Summer is here! Is your plumbing ready?

Here are some tips for keeping your plumbing in great shape this summer:

Whether your summer fun involves sand and surf, hiking trails or ATVs, it’s a good bet that it comes with an extra dose of dirt at the end of the day. When you're washing up after your adventures, make sure you keep the worst of it out of your drains. They weren't designed to handle large amounts of sand, gravel and mud, and could become clogged or damaged.

• Playing outside means more dirty clothes. Make sure you check your washing machine hoses for bulges, leaks, and cracks.
  • Be sure to clean out your dryer lint regularly.
  • Finally keep in mind that your washing machine hoses should be replaced about every 3 years!

• Make sure your washing machine has plenty of space around it.
  • Move it about 4 inches from the wall to prevent hose kinking and damage, and don’t leave your home when your machine is running.

• Also check your ductwork for condensation. This can cause a backup if the drains are not clear. Leaks in seams can also cause condensation.

• BBQs in the summer can mean lots of food that could end up in your garbage disposal.
  • Be careful what you put down your kitchen disposal after your cookout. Most are not equipped to handle celery, cornhusks, banana peels and other 
  • fibrous or “stringy” foods. Other items to stay away from are fats or cooking oils because they can form clogs in the pipes.
  • Make sure you run cold water at full pressure for 15 seconds before and after you put anything down the disposal to flush it.
  • And NEVER put instant stuffing, potato mixes or similar “just-add-water” foods down the drain. They’ll create an instant clog when you add water.

• Summer also means TRAVEL!
  • A great way to save money and energy while on your vacation is to turn down the temperature of your water heater and turn up the temperature of your refrigerator.
    • But if you do turn down your refrigerator, make sure you remove highly perishable foods like dairy, produce and meat first.

• Heavy summer rainfall can overwhelm your gutters and other drainage. If basement flooding is a problem in your home, install a sump pump to collect and dispel the water that collects.
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• As it goes every season the best defense to ensuring your plumbing systems are running properly is to schedule annual maintenance inspections, and keep on top of your systems before it’s too late, or when you need them most.