Summer brings longer days, gatherings with friends and family, and much-needed time off. However, it also places higher demands on your home’s plumbing system. With increased water usage, plumbing issues often surface during the warmer months. Here are some of the most common plumbing issues that surface in the summer.
Garbage Disposal Trouble
Kitchen plumbing often sees more action during the warmer months. With cookouts, picnics, and fresh seasonal produce, you probably produce more food waste in the summertime. Unfortunately, your disposal does not deal well with items like corn husks, watermelon rinds, and barbecue leftovers. Fibrous foods can get tangled up in the blades, while hard ones dull the blades or get stuck.
Bones and meat scraps should be thrown in your garbage, rather than the sink. If you have a garden, vegetable and fruit waste can be composted, which benefits your plants.
Broken or Leaky Sprinklers
Summer puts a lot of strain on your sprinkler system. Frequent use, high temperatures, and accidental bumps from lawn mowers can damage sprinkler heads. Underground lines aren’t immune either. They can crack or develop leaks in the connections over time, often without any obvious warning signs.
You might notice a soggy spot in the yard, an unusually high water bill, or a patch of grass that’s noticeably greener than the rest. If you spot any of these signs, having our professionals inspect the system before the problem worsens is best.
Sewer Line Backups
Heavy summer rain can overwhelm aging sewer systems, and tree roots often make things worse by infiltrating the lines and causing severe blockages. Warning signs include slow drains, gurgling toilets, or an unmistakable sewer odor. If water starts backing up into your kitchen, bathroom, or basement drains, it’s time to call for immediate help from a sewer repair service. Sewer issues can escalate quickly, leading to costly damage and cleanup if not addressed immediately.
Overloaded Washing Machines
Between sweaty clothes and extra towels from the pool, your washing machine often runs nonstop in the summer. All that extra use can strain hoses and overwork the drain lines, especially if you have an older plumbing system. This added stress may lead to leaks, which sometimes show up as puddles behind the washer or a musty smell in the laundry area. If your laundry room is on the second floor, even a small leak can cause water damage to the ceilings and walls below, so it’s essential to address issues quickly.
Low Water Pressure
If you notice weaker water flow, the problem may be inside your home’s plumbing system. A pressure regulator that’s failing or set incorrectly can cause a noticeable drop in pressure throughout the house. Mineral buildup in older pipes, partially closed shut-off valves, or a hidden leak can also reduce flow at specific fixtures.
If the issue is isolated to one area, like a single bathroom or faucet, a clog or faulty fixture may be involved. Whatever the cause, one of our plumbers can identify the source of the problem and restore your water pressure.
Drippy Outdoor Faucets
Outdoor faucets often go unused for months, which means damage from winter freezes might not be noticed until summer. When you finally hook up a hose, you may find the faucet constantly dripping. Even a slow leak can waste water, raise utility bills, and cause structural damage if it seeps into walls or the foundation. It’s best to have one of our plumbers take a look before a minor issue turns into a costly repair.
Toilet Wear and Tear
With more people at home during the summer, toilets see more use. It’s common to run into issues like toilets that won’t stop running or don’t flush properly. While these problems may seem minor initially, a constantly running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water. If you’re dealing with recurring toilet troubles, having our plumbers inspect the components and make any needed repairs is a good idea.
Contact Your Local Plumbing Experts
When summertime plumbing issues pop up in Albany, OR, Linn Benton Plumbing is here to help. In addition to repairs, we can assist with all kinds of plumbing services like fixture replacements, repiping, sewer repairs, and drain cleaning. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced team members.
