5 Common Summer Plumbing Problems for West Virginia Homeowners

Summer is coming, which means it’s almost time for swimming, barbecues, and spending time outside enjoying the warm weather. Your plumbing is one of the most heavily relied-on systems in your home. With daily use, it’s bound to experience issues from time to time, and summer increases the risk of specific plumbing problems.

Here, Al Marino explains the five most common plumbing issues West Virginia homeowners face during summer, and what you can do to prevent problems in your home.

Summer Plumbing Problems in West Virginia

There’s an increased risk of plumbing problems in the summer due to increased water usage, outdoor plumbing strain, and issues caused by heat or storms.

Here are the five common plumbing issues you might face:

Clogged Drains & Toilets

Summer is full of fun outdoor activities. When you need to get clean after all that fun, debris like sand, dirt, mud, and even pebbles can get washed down your shower drain. Rinsing off with a hose or public shower can help, but soap, toothpaste, hair, and other objects can also cause clogs in your drain lines.

Families are also often at home more in the summer, especially if you have children, which means your toilets are seeing more use. Toilet clogs can be caused by too much toilet paper or non-flushable objects like wipes, feminine hygiene products, and foreign objects.

Prevent clogs by being mindful of what you flush or put down your drains. If you have a clog, a plumber can provide professional drain cleaning and hydro jetting services to clear your drain lines.

Garbage Disposals

Summer is great for barbecues, cookouts, and dining outdoors, but these activities can result in food scraps you may put through your garbage disposal. Certain items shouldn’t go in your garbage disposal, including bones, corn, melon rings, fruit stones, and oil or grease from cooking.

Leaving cold tap water running for 10 seconds before and after using the disposal can help prevent issues. Otherwise, you may need a plumber to address any problems with your garbage disposal.

Low Water Pressure

A faucet aerator mixes air with the water stream to remove debris and particles from your water, reduce splashing, conserve water, and increase water pressure. Calcium deposits can build up over time in your faucet aerator, reducing your water pressure.

Cleaning your faucet aerator can help fix a blockage, but if this doesn’t work, you may be dealing with hidden water leaks, clogged sewer lines, or pipe corrosion, all of which require help from a professional.

Water Heater Issues

People often shower more in the summer because of the heat and outdoor activities. This increase in hot water usage can lead to issues with your water heater. Water heater problems can be caused by pilot light issues, a malfunctioning thermostat, and sediment buildup in the tank.

Call an expert immediately if your water heater is having trouble keeping up with your household’s hot water needs.

Sewer Line Backups

Summers in West Virginia often include thunderstorms and heavy rains. When water soaks into the ground after heavy rainfall, it can cause tiny bits of dirt and debris to slip through small cracks in your pipes, which can lead to blockages in your sewer lines. Tree roots can also get tangled in your sewage system and create bigger cracks.

Signs of a sewer line backup include foul odors coming from your drains or wastewater backing up in your toilets, baths, or showers. Our team can provide sewer line repairs for traditional and trenchless sewer lines and sewage ejector pumps.

Schedule a Service With the Top Plumbers in Charleston

Al Marino is here to provide superior plumbing solutions in Charleston and surrounding areas. We offer upfront pricing, same-day appointments, emergency services, highly trained and experienced professionals, and over 70 years of experience. Whenever you need a plumber in Charleston, call the Al.

Schedule plumbing services in Charleston, WV, or nearby by contacting Al Marino today.