Summer is a season of warm weather, family barbecues, and time spent in the outdoors. The kids are off from school, and that means more stress on your plumbing system.
With all the summer fun, it’s easy to forget about the importance of seasonal pipe inspection and preparation.
Pipe problems often arrive when you least expect them.
Here are just a few of the common problems we see in homes.
-Low Water Pressure
-Pipe Burst or Crack
-Running Toilet
-Clogged Toilet, Garbage Disposal, or Drain
-Leaky Faucets or Spigots
You can save money by preparing your plumbing system for Summer.
Here’s how to prepare your Plumbing for Summer Time:
Make Sure Your Sump Pump Works Properly
Power up your sump pump and make sure it turns on.
Then pour a bucket of water into it.
If the pump is working it will process the water.
This is important because of summer thunderstorms and flooding.
If you don’t have a sump pump you should consider having us install one. If any part of your home is below ground level you will need one.
Thankfully, Landry Mechanical specializes insump pump installation, repair, and replacement.
Inspect For Leaks
Long, harsh New England Winters can create massive plumbing problems you may not notice. Checking for leaks before or during Summer can give you the chance to fix problems before Winter returns.
You should inspect all appliances and equipment that use water inside or outside your home.
Here are some common areas/equipment you should check for leaks:
-Toilet
-Bathroom & Kitchen Faucets
-Bathtub or Shower
-Water Heater
-Outside or Underground Water Pipes
For the toilet, put food coloring into the tank, Then, see if the coloring leaks into the bowl without flushing. If coloring leaks into the toilet bowl it may be a sign of worn down hardware that needs replacement.
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Next, try wiggling the toilet back and forth. If the floor feels soft it may indicate a leak between the wax seal and the toilet.
For the bathtub or shower, inspect the grout around the edge and make sure its secured tightly to the tile wall. Missing grout causes water to leak under the tub or other areas it shouldn’t.
Check water heaters for signs of rust, leakage, or external damage. Look at the water heater and inspect the unit for corrosion, a flashlight will help you. Run your hand along the base of the unit to see if you feel leaking water.
Water heaters often contain mineral deposits from hard water and will need occasional flushing.
Releasing a few gallons of water from the bottom of the tank can remove deposits from your system.
For other parts of the plumbing system, you can check the water meter to find unseen leaks.
Make sure nothing in your home is using water then jot down the numbers on your water meter.
Check the meter again in 15 minutes. If the numbers have changed there may be unseen leaks in your system.
If you notice that one of your lawn areas has become particularly saturated buried water pipes are to blame.
Luckily, Landry Mechanical has plumbing experts that are able to solve theseplumbing problems. They also offerfast video inspectionsto check pipes to diagnose issues unseen with the naked eye.
Don’t Forget the Sprinkler System!
Summer is a great season for checking your sprinkler system.
Inspect and clean your sprinkler heads early in the season.
If you see any damaged or rusted heads you should remove and replace them.
Run each sprinkler zone and observe where it releases water. The sprinklers shouldn’t hit your foundation or any part of the house.
Under Pressure?
Good water pressure is necessary for a healthy plumbing system. You can check your household water pressure using a simple gauge. The household standard is 40-45 pounds per square inch (psi) and shouldn’t be higher than 60psi.
Connect a pressure gauge to the nearest exterior faucet. If your water pressure is higher or lower than the standard range, it’s time to“Just Call Landry”. Your main water line has a faulty regulator.
Stop The Clogs!
Do you have a slow drain or weak toilet flush?
People commonly encounter routine clogs, and they can typically resolve them with a plunger or auger.
If you see a weak flush or grey water in your tub after a rain storm it’s time for a professionalplumbing inspection.
Food or grease buildup can cause clogging in kitchen sinks. You can try flushing it with hot water or with clog-clearing chemicals.
For bathroom sinks, hair may be the cause of clogs. Using hot water or chemicals can release the clogs.
If these methods fail,Landry Mechanicalcan help.
Here at Landry Mechanical, we want you to enjoy summer to its fullest. You can prevent plumbing problems in your home.
If all else fails,contact ustoday! “We take comfort in YOUR comfort”