Your Summer Plumbing Maintenance Checklist

It’s no secret for everyone that winter can be hard on your home or commercial space. But what about summer? With summer almost here and being one of the most popular times of the year for vacations, the last thing you want to do is to cut your vacation short to either rush home or worry about your commercial building because of an emergency plumbing issue.

It’s easy to forget that during the warmer months, your plumbing will be used a lot, especially during the summer. Summertime is the best time of the year to check the plumbing in your building. Some homeowners and commercial space owners don't pay attention to the plumbing until something goes wrong. Even without any issues or concerns, it is always wise to give your plumbing system a once-over at the beginning of every season to ensure that everything is in working order.

We don’t want you to ruin your summer vacation by worrying about plumbing issues, which is why we created this Summer Plumbing Maintenance Checklist! Once you are able to tick everything off your checklist, you can enjoy the warm weather without worrying about the inconvenience and stress of a costly plumbing disaster.

1. Inspect Your Hoses and Sprinklers

Throughout the summer, hoses and sprinklers are used a lot to water gardens and lawns and why it is time to check they're condition. Inspect your hoses and sprinklers that are no longer functioning properly for any leaks. If you find them damaged, make sure to replace them right away. If you don’t have a hose reel, we advise you to invest in one, so you can properly store your hose. You’ll be able to add years to the life of your hose by storing it properly.

2. Check your appliances

Did you know that there are some appliances connected within your building to your plumbing system? These are sinks, water heaters, washing machines, and showers. They all must appear to be in good working condition. Don’t be afraid to call for professional advice if anything seems unusual with your appliances. Also, have your pipes checked-- broken pipes lead to lower pressure and reduced supply to your appliances.

3. Clean the Gutters

Ah, summer breeze! Unfortunately, the summer breeze you enjoy also blows down twigs and leaves onto your roof, clogging your gutters and downspouts. It is always ideal in cleaning your gutters seasonally so you can avoid ending up with drainage problems later on. If you want to clean them out yourself, use a ladder to access your gutters. Otherwise, hire a professional roofer to help you accomplish the task without a problem.

4. Drain Hot Water Heater

It is highly recommended by plumbers that you drain your water heater at least once a year. The sediment that builds up in your heater throughout the year can cause you trouble. You should check the instructions on your model before you start to make sure that you will be able to correctly perform the drain. It is a great time to drain the water heater during summer because you probably won’t have to use hot water for a few hours.

5. Drain Filters

It is also important that you check your drain filters to see if you already need new ones. Or if they’re missing, make sure to put some. Your drain filters are responsible for keeping items like food and hair going down the drain and clogging it. It would be best if you had drain filters in all drains, but all the more in the shower and kitchen sink. Always make sure you check them regularly and clean them out so water can flow freely down the drain.

6. Check If There Are Leaks

Look around the house and check for leaks. Did you know that even slow leaks that drip once every minute can add up to 34 gallons per year? That’s already a lot of water! To find out how much water is you're wasting, you can calculate your leak rates. Also, don’t forget to check if your toilet is running. To do this, place a few drops of food coloring in the bowl and see if it's still in the toilet bowl within a few hours without using the toilet. If it does, then you have water constantly draining. Have your leaks repaired as quickly as possible so you won’t have a high water bill.

7. Pool Maintenance

If you have a pool on your property, you must close your pool each year for cleaning and maintenance. At the end of summer, make sure to clean it to ensure the pool will be in perfect condition when you open again.

8. Clean Showerhead

Do you have low water pressure in the shower? It is possible not to notice it, but if you give your showerhead a good clean, you’ll find the difference. It is advisable to clean your showerhead every season so you can maintain your water pressure in good condition, and enjoy refreshing showers all year long. All you have to do is remove the showerhead and place it in a bucket of white vinegar for a few hours to remove the mineral deposits that clog the showerhead.

Have a Plumbing Inspection

Prevent a ton of issues from arising and ruining your summer vacation by following the plumbing maintenance checklist above.

While you’re doing everything that we mentioned in this checklist, the last advice that we can give you is that it’s never a bad idea to call your plumber to carry out some final plumbing checklist items on your plumbing system as a whole. A professional can ensure nothing has been missed and give you advice about any repairs or maintenance that may be necessary. And that’s it! If you go through this checklist when summer hits, you’ll be able to set yourself up for a great fall season.

If you need assistance with any plumbing issues, it is ideal to have easy access to your plumbing system. Access doors and panels can make this possible. For better and easy access to your pipes, check out our products today at www.accessdoorsandpanels.com