer plumbing problems and how to prevent them.     

What Are Some Common Plumbing Concerns People Encounter During the Summer?

1. Slow Shower Drains

Sweating while out in the heat is a common occurrence during summer. To eliminate the sticky feeling and combat musky odors, family members might shower more often. However, this means more hair, soap scum, and mineral deposits end up in drains, leading to clogs. Using drain covers will help filter water down the channels while keeping scum and wads of hair out. 

2. Sump Pump Malfunctions

When routine maintenance is neglected, sump pumps are prone to failure during summer. That’s because the equipment isn’t prepared to redirect rainwater from seasonal storms away from the property foundation, meaning the basement could flood as a result.

To ensure that your equipment still works in a power failure, install a backup generator, and routinely check that the pump is positioned upright. This will prevent the switch that operates the float valve from resting against the side of the basin and getting stuck.

3. Garbage Disposal Clogs

Many foods served at summer picnics and barbecues aren’t safe to put in the garbage disposal. Peach pits and cherry seeds, for example, can break the grinding gears. When shucking corn for grilling, husk fibers can get wrapped around the appliance’s components, which will cause them to burn out and breakdown during operation. To prevent damages, a plumber can provide a list of popular summer foods to throw out in the trash, instead of into your garbage disposal.  

 

If you experience any of the above issues, contact the licensed, certified plumbers at A+ Family Plumbing in Onalaska, WI. Under the guidance of a master plumber, the technicians provide reliable, effective drain cleaning, water heater repair, and additional solutions to prevent backups and other headaches. Find out how the team can help during plumbing emergencies online, or call (608) 783-5558 for plumbing services in the La Crosse County area.