What Common Plumbing Issues Might You Encounter This Summer?

Have you ever noticed that certain things always seem to go wrong with your plumbing in the summer? It's not your imagination. Summertime is when a number of common plumbing issues are most likely to occur. Here are a few common plumbing issues you might encounter and how you can prevent them.

Clogs

Since your kids are home from school during the day, your toilets will likely get flushed more often. More flushes means more chances for clogs. Most of these can be fixed with a plunger, but avoiding using too much toilet paper or flushing foreign objects to begin with will help reduce the risk of clogs in general.

Your disposal may become clogged, too, due to food prep for picnics, barbecues, pool parties, and other events. Things like watermelons, corn, cherries, and peaches are all great summer foods, but the rinds, cobs, and pits are bad for the disposal and will damage it. Instead of pouring these hard food scraps down the sink, try starting a compost pile.

You may notice your shower draining slowly, particularly after a day at the beach. After coming home covered in sand and dirt, the debris gets rinsed off and goes down the drain. If this happens, don't pour chemical drain cleaner down the shower drain. Instead, get a snake or call a plumber. To prevent this in the first place, be sure to rinse off thoroughly before coming home.

Other Common Plumbing Issues

Your laundry loads are also likely to be bigger in the summer months. Too much stress on your washing machine can make the hose spring a leak. To keep from overworking your machine, avoid putting too many clothes in a single load. Also, pull the washing machine a few inches from the wall to prevent kinks in the hose.

Finally, pay attention to your sprinklers, as they see more use in hotter weather. Call your plumber to inspect the sprinkler heads, give them a cleaning, and make sure they're leak-free and in good condition.

For help dealing with common plumbing issues this summer and throughout the year, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality home-comfort solutions to Broken Arrow.

Know What Causes a Toilet to Overflow in Your Home

Toilets rarely act up, but when they do, they can cause plenty of headaches. A toilet overflowing is one of the toilet problems that can turn into a huge plumbing disaster. Knowing what causes a toilet to overflow helps you prevent it and makes it easier for you or a professional to fix it. So what causes a toilet to overflow? Here are the possible reasons.

Clogged Pipes

A clog in the toilet or nearby pipes will prevent water from draining when you flush the toilet. When water can't leave your home due to a clog, it will overflow from the bowl. The use of excessive toilet paper is the most common cause of such clogs. You can fix simple clogs with a plunger. Call in a professional if you're unable to remove a clog.

Blocked Vent Pipe

If your toilet clogs up frequently, a blocked vent pipe may be the culprit. A plumbing vent allows external air into your plumbing system to replace the air pumped down the drain with every flush. When debris causes a clog in the vent pipe, your toilet won't flush properly and may overflow. You may also notice bad smells or bubbling sounds after flushing the toilet. Fixing this issue usually requires the expertise of a plumber.

Improperly Adjusted Float

A filler float that's too high will cause water to overflow from the toilet tank. You can adjust the mechanism in the tank to control the float's level, solving this problem.

Sewer Issues

If you shut off the main water supply and your toilet continues overflowing, you have a clogged sewer line, and that could be what causes a toilet to overflow. You'll need to call a plumber immediately. If you use a septic tank, you'll need to have a plumber flush out the system.

Now that you have a good idea of what causes a toilet to overflow, make sure you always call a plumbing professional in case of a complicated clog or a recurring overflow. For any plumbing problems in the Broken Arrow area, contact the certified and experienced plumbers at Air Assurance.

Shopping for a New Toilet? Use Our Tips

Head down to your local home improvement store and you'll find loads of different toilets to choose from. The question is: Which is best for you and your family? It can be a tough choice, so allow us to give you a few quick tips to help you decide:

Save Water with Dual-Flush

We all know that not every use of a toilet is the same. That's why dual-flush models are perfect for those who want to save water by providing separate handles — a full flush for solids and a half-flush for liquids.

Save Money with Low-Flow

Although some homeowners have avoided low-flow in the past because of the need for multiple flushes from time to time, newer models aren't plagued by this problem. Pick up a low-flow model and your water usage bills will drop.

Consider a Taller Model

Toilets may not be constructed to the most comfortable seats in the world, but taller models provide an extra amount of comfort to their users. This is especially true for tall men and women, in addition to the elderly, who may have trouble getting up and down from a traditional model.

Check the Reviews

Selecting the right toilet for your home shouldn't be taken lightly. To ensure that you make the best purchase possible, it's important to check out reviews. This isn't a choice you'll make through a site like Yelp. Instead, head over to Consumer Reports for the low-down on the low-flow (and others, of course).

Defy Gravity

Were you aware that certain toilets can be attached to your wall instead of sitting on the floor? These models are extremely sturdy and are amazingly simple to clean, because they lack all the nooks and crannies found in many traditional models. Just be aware that, as you might expect, a wall-hung toilet will be more expensive.

If you're looking for a new toilet, these tips will serve as a great starting point. For even more information, feel free to reach out to the professionals at Air Assurance. We currently service the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about toilets and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Name/Shutterstock”