Summer in Utah is a special time. School is out of session, the weather is warm, and people spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Because everyone wants to beat the heat, summer is the time of year people often experience their highest water bills. Studies have shown families increase their water usage by 25 to 50 percent during the summer! Also, with kids out of school, summer gatherings, and BBQs, there’s often an increase of people in your home which can be hard on your plumbing. Here are some summer plumbing tips to keep your plumbing from overworking and will help save you money!
Check sprinkler head for leaks
A leaky sprinkler head can be hard to identify because it could be leaking underground where you can’t see it! This not only wastes water but could end up killing your grass. Be sure to open your sprinkler system slowly at the beginning of summer and watch each zone individually so you can look for any problems.
Keep normal water pressure
With all the additional water usage in the summer, it’s important to make sure your water pressure is normal. It is easy to check your water pressure with a gauge you can buy at most home-improvement stores. Just attach the gauge at an outdoor spigot! A normal water pressure reading is around 40 to 45 pounds per square inch (psi) but should never be more than 60 psi. See our blog post for improving your water pressure or give us a call if you need help adjusting your home’s water pressure.
Don’t put everything down the disposal
A great part of summer is more fresh fruits and vegetables, but these aren’t great items to put down your garbage disposal! Try to avoid putting stringy foods such as celery, corn husks, and banana peels down the disposal as they can wind up around the drain easily and cause clogs. It’s also a good idea to avoid putting melon rinds, chicken skin, or greasy foods down the disposal. If you are looking for more tips, check out our blog on how to clean your garbage disposal.
Keep a garbage can in the bathroom
While this may seem like a strange plumbing tip, keeping a garbage can close to the toilet can help avoid unwanted clogs in the summer. Whether it’s your own kids, or guests in your home, people tend to throw anything from feminine hygiene products, q-tips, or paper towels down the toilet when a garbage can is not made accessible. Save yourself the time and money of having to unclog the toilet, keep a garbage can in the bathroom!
If you need extra help or encounter another plumbing problem this summer, don’t hesitate to give Aloha Plumbing, Sewers and Drains a call! Our team of plumbing experts will have things running smoothly at your home in no time.
Contact us or give a call at 801.874.0094 to schedule your appointment today!