It’s just the middle of summer, and already the summer heat is causing most people to use more water in their homes than they normally would. An increase in water usage means higher water bills and more wear and tear on your plumbing appliances. In order for you to avoid having some jaw-dropping and wallet emptying water bills during the end of the year and holidays, it’s best for you to address the causes now.
Find Out What’s Going On
Do you know what factors are contributing to your high water bills? Are your children playing in the sprinklers, does your toilet run or maybe there’s a leak you haven’t found yet. No matter what the cause is, you need to learn about it so you can take measures to fix it and prevent it from happening again in the future. Keep in mind that if you have children who are on summer vacation, your toilet is getting a lot more action than it normally does. Instead of receiving a few flushes per day, it is being flushed more often.
Frequent use can cause the parts of your toilet to become worn out earlier on. You’ll encounter issues with your plumbing appliances that require a professional’s touch. If your toilet runs or sounds funny, don’t wait until the problem is big that you can no longer ignore it. Have it inspected, that way you’ll have fewer inconveniences and repair costs.
Don’t Wash Smaller Loads
You may feel tempted to wash smaller loads of dishes and laundry to minimize the amount of clutter in your home. However, washing smaller loads means higher water bills. It also decreases your plumbing appliances efficiency. To avoid having to contact an appliance repair man or shop for a new replacement washing machine or dishwasher, wash full loads and follow all of your manufacturer recommendations for your plumbing appliances. Also, you should do your washing in the evenings and early morning when it is hot out to keep your plumbing appliances from generating more heat. The extra heat will cause your air conditioner to work harder to cool your home.
Don’t Abuse the Garbage Disposal
You may spend more time in the kitchen preparing meals for your kids and backyard parties. This means you’ll also be throwing more things into the ink than usual. If you have a garbage disposal, you need to be careful about what you put in it. The wrong foods, trash, and other items can cause your garbage disposal to malfunction and burn out its motor. To avoid garbage disposal repairs, don’t toss fibrous foods, trash, plastic, grease and other nongarbage disposal safe items in your kitchen sink.
The more you use the water in your home, the more stress you place upon the plumbing system. This can cause issues with portions of it that you may not have known were slowly breaking down. Keep an eye out for leaks, slow drains, and blockages. You should also watch out for standing water. If you notice any of those things, find out what went wrong right away. You may be able to resolve the issues with some DIY plumbing work if you catch them soon enough.
Even if you can resolve your plumbing problems with a little elbow grease, don’t forget to have your plumbing appliances and system inspected to ensure that everything is working as well as it should be. Take care to protect your plumbing appliances, so they will perform well long after the season has passed. For more plumbing advice, an estimate or to schedule repairs, contact us at Steve Mull Plumbing.
