Texas Plumbing Company Shares Tips On Year Round Plumbing Maintenance

People don’t consider their plumbing systems until something goes wrong. Leaking pipes, clogged drains, and broken water heaters among others, the problem of plumbing will easily upset the routine of everyday life and will require high costs of repair. The Texas weather, which is hot and humid in summer and frosty at times in winters, makes it necessary to have a proper plumbing system that could only be healthy when taken care of all the year round.

To enable homeowners to maintain their property and save needless headaches, a local plumbing company like ROD Plumbing Inc with its headquarters in Texas is providing expert plumbing maintenance tips throughout the year.

Understanding Texas Climate Challenges

The climate is unique in the state of Texas and may cause additional pressure on plumbing systems. The state is very hot, has sudden cold fronts, droughts, heavy precipitations and hard water depending on the area. All these are the causes of wear and tear to pipes, fixtures and appliances.

Summers are hot and this increases the amount of water and the irrigation pressure. The bursting of the pipes may occur due to sudden winter freezes, particularly those experienced in North Texas and the Hill Country. There is humidity, corrosion in the coastal areas and hard water in the western parts of Texas as a result of mineral-rich ground water.

Due to the great variability of such conditions, a one-size-fits-all plumbing strategy does not apply. Rather, it requires the home owners to engage in continuous and seasonal maintenance programs to ensure that everything is in good condition.

Spring: Inspect, Clean, and Prepare for Heavy Use

The best time to do a full plumbing checkup is in the spring. Winter weather may have done damage that you can’t see, and getting ready early helps you avoid plumbing problems in the summer.

First, check the lines that are visible inside and outside the house. See if there are any cracks, rust, or drips. Over time, even small leaks can get worse and cause water or mold damage. For the same reason, spring is a good time to check your outdoor faucets and watering systems, since freezing weather can damage them.

Also, clean your gutters and drains to make sure water flows away properly. When there isn’t enough draining, water can pool near the foundation. This makes slab leaks more likely, which happens a lot in Texas because of its clay soils. In the spring, checking your water flow can also show you clogged pipes or deeper problems. Very high water pressure can put stress on lines and appliances, and low pressure can mean there are leaks or buildup.

A plumbing company in Texas will often tell you to flush your water heater during this time of year. Minerals build up faster in places with hard water. Flushing the tank gets rid of sediment, makes it work better, and extends the life of the equipment. Learn more here.

Summer: Protect Pipes from Heat and Heavy Usage

Texas summers are known for being very hot, and using more water for things like showers, cleaning, and watering plants outside can put extra stress on plumbing systems. Also, the high heat can make pipes expand, which can cause small leaks or connections to become weaker.

Checking for clogs in drains is one of the first things that needs to be done for summer upkeep. If you smell bad things, hear bubbling sounds, or see slow drains, you should call a plumber right away. These could be early signs of clogs in the main sewer line. During the summer, tree roots grow very quickly and can get into utility wires, especially in older neighborhoods.

Also, outdoor spigots and hose bibs need to be checked. If you use sprinklers or watering systems every day, make sure there are no leaks in the hoses and connections.

Because drought limits are common in Texas in the summer, buying fixtures that use less water is also a good idea. You might want to switch to smart watering systems, low-flow showerheads, and high-efficiency toilets. These improvements lower your energy bills and make your plumbing system less stressed.

Fall: Get Ready for Sudden Temperature Drops

Even though Texas fall is usually mild, there are times when it gets very cold or rains happen. Now, as we move from fall to winter, is a great time to get your pipes ready.

First, insulate the lines, especially the ones that are in the attic, garage, basement, or outside. Insulating pipes is a cheap way to keep them from freezing during a cold front that moves through overnight. So that ice doesn’t form inside them, disconnect yard hoses, turn off outdoor faucets, and drain irrigation lines.

You should also check your water heater in the fall. Water heaters have to work harder when it’s cold outside, so making sure the system is working right can help you avoid breakdowns when you need hot water the most.

Also, if you live in an area that gets heavy rain in the fall, you should have your sewer lines inspected. When it rains quickly, drainage systems can’t handle it, which can cause backups or isolated flooding. Professional plumbers can use camera checks to find problems with pipes before they get worse, like clogs, root intrusion, or broken pipes.

Winter: Protect Pipes from Freezing

The winters in Texas are hard to predict. Some years are mild, while others have ice storms, hard freezes, and power cuts across the whole state. Many people learned the hard way that water systems can be damaged by bad weather during the winter of 2021.

Keep the heat on in the winter to protect your pipes, even if you’re not there. When you open the cabinet doors under sinks, warm air can flow around the pipes. Letting taps drip a little when it’s cold outside can also keep pipes from bursting by lowering the pressure inside them.

If a hard freeze is expected, you should take extra safety measures like covering hose bibs and insulating outdoor lines. For portable water heaters, you might want to put in freeze-protection kits or make sure the unit is in a room with controlled temperatures.

People should also be careful about what they put down the drain in the winter. When people cook for the holidays, they often put grease, food scraps, and other things that don’t belong in the garbage sink. These things can clog pipes, which is a bigger problem when it’s cold outside.