In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basic tips for homeowners looking to limit the strain on their plumbing system during the summer. The summer is often the toughest period for a given home’s plumbing system due to increased needs for water and usage of various plumbing fixtures, but you might be surprised how much you can alleviate this stress with some extremely basic tactics.
At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re proud to offer a wide array of residential plumbing services, from standard plumbing maintenance like summer upkeep to larger areas like trenchless sewer line repair and many others. In today’s part two, we’ll go over a few additional themes to keep an eye on, whether on your own or with the assistance of our handy plumbers for any areas you’re not comfortable managing.
Care While Gardening
The summer is the most popular season of the year for gardening for some relatively apparent reasons, but it just requires some very basic care for those who want to be sure they do not impact their plumbing system in any way. This is especially true for anyone who plans to do significant digging, whether for the purposes of planting, landscaping or something else.
Why is this a concern? Well, because sewer, gas and possibly other utility lines are placed under lawns in residential areas. If you accidentally dig into these, you could be looking at incredibly expensive repairs, not to mention hazards. If you have any significant digging plans, you should find out where your utility lines are before you plant – particularly the sewer line, which can lead to major leakage and related issues if it’s dug into.
Water Heater Temperature
Another theme the summer is generally a common time of year for: Vacations and trips, whether we’re talking cross-country adventures, weekend camping trips with the family or any other variety. One handy plumbing tip for whenever you take such excursions is to turn your water heater temperature down much lower than usual – this will not only limit strain on the system and give it a break for a few days, but will also save you money on your power bill at the end of the month for heating services that you won’t need while out of the house.
Connections and Leaks
Finally, particularly for homes with kids out of school for the summer, appliances like dishwashers and washing machines will see heavy work this time of year. Periodically, be sure to check basic connections and hookups to ensure there are no leaks or other issues forming, concerns that may lead to major water loss and an increase in your monthly bill.
For more on tactics to alleviate strain on your plumbing system this summer, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.