Plumbing Maintenance: How To Prepare Your Plumbing For Summer?

Summer is a time for fun in the sun – but it’s also a time to think about your plumbing! The increase of people in your home, such as your kids home for the summer and family members in from out of town, can put a strain on your plumbing system. You’ll likely be using a lot more water than normal accompanied by more toilet flushes and more time spent in the kitchen. Don’t let your plumbing rain on your summer parade. Make plumbing maintenance a priority this year. Here’s how to prepare your plumbing for summer!

1. Protect Your Drains

Planning on hosting BBQs and get-togethers this summer? Keep in mind that all that extra food you’ll be indulging in can put a lot of pressure on your drains if you’re not careful. Items such as fat, grease, oil, bones and other food scraps don’t belong down your drain. They can cause serious drain and pipe blockages if you’re not careful. It’s a good idea to ask guests to throw their plates away in the trash as opposed to your sink. It also helps to have a garbage can easily accessible so your guests don’t have to even enter your kitchen at all.

2. Check Your Sprinkler System

If you have a sprinkler system on your property, make sure to check for any leaks before the summer fun begins. This also goes for the portable sprinklers that you pull out for the kids to use on those especially hot afternoons, or to water your lawn and keep it from dying. The last thing you want to deal with is a sprinkler not working properly, or one that is leaking. Leaky sprinklers can not only cause high water bills, but it can also kill your grass – which no homeowner wants!

3.  Inspect Faucets and Pipes

You should inspect faucets – both inside and outside – each summer for any signs of leaks. Not only that, but take a look under the sink at your pipes to ensure there is no rust or corrosion. If you notice any leaks, or rusted or corroding pipes, then it’s a good idea to have them replaced quickly.

4. Check On Your Toilet

Your toilet is an important part of your home that you need working at all times – especially if you are hosting guests. Before the summer fun begins, you should check your toilet for any clogs or leaks. If it’s not working properly, or you notice any damage or broken seals, call in a plumber right away.

5. Clean Your Sump Pump

A sump pump is an essential part of your home to help prevent flooding, as it collects water from storms and pumps it away from your house. However, for it to do it’s job and to do it well, it needs to be regularly maintained. Overtime, dirt, sand, gravel, and other debris can clog it, which causes it not to work. If your area experiences intense summer storms, then you shouldn’t delay having yours cleaned. Cleaning it will help keep your sump pump working and functioning properly when you need it most.

6. Be Ready To Face Plumbing Issues Head On

The best way to prepare your plumbing is to be ready for when plumbing issues do arise. If you’re a homeowner, then chances are you’ll experience plumbing issues at some point. That’s why it’s important to have a plunger for toilet clogs if you don’t already have one. It’s also a good idea to have mesh filters and hair-catchers to avoid clogged drains. And last but not least, you should have a preferred plumber so you know who to call in the event of a plumbing emergency.

7. Keep Your Gutters Clean

Heavy rainfall and high winds might hit your area this summer. If your gutters are clogged with debris and water from over the winter already, then water can’t move away from your home in the event of even more rain. Instead, the water might makes its way into the walls of your house, which can lead to significant damage. Make sure your gutters are clean so you can enjoy summer worry-free.

8. Inspect Your Water Heater

Each time you use your water heater, it accumulates sediment deposits and debris, which can reduce the efficiency of your unit. Over the winter, you used your water heater a lot. That makes summer the perfect time to have it looked at so you can avoid any potential breakdowns. Even in the summer, stepping into an ice cold shower can be uncomfortable.

Contact Weeks Service Company Today For All Your Plumbing Needs In League City, TX and Surrounding Areas!

Since 1972, Weeks Service Company has been providing quality, professional plumbing services to people in League City, Houston, and the surrounding areas. If you’re ready schedule your plumbing replacement, installation, repair, maintenance, or service, give Weeks Service Company a call today. You can reach us at 281-738-1362 or contact us online here.

Top 6 Common Air Conditioning Problems You Should Know About

As a homeowner, it’s imperative that you know the common air conditioning problems so that you’re able to take preventative measures and avoid costly repairs and breakdowns. No one wants to be stuck inside with air conditioning during a summer here in League City, TX. Here are the top 6 common air conditioning problems you should know about.

1. Clogged Air Filters

Clogged air filters is one of the most common air conditioning problems homeowners face. Once a filter becomes clogged with dirt, debris, dust and other contaminants, it can also cause strain on your AC – forcing it to work harder to cool your home. Not only that, but it can also cause poor indoor air quality. That’s why it’s recommended that you change your air filter every 1-3 months.  It’s also a good idea to clean around your outdoor unit, as overtime, debris has probably accumulated. Removing dirt, debris, trees, and branches from your outdoor unit will help improve its overall airflow and prevent it from overheating.

2. Not Working

There’s nothing like turning on your AC for the first time to find it’s not working at all. That’s why it’s recommended you have your unit serviced before summer, to ensure you don’t find yourself in this hot, sweaty predicament. If you’ve checked your thermostat settings and you’ve also checked your circuit breaker but still can’t find the cause of the issue, then contact your local HVAC technician to diagnose the issue and offer solutions to fixing it.

3. Not Cooling

If your AC is blowing warm air or isn’t cooling properly, that can not only be unpleasant on those hot summer days, but it can also be concerning. There are a number of potential causes here. It could be a dirty air filter, low refrigerant level, or a blocked condensate drain. If your unit is not cooling, contact your local HVAC technician to diagnose the problem for you so you can get back to comfort as soon as possible.

4. Low On Refrigerant

Air conditioner’s that aren’t cooling properly may be low on refrigerant. Usually when you’re low on refrigerant it means that it was undercharged at installation or it has leaks. Refrigerant removes heat and humidity from the air, so any leaks or issues with your refrigerant can decrease the efficiency of your AC. As a result, you may find your home not cooling as well as usual. You should have a professional HVAC technician fix the leak and charge your unit with the correct amount of refrigerant. It’s something you’ll want to address quickly, as refrigerant leaks can be harmful to the environment.

5. Lack of Maintenance

In order to keep your air conditioner working at peak efficiency, annual maintenance is a must. There are several other benefits of receiving maintenance, including:

• Reduced costs
• Fewer system breakdowns
• Healthier air
• Improved safety
• Longer lifespan
• And More!

If you don’t properly care for your AC unit, you may find it runs into problems more often than it would if the unit was well-maintained by a professional.

6. Thermostat Issues

When your thermostat is malfunctioning, or isn’t correctly calibrated, then you’ll have problems switching to your AC unit. A thermostat that has repair issues will usually lose its connection to the AC. While it’s not your AC itself that needs fixing, in order for your AC to work properly, you’ll need a functioning thermostat. First, check your thermostats batteries to ensure they’re not dead. If that’s not the problem, then make sure the settings are set to cooling mode. If all else fails, then it’s likely you need a thermostat repair or replacement before you can start using your AC unit.

Contact Weeks Service Company Today For All Your Air Conditioning Needs In League City, TX and Surrounding Areas!

Since 1972, Weeks Service Company has been providing quality, professional air conditioning services to people in League City, Houston, and the surrounding areas. If you’re ready schedule your AC replacement, installation, repair, maintenance, or service, give Weeks Service Company a call today. You can reach us at 281-738-1362 or contact us online here.