Common Summer Plumbing Problems and How to Fix Them
Summer is a time for pool days, cookouts, road trips—and sometimes, surprise plumbing issues. Yep, your plumbing system can get a little stressed out during the hotter months, especially when your home sees more activity and your yard gets more water than usual. Don’t worry, though. You don’t need to be a plumbing pro to stay ahead of these issues. Here are some of the most common summer plumbing problems, why they happen, and a few tips on how to fix (or prevent) them. 1. Clogged Garbage Disposal Why it happens: Summer meals often include foods that garbage disposals hate: corn husks, melon rinds, greasy BBQ leftovers—you name it. Add in more frequent cooking and guests, and it’s no surprise your disposal can get overwhelmed. How to fix it: First, turn off the disposal and unplug it if possible. Use tongs or pliers (never your hands!) to remove visible blockages. Try a reset using the little button on the bottom of the unit. Still stuck? A professional can safely disassemble and clear it out. Pro tip: Run cold water before and after using the disposal, and avoid putting stringy or fibrous foods down the drain. 2. Backed-Up Sewer Lines Why it happens: Heavy summer rains can overwhelm sewer systems, especially if tree roots have worked their way into the pipes. A sewage backup is every homeowner’s nightmare—and it smells as bad as it sounds. How to fix it: If multiple drains are slow or you smell sewage, stop using water and call a plumber ASAP. Avoid using chemical drain cleaners—they often make things worse. Prevention tip: Schedule a sewer line inspection every few years, especially if you have large trees or an older home. 3. Sprinkler System Leaks Why it happens: Sprinkler heads are easy targets for lawnmowers, kids, pets, or even just regular wear and tear. A broken head or underground leak can waste a ton of water (and money). How to fix it: Look for soggy spots or unusually high water bills. Check sprinkler heads for visible damage and replace them if needed. If you suspect an underground leak, call in a pro—digging blind can do more harm than good. 4. Washing Machine Trouble Why it happens: More outdoor activities = more laundry. Whether it’s beach towels or muddy sports gear, your washer works overtime in the summer. That extra load can lead to clogs, leaks, or even floods. How to fix it: Inspect hoses for bulges or cracks, and make sure connections are tight. Don’t overload the machine. If you’re doing multiple loads a day, give it a break in between. Upgrade tip: Consider switching to braided stainless steel hoses—they’re much more durable than rubber ones. 5. Outdoor Faucet or Hose Bib Leaks Why it happens: Freezing temps in winter can crack pipes or hose bibs, but you might not notice until summer when you finally turn them back on. That small drip could be wasting gallons of water a day. How to fix it: Check for dripping even when the hose is off. Tighten the connection, and if that doesn’t work, the washer or the entire bib might need replacing. If there’s water pooling near your foundation, shut it off and call for help—leaks near the house can lead to serious damage. Contact Steve’s Plumbing for Help With Plumbing Problems in Lynnwood, WA and the Surrounding Areas A little maintenence truly goes a long way. Summer plumbing problems are super common, but most can be avoided with a little extra care. Keep an eye (and ear) out for leaks, odd sounds, or changes in water pressure. And when in doubt—don’t DIY it. It’s always better to call a professional than to turn a small issue into a big (and expensive) one. Need help with a plumbing issue this summer? We’re just a phone call away and ready to help you keep things running smoothly—so you can get back to enjoying your summer.
What Not To Put In The Garbage Disposal
Though it seems like a humble and unassuming appliance, the garbage disposal has been a time-saver for renters and homeowners in Snohomish County and King County for years. It makes food waste disposal easy and sanitary, and it also keeps a lot of trash out of landfills. Due to their solid and simple construction, garbage disposals are meant to last for years—but they can still have problems no matter how well they’re maintained. Here, tenants and homeowners will learn what not to put in the garbage disposal. Paint This is a common mistake among the area’s do-it-yourselfers. Oil and latex paints should not be poured into household and commercial drains. Paint may cling to the sides of pipes and the disposal itself, curing, hardening, and creating a clog that’s nearly impossible to remove even with garbage disposal repair. While it’s safe to dispose of a small amount of diluted paint, brushes and rollers should be cleaned carefully and larger quantities of paint should be discarded properly. Coffee Grounds It’s a common home remedy for foul-smelling drains but pouring coffee grounds into the garbage disposal will cause more problems than it can ever solve. Though it may provide a short-term reduction in odor, it has long-term effects. When coffee grounds get wet, they turn into a thick, dense paste, which is something you don’t want to go down the drain or in the disposal. Corn Husks Shucking corn makes for a lot of waste, most of which should go into the trash or compost bin instead of the garbage disposal. Corn’s fine silk and thick, fibrous husks are quite damaging to these appliances. Whether you’re growing corn in Snohomish County or buying it in a Kings County grocery store, husk it into a bag and dispose of it properly. Pasta Anyone who has ever cooked macaroni or spaghetti knows that dry pasta expands when it’s moistened. With that fact in mind, it’s easy to see why putting it down the garbage disposal isn’t a good idea. A few scraps here and there won’t cause any ill effects, but substantial amounts should be composted or disposed of in the trash. When using the disposal to get rid of pasta, run cold water for a few seconds afterward to ensure that everything is flushed out of the pipe and into the main sewer line. Beef and Chicken Bones: A Common Reason for Garbage Disposal Repair Although garbage disposals do a great job of eliminating food waste, that doesn’t mean they can be used like a bench grinder. They’re just not made to handle hard items like bones. There’s no need to panic if the occasional fish bone gets in there, but don’t try to grind up anything bigger. Oats Like pasta, oats will expand when they’re wet. Uncooked oats are particularly risky, as they typically slip through the first part of the system only to create a clog further down the line. Avoid the hassle and expense of an oatmeal-related plumbing clog by putting leftover oats into the trash. Onion Skins Most garbage disposals can safely handle diced, chunky, or chopped onions. The papery skin and inner membrane, however, can create real problems. These layers are so thin that they can be washed down the drain unnoticed, but they can get caught in the line and trap other debris. Minimize the issue by putting onion skins and membranes in the trash. Nuts If you’re ever tempted to dispose of nuts in this manner, think twice. Peanut butter is made in a grinder—and that’s just what a garbage disposal is. Keep that thick and sticky paste out of your sewer lines and reduce the need for repairs by limiting the number of nuts that find their way in. Eggshells While many have heard that eggshells sharpen a disposal’s blades, that’s not the case. Garbage disposals don’t use blades like those found in a blender; instead, they use impellers to push waste against a grinding ring. Because disposals have no blades, eggshells won’t work in this way. The thin membranes under the shells, however, may get caught in the impeller and wear away at the motor. Avoid the expense and hassle of garbage disposal repair by putting eggshells in the compost bin or the trash can. Count on the Pros for Fast, Reliable Garbage Disposal Repair While garbage disposals do much to make our lives easier, they can create big problems when the wrong things are dumped in. If, for any reason, your disposal stops working, we’re here to help. Visit Steve’s Plumbing LLC online or call today to schedule an appointment.