Back-to-School Plumbing Tips
It’s back to school season, and that means your house may have some added water stresses due to the hustle and bustle of day-to-day schoolyear life. Below you’ll find a few things that you can educate yourself on—and no, there won’t be a pop quiz at the end.
Back to school means more laundry – from team uniforms, gym clothes, and daily wear. All this laundry can stress the water hose on the washing machine, so be sure to check it for cracks, and while you’re in the laundry room, give that lint trap a cleaning.
With everyone trying to get showers in, drains in the bathroom will have a higher amount of use. This makes them more prone to clogging and other drainage issues. Make sure your drains are steadily draining, and if you have any flow issues, be sure to have them looked into.
Speaking of showers and baths, higher bathroom humidity from frequent shower use can change the moisture level of your bathroom, so be sure to run fans to clear out moisture if you have them available. Steamy showers may be nice, but the surfaces of your bathroom will need a break from the constant moisture.
Nothing is worse than being the last in the shower, or that dreadful feeling of lukewarm and cold shower water. To help avoid this, create a shower schedule to ensure everyone has hot water.
If you have smaller children or children who are just beginning to bathe on their own, keep the temperature of the water heater at or below 120, this will minimize the opportunity of accidentally making the water too hot.
One final note on the bathroom, if you have hard water, it can make rinsing soap off more difficult and leave your hair dull and weak after multiple washes in hard water. There are options available to impact and reduce the mineral count in your water, feel free to reach out to us to discuss options.
Beyond the shower, the kitchen is going to probably see more work as well. And the last thing you want in a hard-working kitchen is a clogged garbage disposal or dishwasher. Make sure to check your dishwasher filters frequently and clean them. For garbage disposals, educate your kids on what can and cannot be directly thrown into the disposal unit.
Back-to-school season can be hectic, and the last thing you need is to put your water in detention. Hopefully, these tips can let you navigate your back-to-school season more easily and take one less pain point off your list.