Summer is a time for sun, surfing, and kicking back with family and friends, not worrying about house maintenance or cursing those summer thunderstorms as they find troublesome leaks in your roof. In order to do so, make sure that your summer checklist or plumbing maintenance tasks are up to date before your pipes are put to the test.
Periods of heavy rain and the increased water usage that comes with hot weather both place extra strain on your plumbing infrastructure, from your outdoors pipes to your drainage system, to taking more showers and putting more loads of clothes in the washing machine.
With this in mind, let’s delve into the importance of summer plumbing maintenance in Australia with this handy maintenance checklist.
Why is it Important to Prepare your Plumbing System for Summer?
Summer in Australia is packed full of wild weather, and the cycle of thunderstorms and heavy rain can and often will find cracks, damage, or other issues with your plumbing if you’re not prepared. The interspersing periods of clear, hot weather can dry out the house and yard, providing you with an opportunity to make any fixes before the next round of rain comes.
What is Australian Weather Like During Summer?
Australia is a large country with a diverse array of weather conditions but one thing we all have in common is that summer can bring extreme and unpredictable weather, which can affect your plumbing in a variety of ways.
In the tropics, like North Queensland and the NT, this can manifest as monsoonal rain and severe tropical thunderstorms, though torrential rain is not exclusive to this area and the effects of an overabundance of rainfall can be felt along almost every coastline.
Those in Tasmania, regional Victoria and South Australia may have felt the effects of frost in the winter, which could have caused burst pipes or possible leaks that remain undetected until summer rain comes.
How to Prepare Your Plumbing for Summer
Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to summer-proof your home plumbing systems to make sure that the holiday period doesn’t give you any unexpected plumbing surprises.
Check for Water Leaks and Drips
Changes in temperature and extreme weather can affect the structural integrity of taps, hoses, pipes, and sprinklers. Be safe, and check for water wastage and possible gas leaks by examining the entire length of your hoses and pipes (especially those outdoors).
Water leaks should be easy to identify as there will be dampness along the hose or pipe but to make sure, treat a water hose the same way you would a gas pipe, like the one in your barbecue. To find a gas leak, a common method is to conduct a soap test by submerging or covering sections of the pipe or hose with soapy water. If there is a gas leak, you will see bubbles coming from any hole or tear.
The same can be done with leaking water. If you see new bubbles arise or the subs are quickly washed away or moved, you may have a water leak on your hands. Use the same soap test on places where the pipe or hose connects to a tap or fitting to confirm that there are no loose connections. Fixing leaks saves on your water bill and prevents outside damage, such as water pooling in your yard.
Inspect Outdoor Plumbing
Perform a complete inspection of all garden hoses, lawn sprinklers, and outdoor taps around your house. It is likely, during the colder months, that these outdoor fixtures saw little if any use, so now is the time to make sure they are still fit for purpose, for both watering the garden and fun outdoor activities with the kids.
If you have sprinkler systems installed, now is also the perfect time to inspect your sprinkler heads for signs of damage and complete a test run of watering to ensure no subterranean damage. A flooded backyard will be the most prominent sign, so leave the tap on for 20 minutes, then complete a walk (barefoot is best) over where your sprinkler system is buried to check for signs of water.
Protect Against Clogs
Clogs and blockages can occur all year round, but with the increased use of water and the extra pressure put on plumbing during the summer months, a minor problem in winter can become a slew of expensive repairs over the holiday period.
Additionally, there is an increase in debris during the summer, as stormy winds tear leaves and branches off trees and send them scattering over rooftops. To prevent falling leaves from clogging drainpipes, cover your gutters with mesh strainers and conduct regular and thorough drain cleaning.
Maintain Your Hot Water System
Even if you typically only enjoy cool showers in summer, odds are you’re still using more hot water than you do at other times of the year, so before the summer heat arrives, take the opportunity to conduct some routine maintenance on your hot water system.
Save energy by making temperature adjustments and cooling the maximum heating temperature. Make sure your tank is clear of sediment by flushing the water and call in a licensed plumber to give the entire hot water system a complete and thorough plumbing inspection.
Prepare for Summer Water Conservation
In some areas, summer might be less a time for rainfall and more a time for water restrictions. While the warmer weather may make you want to use more water, it can be easy to feel guilt when you reach for the outdoor tap, go to wash your car, or even water your garden.
However, water restrictions can be respected without sacrificing too much by fitting water-efficient appliances to your taps and hoses. A water-efficient shower head or garden nozzle allows you to still take regular showers and keep the car clean while using as little water as possible. Fixing leaks or dripping taps is another way, so make sure to regularly check your plumbing throughout the year to be on top of any damage before it can wreak havoc on your usage.
Of course, by using less water, you’re also saving money on your utility bills – a win-win!
Get Ready to Enjoy Summer Stress-Free
If you’re ready for a stress-free summer, take action in the spring and make maintenance of your home’s plumbing system frequent. The time spent now will repay you exponentially, not just from a safety risk perspective, but from the costly repairs associated with plumbing problems that are ignored until it is too late.
However, all too often it’s the damage that we can’t see that catches us by surprise. Leaves and sticks in our downpipes, food scraps down our kitchen drains, and the wear and tear inside our walls and under our floors. Make it part of your summer plumbing plan to have a professional plumber complete a thorough inspection of your pipes.
If you’re in Sydney, The Relining Company is waiting for your call. With modern CCTV technology, we offer no dig inspections, so we can catch clogs or damaged and leaking pipes before they have a chance to create a real headache. Get in touch with our friendly team today to find out how we can help you prepare for the warmer weather!
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