Is Your Plumbing Summer-Ready? Here’s What to Upgrade First

Summer brings more than just heat. It brings heavier plumbing use that can catch you completely off guard. Whether it’s kids home from school taking multiple showers a day, backyard BBQs with guests using your bathroom constantly, or just increased laundry and dishwashing, your system is suddenly working overtime.

If you haven’t checked your pipes, fixtures, or outdoor spigots recently, you could be headed for a mid-summer breakdown that ruins your plans and costs a fortune to fix. That’s why trusted local pros like Maplewood Plumbing & Sewer recommend tackling a few simple upgrades now, before problems arise.

These updates not only prevent costly emergencies but also help conserve water and improve comfort when you need reliable plumbing most. Let’s look at which upgrades make the biggest difference as temperatures rise.

Those dripping outdoor faucets might seem like minor annoyances, but they’re actually wasting gallons of water every day and can lead to serious foundation issues you won’t notice until it’s too late. When you’re trying to keep your lawn green or fill up the kids’ pool, the last thing you want is a spigot that barely works or sprays water everywhere except where you need it.

Installing frost-proof or upgraded hose bibs with backflow prevention gives you reliable water flow for all your summer watering needs. Plus, you’ll have confidence that your outdoor water connections won’t fail when you’re hosting that big barbecue or trying to water your garden during a dry spell.

If you’re still dragging hoses around your yard or trying to remember to turn sprinklers on and off, you’re making summer lawn care way harder than it needs to be. Smart sprinkler controllers take the guesswork out of watering by automatically adjusting to weather conditions and soil moisture levels.

Benefits of smart irrigation systems:

These systems are especially valuable if you travel during summer or have a busy schedule that makes it hard to keep up with manual watering routines.

With more people home during summer and guests visiting frequently, your bathrooms get a serious workout. High-efficiency toilets and low-flow showerheads reduce water usage without sacrificing the performance you need when your house is full of people.

Modern low-flow fixtures have come a long way from the weak, unsatisfying models from years past. Today’s versions provide excellent pressure and functionality while using significantly less water, which means lower utility bills even when usage goes up.

Nothing ruins a summer morning like stepping into a lukewarm shower, especially when you’ve got a full day of outdoor activities planned. Sediment buildup in your water heater reduces efficiency and can shorten its lifespan significantly.

Flushing your water heater before peak summer usage helps maintain steady pressure and ensures you have plenty of hot water for multiple showers, dishwashing after big meals, and whatever else summer throws at you. It’s one of those maintenance tasks that’s easy to forget but makes a huge difference in performance.

Summer storms can be intense and unpredictable, and basement or garage floor drains that seem fine during dry weather can quickly become major problems when heavy rain hits. These drains often get clogged with debris, leaves, or just general buildup over time.

Make sure they’re completely clear and test them with a bucket of water to ensure proper drainage. It’s much easier to clear a drain on a sunny afternoon than to deal with basement flooding during a storm.

With kids home from school and more outdoor activities, summer laundry loads increase dramatically. Those old rubber washing machine hoses become a serious flood risk when they’re working harder and under more pressure from frequent use.

Replacing them with braided stainless steel versions is like buying insurance against a disaster that could flood your laundry room and cause thousands of dollars in damage. It’s a small investment that prevents a potentially massive headache.

Summer activities mean everyone’s drinking more water, you’re cooking more meals for family and friends, and kids are constantly asking for ice-cold drinks. A whole-home filtration system ensures that all the water coming into your house tastes great and is free from chlorine, sediment, and other contaminants.

Instead of buying endless bottles of water or dealing with pitcher filters that never seem big enough, you get clean, great-tasting water right from every tap in your house.

Trees and shrubs love warm weather, and unfortunately, they also love the moisture and nutrients they can find in your sewer lines. If you’ve noticed slow drains, gurgling sounds, or occasional backups, tree roots might be infiltrating your pipes.

A professional camera inspection now could save you thousands of dollars later by catching root problems before they cause complete blockages or pipe damage. Summer is actually the perfect time for this kind of preventive maintenance.

Heavy summer thunderstorms can overwhelm even a good sump pump, and power outages during storms are pretty common. A battery backup system keeps your sump pump running even when the electricity goes out, which is absolutely essential if you have a finished basement or store important items below ground level.

Summer humidity and temperature swings can cause exposed pipes in crawlspaces, basements, or outdoor areas to sweat, leak, or work less efficiently. Proper insulation prevents condensation problems and helps your plumbing system work more efficiently during extreme temperatures.

A little preparation goes a long way when it comes to summer plumbing challenges. With simple upgrades like inspecting drains, installing smart watering systems, or replacing outdated fixtures, you can avoid mid-season breakdowns and actually enjoy your summer instead of worrying about the next plumbing disaster.

If you’re not sure where to start or which upgrades would make the biggest difference for your specific situation, reaching out to experienced professionals like Maplewood Plumbing & Sewer can help you prioritize the improvements that matter most. Don’t wait until you’re dealing with midsummer stress and emergency repair bills. Get your plumbing in top shape now so you can focus on the fun stuff.

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