{"id":112,"date":"2020-05-29T18:30:02","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T18:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/blog\/?p=112"},"modified":"2020-05-29T18:30:04","modified_gmt":"2020-05-29T18:30:04","slug":"summer-plumbing-preparation-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/29\/summer-plumbing-preparation-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Plumbing Preparation Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Warmer weather and longer days are finally upon us here in Minnesota.\nAs we make the official transition to summer, it\u2019s important to make sure our\nplumbing is as ready for the season as we are. Use these summer plumbing\npreparation tips to help protect your home from major problems down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><br><strong>Summer Plumbing Preparation Checklist<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Test outdoor faucets and hose bibs (spigots)<\/strong>. If any of them drip or you notice leakage inside the home the first time the hose is turned on, there may be a pipe that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/24\/preventing-frozen-pipes-during-winter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">froze in the winter<\/a>, cracked when it thawed, and needs to be replaced.<\/li><li><strong>Clear debris from yard drains and gutters\/downspouts. <\/strong>Pine needles, leaves, and other debris can build up in these systems over the long Minnesota winters. Be sure rain and wastewater can flow freely away from the house to prevent leaks and backups that can cause <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/plumbing-services\/water-damage-restoration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">water damage<\/a>.<\/li><li><strong>Remove obstructions from sprinkler system.<\/strong> Clogged sprinkler heads can lead to increased water pressure and potentially burst the system\u2019s water main. Clear any blockages now, and remember to check for dirt, grass clippings, and other obstructions throughout the season.<\/li><li><strong>Make sure your <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/plumbing-services\/sump-pumps-battery-backups\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>sump pump<\/strong><\/a><strong> is clean and working properly.<\/strong> Dump a bucket of water into the sump pit to see that it activates, safely removes the water, and shuts off without issue. Make sure the line is clear of debris and consult the owner\u2019s manual for cleaning. Contact your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/about\/service-area\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">local plumber<\/a> if you detect any issues to prevent potential flooding.<\/li><li><strong>Check toilets for damage and operation issues. <\/strong>Thoroughly inspect the bowl and tank for cracks\/leaks that need to be fixed. Make sure toilets flush properly \u2013 if the handle needs to be held down for a thorough flush or frequently runs after flushing, you may need to replace worn tank parts. Make these inexpensive fixes now to prevent costly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/plumbing-services\/faucets-toilets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">repairs or replacements<\/a> later on.<\/li><li><strong>Inspect faucets for drips or leaks. <\/strong>They may seem small, but the extra (and unnecessary) water use will add onto your bill. Identifying these simple repairs early on can also help prevent more expensive issues in the future.<\/li><li><strong>Check exposed and exterior water pipes.<\/strong> Piping located in basements, below sinks, outdoors, and in your exterior walls are more susceptible to freezing in the winter. Make sure they\u2019re free of cracks and leaks.<\/li><li><strong>Test your home\u2019s water pressure.<\/strong> Make note of the water pressure when you take showers or use a sink. If it\u2019s low, there could be a leak somewhere in your system that should be addressed by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">plumbing professional<\/a>.<\/li><li><strong>Schedule professional drain testing\/cleaning.<\/strong> Clogged drains can lead to backups and other major issues, so plan ahead. We recommend homeowners have their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/plumbing-services\/drain-cleaning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">drains tested and cleaned<\/a> every two years, or sooner should they notice a problem. <\/li><li><strong>Pour a gallon of water into infrequently used drains (including floor).<\/strong> This will fill the trap and prevent odors from entering the home, and also let you see if the drains are slow and need to be snaked or cleaned to ensure proper draining in the event of a flood.<\/li><li><strong>Check your water heater.<\/strong> Make sure the temperature is no higher than 120 degrees to reduce energy use and prevent scalding water. Drain several gallons of water to flush harmful, corrosive sediment from the unit. If you notice any signs of corrosion or leaks (i.e. puddles on the floor, rust or soot by the control panel) and\/or your unit is 15 years or older, consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/plumbing-services\/water-heaters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">replacing your water heater<\/a>.<\/li><li><strong>Turn the main water valve off and on.<\/strong> Left untouched, the valve can become difficult to turn over time. Simply close and reopen the valve to prevent its parts from sticking in place in case you ever need to shut off the supply.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While it\u2019s impossible to guarantee you will never face plumbing issues as a homeowner, being vigilant and understanding what to look for can greatly reduce the risks. Use these summer plumbing preparation tips to help keep your home safe while you and your family enjoy the season.  From inspections and installations to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/emergency-service\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">emergency repairs<\/a> and replacements, you can rely on the master plumbers at Robillard Plumbing for all your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/plumbing-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">plumbing service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">product<\/a> needs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/contact-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Contact us<\/a> to learn more. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Warmer weather and longer days are finally upon us here in Minnesota. As we make the official transition to summer, it\u2019s important to make sure our plumbing is as ready for the season as we are. Use these summer plumbing preparation tips to help protect your home from major problems down the road. Summer Plumbing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":114,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,3,6,11,10],"tags":[72,69,32,64,65,62,24,23,20,25,61,26,49,36,59,66,57,63,60,67,53,68,71,38,70],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v18.4.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Summer Plumbing Preparation Tips | Blog |Robillard Plumbing<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Warmer weather and longer days are finally upon us. Learn more about summer plumbing preparation to help protect your home from major issues down the road.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.robillardplumbing.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/29\/summer-plumbing-preparation-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Summer Plumbing Preparation Tips | Blog |Robillard Plumbing\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Warmer weather and longer days are finally upon us. 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