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Summer is almost here! Homeowners everywhere are gearing up for backyard barbecues and afternoon parties and fun in the sun. Of course, with great privilege comes great responsibility. While you’re having a good time in the back yard with your guests and the kids, your plumbing may be suffering under all the extra wear and tear. These tips will help you prepare your home and your family for these 5 potential plumbing problems, so you can avoid issues and enjoy your summer.
With the kids home, your toilets will be working double time all season long. Hold bathroom etiquette classes to show the little ones how to take only a few pieces of toilet paper with every bathroom use. Put up signs around your kid’s toilets reminding them what does (and doesn’t!) get flushed down the pipes, and speak with your teenage girls to remind them that tampons do not go down the toilet. Ever.
Of course, if you wind up with a problem, keep a plunger on hand to clear the clog. For more information about how to use a plunger, check out this site.
Sewers can backup when the afternoon storms hit and the ground becomes saturated with rain. Servicing your sewers before the summer comes can help you avoid the worst of the problems, while installing a drain plug in each drain can prevent water from backing up during storms. Actually, installing a drain plug is simple and cheap! We really recommend this option for homeowners. Take a look at this video tutorial for more information about installing them in your home.
Sprinkler heads for automatic sprinkler systems tend to break over time. Broken sprinkler heads can waste water and cause the grass to die. Before the summer starts, fix your broken sprinkler heads by removing the old heads and taking them to the hardware store to find an exact replacement. You can find a helpful step-by-step tutorial right here.
With the kids at home, your washing machine will be running a lot more than usual. To prevent a flood in your house, check the hoses at the back of the machine for any possible leaks. If you do have to replace your washing machine hose, spend the extra money on a stainless steel hose, because they last a lot longer than rubber hoses. To see how replacing the washing machine hose is done, check out this online video:
With all the barbecues going on and guests running around your house, your garbage disposal will be getting a lot of use. Luckily, garbage disposal clogs are preventable. Avoid flushing rinds and coffee grounds down the unit, and grease and oil as well. If your garbage disposal does start to develop a clog, flush it with vinegar and boiling water. The tips on this website will help you maintain your garbage disposal throughout the summer.
We hope you enjoy your summer and avoid plumbing-related problems through the season. Homeowners in the Pittsburgh area in need of help clearing the sewer or fixing the garbage disposal or dealing with other plumbing-related problems listed in this blog can contact Terry’s Plumbing. With a 24-hour emergency hotline and over 30 years experience in the business, we’re ready for anything and we can get the job done.
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