5 Common Plumbing Problems to Watch Out For This Summer

The weeks leading up to summer often mean planning trips and weekend getaways to get the most out of the great weather. It also involves creating a list of activities that will keep your children entertained to prevent them from being bored during their long holiday. And since summer means being free of the usual responsibilities that come with having school-aged children, you also need to come up with activities you can do to relax, de-stress, and recharge during the next eight weeks or so.

Making plans for having fun with your family and having some “me time” in the summer can certainly be pretty exciting. However, you also need to prepare for a few problems that can pop up in your home during this season. These include plumbing-related issues. Providers of plumbing services in Dubai say that the warmer weather can bring several plumbing problems you have to prepare for. These warm weather-related plumbing problems usually arise because of the extra wear and tear your house can receive from everyone spending longer hours at home and more guests visiting and possibly staying with you. If you want to have a problem- and stress-free summer, you need to know the usual plumbing problems that you might have to deal with this season and how you can prevent them from happening. It would also work to your advantage to know some quick fixes to prevent these plumbing issues from getting worse and harder to resolve.

Plumbing Problems You May Encounter This Summer

Below are the common plumbing problems you have to prepare for and possibly deal with at home this summer:

1. Blocked toilets

With school out for summer, you and your kids will use the loo more often than usual. You’ll likely have more guests as well, which means more people using the bathroom nearly every day. The additional, more frequent use can lead to toilet blockages and backups. Remind your children and guests about proper toilet use to reduce the likelihood of this happening. These include not using and flushing non-flushable toilet paper. Additionally, make sure people don’t flush anything other than the allowed type of toilet paper and organic waste. This means disposing of baby wipes, cotton balls, and feminine hygiene products properly.

Aside from verbally reminding your children and guests, consider printing out notices about flushing only toilet paper and organic waste and displaying them in your loos to minimise the chances of this happening. Also, keep a plunger nearby so that you can use it to unblock simple clogs. However, have a professional plumber’s number at the ready since you’ll need to call them for more complicated toilet blockages.

2. Slow-draining and blocked shower drain

Summer means frequent trips to beaches and lakes. Because of this, you and your family will inadvertently track sand, dirt, and pebbles in the bathroom when you take a bath. The debris can end up on your shower drains and block them, causing the slow drain and clog. To prevent this plumbing problem, make sure you and everyone rinse off in a shower at the beach or outside before entering your home. Doing so allows you to get rid of the debris that can end up in the drains. Additionally, prevent blocked drains by ensuring your showers have drain covers. Make it a habit to remove hair and other debris that gets stuck to the covers as well. In case your shower is already clogged or draining slowly, you can use a plumber’s snake to unblock it. However, if this doesn’t work, call a plumber.

3. Blocked drains

Family and social gatherings happen more often during the summer. This means barbecues, picnics, and all types of meals happening inside and outside your home. Whether you prepare all meals and snacks or do takeaways, you’ll end up using the sink more often to wash numerous plates, bowls, glasses, cups, pans, and other types of kitchen and dining ware. Because of this, there is a good chance that leftovers, food debris, and other substances will go down the drain as you wash used utensils, dining, and kitchenware. When this happens often, you’ll end up having blocked drains. To avoid this plumbing problem, throw scraps and other inedible food products in a bin solely for food or garden waste. Be particular about throwing coffee granules, oil, grease, paper towels, and wipes in the bin since these products are the worst culprits that cause blocked drains. You can also avoid this plumbing problem by pouring hot water down the drain every few days and cleaning the sink daily.

4. Damaged or leaking sprinklers

If you have a lawn, the increased foot traffic and frequent outdoor activities can make your sprinkler system more vulnerable to damage. This is more likely to happen if your system is already old, even if it has HDPE pipes. With more people staying and playing on your lawn, there is a higher chance that someone will accidentally step on, kick, or bump a sprinkler head, causing it to crack and leak. Mowing frequently can also cause you to bump or run over sprinkler heads and damage them or other above-ground parts. Leaking sprinkler heads can be tricky to detect, particularly if you don’t know how to check them. Sometimes, the only way to find out is to go over your water bill and check if there is a sudden huge increase.

To avoid damaging your watering system, identify where the sprinkler heads are and make it a habit to check them regularly. Also, keep an eye on the other parts that are above ground. Inform your guests and everyone who frequents your lawn to keep an eye on the sprinkler heads and avoid them when they are walking or playing. Instruct the person mowing your yard to avoid the sprinkler heads as well. And if you see any leaks or cracked parts of the sprinkler system, have them checked and repaired immediately by an experienced plumber.

5. Leaking outdoor faucets

During summer, you and your family are likely to use the faucets outside your home to wash the car, water certain plants, and create fun “slips and slides” for your little ones. The frequent use can cause you to break the handle and the other parts to get worn out prematurely, leading to leaks. A leaky outdoor faucet can waste up to 340 litres of water a day. This will increase your utility bill, possibly strain your water system, and damage your house’s foundation. Make it a habit to check if the faucet is leaking after closing the tap. Ensure the rubber washer is in good condition as well. If the faucet is leaking, call a plumber immediately to fix or replace it. When you are aware of these potential summer plumbing problems and find ways to prevent them from happening, you will surely have a relaxing, stress-free, and more enjoyable summer this year.