SIX SUMMER PLUMBING PROBLEMS & HOW TO AVOID THEM

With the kids on summer vacation, the toilets in your home will be used much more frequently. Unfortunately, this can result in clogged toilets. Many kids do not know how much toilet paper to use and can end up flushing too much of it down the pipes.

Instruct your kids to count the squares of toilet paper and avoid using too much. Also, teach your kids to not use the toilet as a garbage can. Throwing even small items, like floss, down the toilet can result in a major clog.

If you have frequent barbecues during the summer, you may have to use your garbage disposal more often. However, if you put certain items down your garbage disposal, it can get jammed up for hours.

Fibrous foods, like asparagus, corn husks and celery, are especially bad for your garbage disposal because they can wrap around the grinding teeth and prevent the motor from running. You should also avoid putting cooking grease, egg shells, pasta and rice down your disposal.

It is likely that you will engage in plenty of outdoor activities, such as swimming, hiking and biking during the summer. This means you will have a lot more dirty clothes to wash. If your washing machine is not equipped to handle all of those extra loads, it can break down. It is a good idea to have a plumber inspect your washing machine for leaks, cracks and other problems before the summer season begins. If a plumber finds any issues, he or she can repair them right away.

Rainstorms can occur frequently during the summer and clog up you sewer lines. If you notice a bad smell coming out of your drains or water backup in your shower or toilet, you should contact a plumber right away. If you do not repair sewer backups, sewage can get into your house and cause a lot of damage.

A sprinkler system can keep your grass lush and green all summer. However, if the sprinkler is damaged, it will not work efficiently and will waste a lot of water. Before you turn on your sprinkler system for the summer, check the sprinkler head for cracks and other signs of damage. Also, be sure to keep your lawn mower away from your sprinkler, as running over a sprinkler head with the mower's sharp blades can cause damage.

Shower drains can also get clogged more frequently during the summer. When you take a shower after being at the beach all day, sand, shells and other items that could get caught in your bathing suit can empty out into the drain. To avoid this, rinse yourself off at the public showers at the beach as best as you can. In addition, consider installing a drain cover to keep small items from clogging up your pipes and drain.

Plumbing problems can be a major inconvenience, so it is best to avoid them in the first place. If you still do encounter an issue, do not wait to fix it. Contact a plumber from Art Douglas Plumbing Inc. and have us send a plumber out to your house.