Summer Plumbing Tips for Plano, Rockwall & Garland Homeowners

Summer in North Texas means triple-digit temperatures, dry lawns, family vacations, backyard gatherings, and plenty of extra demand on your home’s plumbing system. While most homeowners think about plumbing problems during freezing weather, the extreme Texas summer can create its own set of challenges.

For homeowners in Plano, Rockwall, and Garland, TX, prolonged heat and dry conditions can affect the soil surrounding your home and underground plumbing. At the same time, increased water usage can expose leaks, drain problems, and aging plumbing components that may have gone unnoticed.

A little preventive maintenance can help you identify potential problems before they turn into expensive repairs.

Here are some important summer plumbing tips for North Texas homeowners from Total Plumbing Service Inc.

1. Keep an Eye on Your Water Bill

It’s normal for water usage to increase somewhat during the summer. Sprinkler systems run more frequently, pools need water, kids are home from school, and landscaping requires additional attention.

However, a significant increase that can’t be explained by normal summer usage could indicate a hidden leak.

Compare your current water bill with previous months and the same period last year when possible.

Potential causes of unexplained water usage include:

• Running toilets

• Leaking faucets

• Irrigation leaks

• Underground water line leaks

• Slab leaks

• Damaged outdoor faucets

If your water usage suddenly increases without an obvious explanation, don’t assume it’s simply because of the Texas heat.

2. Check Your Water Meter for Hidden Leaks

Your water meter can help determine whether water is being used when it shouldn’t be.

Turn off every water-using fixture and appliance in your home. Make sure toilets aren’t running, faucets are closed, the washing machine and dishwasher are off, and your irrigation system isn’t operating.

Then check the meter.

If it continues showing water usage, there may be a leak somewhere within your plumbing system.

Professional water leak detection can help narrow down the location and determine whether you’re dealing with a fixture leak, underground water line problem, or possible slab leak.

3. Watch for Slab Leak Warning Signs

Slab leaks are particularly important for homeowners in North Texas to understand.

Much of the Dallas-Fort Worth area has expansive clay soil. During prolonged periods of hot, dry weather, this soil can lose moisture, shrink, and move. Changing soil conditions can place additional stress on plumbing beneath and around a home’s foundation.

Dry soil doesn’t automatically cause a slab leak, but soil movement can be one contributing factor when plumbing is already weakened or under stress.

Possible slab leak warning signs include:

• Unexplained increases in your water bill

• Warm areas on the floor

• Damp carpet or flooring

• Reduced water pressure

• Running-water sounds when fixtures are off

• Water appearing around the foundation

• A water meter that continues moving

If you notice these symptoms, professional leak detection can help determine what’s happening before a repair is recommended.

4. Pay Attention to Your Yard

Your lawn can sometimes provide clues about underground plumbing.

During a hot Plano, Rockwall, or Garland summer, most lawns will show some effects from the heat. An isolated area that’s unusually green, soft, wet, or muddy compared with the surrounding yard deserves a closer look.

Watch for:

• Standing water without recent rain

• Soft or muddy areas

• Unusually green patches of grass

• Water near the meter

• Unexplained moisture around the foundation

An underground water line or irrigation leak could be providing that area with a constant source of moisture.

5. Take Care of Slow Drains

Summer can also mean additional strain on your home’s drains.

Kids are home, guests visit, showers are more frequent, and kitchens get plenty of use during backyard cookouts and family gatherings.

If a sink, shower, or bathtub is already draining slowly, don’t ignore it.

Hair, soap residue, grease, food particles, and other debris can gradually restrict a drain until it eventually becomes completely blocked.

Signs you may need professional drain cleaning include recurring clogs, slow drainage, unpleasant odors, and gurgling sounds.

If multiple drains are affected simultaneously, the problem could involve your main sewer line.

6. Keep Cookout Grease Out of the Drain

Summer grilling season can be surprisingly tough on kitchen plumbing.

Never pour grease, fats, or cooking oils down your kitchen sink or garbage disposal.

Grease may be liquid while it’s hot, but it can cool and stick to the inside of your plumbing. Over time, additional debris can collect on the buildup and create a stubborn blockage.

Instead, allow grease to cool and dispose of it in the trash.

Your garbage disposal isn’t a substitute for a trash can either. Avoid sending bones, large amounts of food waste, fibrous vegetables, coffee grounds, and other difficult materials down the drain.

7. Check Outdoor Faucets and Hoses

Outdoor plumbing gets considerably more use during summer.

Inspect your exterior faucets for leaks while you’re watering plants, washing vehicles, filling pools, or using sprinklers.

Check for water dripping from the faucet after it’s turned off or leaking around the handle while it’s running.

You should also inspect garden hoses and connections.

A small outdoor leak might seem harmless, but if it continues every day throughout the summer, it can waste a considerable amount of water.

8. Don’t Forget About Your Sewer Line

Hot, dry weather can affect more than water lines.

Changing soil conditions can also place stress on underground sewer piping. Tree roots searching for moisture can become another concern, particularly when an existing crack or opening provides access to a sewer line.

Watch for:

• Multiple slow drains

• Gurgling toilets

• Recurring sewer stoppages

• Sewage odors

• Water backing up into showers or tubs

• Unusual wet areas in your yard

Depending on the symptoms, a sewer camera inspection can help determine whether the problem is a blockage, root intrusion, damaged pipe, or another sewer issue.

9. Make Sure Your Water Heater Is Working Properly

Your water heater might not be the first appliance you think about during a Texas summer, but your household still depends on it every day.

Pay attention if:

• Hot water runs out faster than usual

• Water temperature fluctuates

• The unit makes unusual noises

• Hot water appears discolored

• Water is leaking around the tank

• The system requires frequent repairs

Summer can be a convenient time to address an aging or unreliable system rather than waiting until colder weather increases your demand for hot water.

A licensed plumber can determine whether water heater repair or replacement is the better option.

10. Prepare Your Plumbing Before Leaving for Vacation

Heading out of town this summer?

Take a few minutes to check your plumbing before leaving.

Make sure faucets are completely off, toilets aren’t running, and there are no obvious leaks around fixtures or appliances.

If appropriate for your home’s plumbing system and your travel plans, consider shutting off the main water supply while you’re away.

Knowing where your main shutoff valve is located is valuable even when you’re not traveling. If a major plumbing leak occurs, quickly stopping the water can significantly reduce damage.

Keep Your Plumbing Running Smoothly This Summer

North Texas summers are hard enough without adding a plumbing emergency to the mix.

Monitoring your water usage, checking for leaks, addressing slow drains, and paying attention to changes around your home can help identify plumbing problems early.

If something doesn’t seem right, Total Plumbing Service Inc. is here to help.

We provide professional plumbing services in Plano, Rockwall, Garland, and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex, including water and sewer leak detection, slab leak repair, drain cleaning, sewer line repair, water heater repair and replacement, gas line services, and general plumbing repairs.

Total Plumbing Service Inc. has served North Texas homeowners since 1996. Our licensed plumbers can properly diagnose the problem, explain your options, and recommend a solution for your home.

Contact Total Plumbing Service Inc. today to schedule plumbing service in Plano, Rockwall, Garland, or the surrounding DFW area.