6 Summer Plumbing Tips for Toronto Homeowners

Summertime is almost here, as the weather is getting warmer, and the sun is shining for longer. With the better weather approaching, we tend to spend more time outside, sometimes with large groups of friends, enjoying swimming pools and BBQs.

This increase in activity can put a bit more pressure on your plumbing. It might seem odd because winter is typically seen as the harshest time for plumbing due to severe cold and freezing.

Nevertheless, in the warmer months, your plumbing will take on new challenges, so here is a list of tips for homeowners.

1. Check for leaks

Any increase in water usage can stress the pipes and faucets in your plumbing system. This consistent turning on and off multiple times a day can weaken the joints. Thus, check for leaks to see if something is wearing out faster than normal. Finding a leak is far better than doing nothing and getting an excessively high utility bill.

These leaks can happen anywhere, so checking around the sink may not be enough. While you don’t need to do it daily, if there has been a higher-than-normal use of water in a day, then examine all areas, including the basement, a few days later. Sometimes, a leak can take a while to present itself.

2. Worn-out taps

Constant use can cause wear and tear on the mechanism inside taps or faucets. Things like washers that help the tap turn and prevent leaks can wear down and may need replacing, but this usually takes a long time.

In the summer, when the heat rises, this can take more of a toll than regular use. While internal taps might not get damaged as quickly, especially in homes with air conditioning, outside taps for use in the garden can certainly succumb to this issue.

If your taps are new, then this won’t be much of a concern. However, for older homes that may not have had their faucets and other plumbing areas updated, you should check for leaks around the taps whenever they are used.

3. Sump pump

The sump pump is located in the basement and is a small device that commonly goes unnoticed until it fails.

During heavy rainfall, the sump pump in your basement works to keep the water that builds up in the ground away from your home. It pumps the excess water out and back into the drain system.

Spring and summer can see a lot of storms and rainfall due to the warmer weather lasting for longer periods of time. This leads to the ground being oversaturated with water, which then needs to go somewhere.

Once the rain has passed and the ground has had a day or two to dry, a quick check on this hard-working pump will help you keep it in good working condition.

4. Clogs: A year-round issue

Unfortunately, your home is not free from the dreaded clog in the summertime. Clogs can happen anytime and anywhere in the home. They are more likely to occur when you have had or are in the middle of having a large gathering of people.

A higher volume of people puts additional stress on pipes and flushing systems, and depending on what is being flushed, clogs can happen quickly.

For outside drains, it’s typically a buildup of garden debris, such as fallen leaves, twigs, food remnants, and toys that end up stuck and causing a blockage. Regular drain maintenance, especially in high-traffic times, will help to prevent clogs from happening or lessen their effect when they do.

5. A non-functioning sprinkler

The warmer weather can bring devastating heat to plants and grass. Thus, properly working sprinklers are a necessity. However, there are a lot of things that can prevent sprinklers from working properly, such as low water pressure, faulty attachments, and more.

Before the first use of the year, check the garden hose and the sprinkler attachment; these can degrade over the winter due to cold, ice, and pests. So, you want to make sure that such items are in good condition first. If there is still an issue with the sprinkler, you should investigate the water coming from the home to the outside.

Frozen pipes could have burst in the springtime and reduced the water pressure, or there may be a fault with the faucet. Your local plumber in Toronto can investigate and find out the source of the non-functioning sprinkler and advise on how to resolve the issue with minimal disruption to your summer.

6. Increased water temperature

An increase in water temperature is not usually a common issue inside the home, but more so outside. If the garden hose has been left out and exposed to the heat from the sun for too long, it can rapidly heat up the water flowing inside.

Make sure that any hoses are correctly stored when not in use to prevent this problem from occurring. Inside the home, you may want to turn down the temperature on your water heater. This will save money, as well as ensure a safer and more comfortable water temperature.

Contact Brothers Plumbing for an Expert Plumber in Toronto

At Brothers Plumbing, our plumbers are all certified, insured, and fully trained, and we are here for you 24/7.

Our services include everything from maintenance and prevention to cleaning and emergency plumbing. We provide expert repairs and services at affordable prices, quickly, and on time.

To reach out to a professional plumber in Toronto, call Brothers Plumbing at 647-247-2230 or contact us online.