Summer brings fun activities like pool parties and barbecues, and increases the likelihood of drain problems. Higher temperatures, water usage, and outdoor events can lead to clogged drains and costly plumbing issues.
The good news is that most summer drain issues can be prevented with the proper knowledge and proactive measures. This guide offers essential tips to help you avoid expensive repairs and keep your plumbing running smoothly. We’ll cover the reasons behind summer drainage problems, provide effective prevention strategies, and provide guidance on when to call a professional plumber for more serious issues.
Why Summer Creates More Drain Problems
Understanding the root causes helps you target your prevention efforts more effectively. Summer creates a perfect storm of conditions that stress your drainage system in ways that don’t happen during cooler months.
Kitchen Drain Protection During Summer
Your kitchen bears the brunt of summer entertaining, making it the most critical area to focus your prevention efforts. Increased cooking, outdoor food preparation, and guest usage can overwhelm well-maintained kitchen sinks.
Grease and Oil Management
Never pour cooking oil or grease down drains; they solidify and cause blockages that worsen in summer heat. The golden rule is to avoid pouring grease down any drain, period. Instead, cooking oils and fats can be collected in containers for proper disposal or recycling.
Use grease traps to catch oils before entering your drainage system for outdoor kitchens and BBQ cleanup areas. These simple devices can prevent thousands of dollars in sewer line issues.
Garbage Disposal Best Practices
Install high-quality garbage disposal strainers to catch food particles before they enter your disposal unit. Your disposal isn’t designed to handle everything, especially during heavy summer use.
Avoid disposing of corn husks, watermelon rinds, and fibrous vegetables in disposals. These materials can create stubborn clogs that resist normal drain cleaning efforts. When wet, they expand and can block your pipes completely.
Always run disposals with cold water for 30 seconds after grinding to clear all debris. Cold water keeps grease and oils solid, allowing them to be chopped up and flushed away rather than coating your pipes.
Bathroom and Shower Drain Care
Bathroom drains face unique challenges during summer, from increased shower frequency to pool chemicals and sunscreen residue. These factors combine to create conditions where soap scum buildup and organic materials can quickly lead to slow drains.
Hair and Debris Prevention
Install hair catchers in all shower and tub drains before the summer swimming season begins. These inexpensive devices prevent up to 80% of hair-related clogs. They are far easier to clean than clearing hair deep within your pipes.
Clean drain covers weekly to remove hair, soap scum, and personal care product residue. Summer’s increased showering frequency means these materials accumulate much faster than during other seasons.
Warning Signs That Require Professional Help
While prevention is always better than a cure, knowing when to call for professional drain cleaning can save you from minor issues becoming major disasters. Some problems can’t be solved with DIY methods and require professional intervention. Here are some warning signs of potential summer drainage problems:
- Multiple drains backing up simultaneously: Several backing up simultaneously indicate main sewer line problems requiring immediate professional attention. This isn’t a single clog – it’s a sign of serious underlying plumbing issues that can affect your entire home.
- Persistent sewer gas odors: If you experience consistent sewer smells despite regular cleaning and P-trap maintenance, it suggests problems deep in your sewer lines that only professional equipment can address. These odors can become a serious health hazard if not adequately addressed.
- Gurgling sounds from toilets when other fixtures drain indicate potential issues with the main sewer line that need professional diagnosis. This symptom often precedes a complete system backup.
- Water backing up in basement floor drains during summer storms signals serious plumbing issues requiring immediate professional help. This type of backup can contaminate your living space and create health hazards.
- Slow drainage that doesn’t improve: The issue persists beyond surface-level clogs if your slow drainage doesn’t improve after professional-grade cleaning attempts. At this point, you need professional drain services to identify and address the root cause.
Emergency Situations
Some situations are considered drainage emergencies and require immediate attention from a Brother’s drain cleaning professional. Those emergencies include, but are not limited to:
- Sewage backup in living areas requires immediate professional intervention due to the serious health hazard of contaminated water. Don’t attempt to clean this yourself – call professionals immediately.
- Strong hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg) odors indicate dangerous gas buildup that requires prompt professional attention. These gases can be toxic in high concentrations and always warrant professional investigation.
- Multiple fixture overflow during peak summer water usage suggests significant plumbing problems needing immediate professional intervention. This level of system failure indicates problems with your main sewer line or septic systems.
Contact Brothers For Drain Help Today!
At Brothers Plumbing Heating and Electric, we offer professional drain cleaning solutions in the following locations:
And, even if you don’t see your Colorado city listed above, give us a call at (303) 468-2294 anyway! We might be able to help you out!
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my drains during the summer months?
Clean kitchen and bathroom drains bi-weekly, with monthly deep cleaning for all drains using baking soda and vinegar. Summer’s increased usage requires more frequent maintenance than other seasons.
Why do my drains smell worse in the summer heat?
Higher temperatures accelerate bacterial growth and the decomposition of organic matter. Heat also causes P-trap water to evaporate faster, making it more challenging to prevent sewer gases from entering your home and neutralize odors.
What’s the best natural way to prevent summer drain clogs?
Use drain strainers, pour hot water down drains weekly, and avoid disposing of grease, oils, or fibrous foods down kitchen drains. These simple steps prevent the most common summer drainage issues.
When should I call a professional for summer drain problems?
Contact a professional plumber immediately for sewage backups, persistent sewer odors, multiple drain issues, or drainage problems that don’t resolve with standard cleaning methods. Don’t wait until minor issues become plumbing emergencies.
Can I use chemical drain cleaners more frequently in summer?
Avoid harsh chemicals, as summer heat makes them more corrosive to pipes. Instead, use natural methods like baking soda, vinegar, and enzyme cleaners, which work better in warm conditions.
How do I prevent P-traps from drying out during hot weather?
Pour a cup of water down rarely used drains weekly, add a tablespoon of mineral oil to slow evaporation, and regularly run water in guest bathrooms. This maintains the water seal that prevents sewer gas from entering your home.
