Summer is almost here and with it, come it’s own set of summer related problems. That includes plumbing problems. Knowing what may occur and how you can try to prevent them will help you to have a much happier and safer summer.

So, with that being said – here is our list of the most common summer related plumbing problems.

Shower Drain Clogs

The heat of summer and increased outdoor activities means we normally take more showers. Sometimes, that means showering off sand or dirt depending on what amazing outdoor task we were doing that day.

This of course means that there are more chances of clogging that shower drain.

The best way to help prevent this is to rinse off any dirt or sand before you step into the shower stall. You can also use a hair catcher to prevent large amounts of hair and dirt going down the drain and causing a clog. Call your plumber to discuss any recommendations they make on regular maintenance tactics to help you prevent clogs in your shower drain.

Summer Rains Can Lead To Flooding

Some homes with basements can experience some flooding when there are excessive summer rains. Another issue that heavy rain can cause havoc with are sewer lines. Both of these are very common summer plumbing problems.

For basement floods – you hopefully have a sump pump installed. If not, we do recommend that you get one, of course depending on the type of property you are on. If your home is on a hill, and the occurrence of water seeping into your basement is extremely low, then of course a sump pump may not be necessary.

But othewise – we do recommend one and of course, if you have any questions concerning that please call your local plumber or us at Atlantis Plumbing at 770-505-8570.

If you do have a sump pump here are our 5 simple steps to maintain it.

  1. Check the plug – Sump pumps should be plugged in to a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet. There are times that the GFCI breaker will trip (especially if the area is damp) so check to make sure it is still on, if not, reset it.
  2. Positioning – If you have a free-standing sump pump (some are inground) then you want to make sure that it hasn’t fallen over due to some vibrations either within the home or within the sump pump itself.
  3. Test It Out – Pour a bucket of water into the pit which should then make the unit automatically turn on. If the pump doesn’t start, then you know it needs to be serviced.
  4. Cleaning – Remove the submerisible pump from the pit and clean out the grate which is located at the bottom of the unit. Oftentimes small stones and other debris can get caught in that grate and block the flow or damage the pump over time.
  5. Check for Odor – If you smell a nasty odor it may be that water is not flowing from the trap to the basin. The solution is to add 1 cup of bleach to a gallon of water and then pour that combination into the trap.

For more information about sump pumps – read our article on Do I Need A Sump Pump?

Garbage Disposal and Smoothies

Many of us will eat more fruit and vegetables during the summer – and these days that can mean smoothies and salads. This means there can be more peels and pieces of raw fruit and vegetables down the garbage disposal.

Although there are many homeowners who believe they can put just about anything down the garbage disposal, the truth is otherwise.

Just some of the summer foods to avoid putting in your disposal unit are…

  • Carrots
  • Corn husks
  • Cucumber peels
  • Lettuce
  • Celery
  • Pineapple rinds
  • Watermelon rinds

Click here to see a full list of what not to put down your disposal unit.

Summer Activities Means More Clothes To Wash

It can be easy to overwork and overload your washing machine. In the summer, with more heat and more outdoor activities, washing machines tend to be used more.

Keep your loads small (in other words don’t stuff the machine) and regularly check to make sure there are no leaks. But we can recommend to have your machine checked by a professional plumber especially if it’s an older model. This can help you to avoid a flooded laundry room.

If you have any questions about plumbing problems, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.