Summer is just about upon us! Kansas City homeowners are well aware of the problems that can emerge from some midwestern heat during the summer! With it still being in early May, you have some time to prepare yourself and your plumbing! For the most part, summertime means increased traffic at our houses. Graduation parties, cook-outs, family visits, you name it. With more traffic, that toilet is going to flush much more frequently! You’re going to use that hose more often to water the flowers and your lawn. Most people even take more showers during the summer season. Well…do you know what common underlying factor we have here? Plumbing! All those pipes that bring in the water are critical to your summer activities.
Our goal with these tips is to allow you to enjoy all those moments and create long-lasting memories. Yes, even plumbers are in the memory-making business! Also, we’d rather you get them taken care of now before it turns into an even larger disaster and takes a toll on your bank account! So, without further ado, let’s look at what you can do to enjoy the summer without worrying about leaky pipes and clogged drains!
➡️Keep the Disposal Healthy!
A couple of weeks ago, we discussed what you should NEVER put down your garbage disposal. Not sure who named it the “garbage disposal,” but one thing’s for certain: you should never use it as another trash can! With more people going in and out of the kitchen, you have a big job in making sure the disposal only gets used for what it’s made for. During the summertime, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of cookouts, but not all of these foods can be put in the disposal. In particular, remember that not all fruits and veggies can be disposed of. Watermelon hinds, banana peels, and celery are all examples of no-go’s.
Make sure no oily substances are put down there. It’ll just stick to the sides of the pipes and form a clog for any items that go down after it. All in all, you just need to be mindful of what you use it for. For the most part, try to only utilize it for crumbs and smaller items. And try to remember to always use cold water in it! That’ll certainly help in aiding it through the summer season!
➡️Sprinkler Systems
When a sprinkler has a leak, it can waste a ton of water and you might not even have a clue that it’s doing so. Make sure to take an in-depth inspection of the entire system. Additionally, check out all the sprinkler heads. Are any of them broken or looking in pretty bad shape? If so, you can actually probably replace those yourself. No need to call out an irrigation guy! Just take the old one with you to the store and you’ll have a replacement head in no time.
Once you’re sure everything’s all squared away and there’s no leaks, you can rest assured knowing that you won’t have an outlandish water bill from an underground sprinkler leak. While you’re in the process of getting prepared for winter, take a quick scan of where the sprinklers are pointed. You don’t want them hitting the house or having water run straight to the foundation! And I’m sure you’re already aware of this, but make sure to lower the heads before mowing. The last thing you want to do is damage them while trimming the grass!
➡️Endless Laundry?
During a Kansas City summer, it very well may seem like there’s an endless pile of dirty laundry, especially for those with a bigger family! Not only is this added work for you, but it can be quite the task for your washing machine! Particularly in the Kansas City heat, you sweat a lot more and thus shower and change clothes. Before we get farther into the summer season, take a gander around your laundry room and evaluate everything. First and foremost, you’re going to want to carefully inspect the hoses. While we always recommend the stainless steel hoses, there’s certainly plenty of homeowners that have rubber hoses. Typically, these have an average lifespan of 3 years. Nonetheless, make sure to look for any areas that are bulging out or cracking. As for your washing machine, you’ll probably be able to tell if it’s about to kick the bucket if you’ve noticed anything off throughout spring. Just to be safe though, pull it away from the wall. Check if anything is off in regards to the connections and so on.
➡️Be Mindful of Water!
Who wants to save a little money on their water bill this summer? Even those that aren’t environmentalists and interested in water conservation efforts would probably be down with some extra money each month! A dripping faucet or running toilet (caused by a bad flapper!) can add up 10% on your water bill. Thousands of gallons of water are wasted by households due to these faulty plumbing efforts. One piece of advice I can offer you is to get it fixed now. This is certainly a tip that can be applied to all seasons of the year, so summer is no different! Additionally, going to the above point about that endless pile of laundry, take a look at your appliances. If you’re in the market for something new, place a larger emphasis on energy efficiency. Look for that “Energy Star” logo. Greater efficiency means greater savings! ?
➡️Sump Pump Safety!
Kansas City plumbing is notorious for being affected by heavy rains and summer storms! With this comes hundreds of flooded basements each year. Unfortunately, we often get called in when it’s too late. Water has already gotten in and we’re forced to go into damage-management mode. Once this is taken care of, then homeowners are much more receptive to hearing ideas about future protection. However… an alternative approach would be to be in preparation mode before the storm hits!
Your best friend here is going to be your sump pump. While not everyone needs one, it can be a terrific insurance policy were disaster to hit. For those that don’t already have one in their Kansas City home and are unsure if one is needed, give me a call at 816-348-3481. In my 40-years in the plumbing game, I’ve seen enough sumps to know when it’s a good idea. A quick tip to get you started would be to determine if any part of your home is above or below ground level. If some of it is below, it would certainly worth looking into. Trust me, it’s better than losing all your valuables from a flood.
Conversely, for those that already have one, you’re going to want to make sure yours is in good working order. How do you accomplish this? Simple, just test it. Pour some water into it. If it turns on and starts taking care of the water, you’re good to go! Additionally, if your power has a tendency to go out during storms, it might be wise to grab a portable generator. It’s a great back-up plan, just in case something goes awry with sump pump.
?Ready to Go?
If you follow all of these tips, you’ll be in good shape for everything that comes with Kansas City summer! For most homeowners, water usage goes up considerably during the summer months, so these tips can also help off-set those added costs! One last expert tip would be to turn down your water heater whenever you go on vacation for a few days. It won’t save you hundreds, but it will conserve energy and help you out a little bit!
Our team at Stine-Nichols hope you have an enjoyable summer with family and friends! Enjoy the weather and make memories (…and hopefully not have to worry about leaky pipes and clogged toilets!).
If you have any questions about prepping your plumbing system, don’t hesitate to give me a call at 816-348-3481 or fill out the contact form here!