When you own a home in Seattle, your maintenance requirements change with the seasons. During the summer, your home’s plumbing system may require upkeep and attention. From high water usage to outdoor plumbing concerns, numerous issues can arise once the summer sets in. Knowing how to avoid these problems can help you reduce water waste and save money.
Increased Water Usage
The ongoing health of your lawn depends on how well it’s maintained. When the temperatures rise and the blistering sun scorches your yard, more stress will be placed on your grass. A heat-stressed lawn is more likely to be damaged and weakened by weeds, diseases, and pests. Extreme heat can also cause lower growth rates for grass.
In this situation, you may feel the need to water your lawn constantly to ensure it doesn’t dry up and start to develop brown patches where the grass has withered away. However, overwatering can be just as damaging to your grass as an overabundance of sun. When your lawn gets more water than it can retain, you may notice thinning grass, dirt, and discolored patches.
Keep in mind that automatic sprinkler systems use a lot of water as well. Consider alternatives like hand watering, manual sprinklers, or drip irrigation. To reduce your home’s water consumption, try to water your lawn during the early morning and late evening hours. In the middle of the afternoon, you’ll likely lose some water from evaporation. It’s also a good idea to only water your lawn when it needs it. If the grass springs up after you step on it, your lawn has enough water.
Dirty or Damaged Sprinklers
Most sprinklers aren’t designed to last for years. During the summer, sprinklers are often damaged by animals, children, and the elements. They’re usually difficult to see, which makes it more likely that you’ll run over yours when mowing the lawn. Check your sprinklers regularly to make sure they haven’t been damaged. If the sprinkler head emits water in an uneven pattern, replace it before your grass starts dying.
If the sprinkler line is cut, you could experience a large-scale irrigation leak. Look for puddles of water or muddy landscaping near your sprinkler line to determine the cause of the issue. If it hasn’t rained recently, there’s a good chance that the sprinkler line has been damaged.
High Water Bills
If your water bills are higher than normal, your home’s plumbing system may be damaged. This problem can be the result of an overworked water heater or a faucet leak. If the main water line is fractured, the water you lose could amount to thousands of gallons per day. While a high water bill is only a symptom of summer plumbing problems, it’s an issue you can avoid by scheduling maintenance regularly throughout the season.
Basement Flooding
While the rainy season ends around the beginning of summer in Seattle, the ground is often saturated by heavy rainfall from previous months. When heavy thunderstorms arrive during the summer, they can overwhelm your drainage system and gutters. In this scenario, your basement might flood and cause considerable water damage.
There are several ways to avoid basement flooding even if you live in an area that’s prone to it. For example, consider having a sump pump installed that will collect and remove the water that gathers in your basement. An existing sump pump needs to be maintained regularly to ensure it remains in good condition. Test it regularly and call for sump pump repair if it doesn’t work correctly.
Your gutter system should also be cleaned at the beginning of the summer to remove the debris from the winter and spring seasons. Depending on the status of your plumbing system, you may need more drainage to ensure water doesn’t build up around your foundation.
Do you want to avoid costly plumbing problems and reduce your home’s water consumption? At Rush Plumbing Inc, our team of residential plumbers offers efficient plumbing maintenance services. When you schedule preventive maintenance, we’ll inspect and test every plumbing component and fixture in your home to ensure the entire system is running smoothly. If we detect a leak or find a fixture that needs replacing, we’ll provide the necessary solution immediately.
Our team also offers emergency plumbing, water heater repair, and fixture installation services. Call Rush Plumbing Inc today to create a customized plumbing maintenance plan!
