Dr.Pipe Drain and Plumbing: Six Easy Summer Plumbing Tips

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Every summer when warm weather rolls around, it is the same time of year the amount of your water usage also rises. The reasons for the increased usages vary and include uses both inside and outside of the house. In fact, during the warmest part of the summer season, your family’s water usage can rise by 25 to 50 percent. Thankfully, there some great ways to tweak the amount of water you are using so you can lower your water bill. These great tips will help you live a little greener as you reduce your water usage during the summer season as well. Before we investigate some most common plumbing issues in summer.

Summer Plumbing Service: Most Common Issues

Issue #1 – Sprinkler Problems

After not having used them for a while, your automatic sprinkles may have a few issues. Before the summer season begins, you want to make sure that you inspect and clean the heads of the sprinklers. Check for small leaks that are going to wastewater and make sure there is no damage to the sprinkler heads.

Issue #2 – Sewer Line Backups

Certain parts of Ottawa may be prone to summer thunderstorms or rain showers. Especially in the afternoon when the air heats up. The sewer line may back up when there is excessive rain that slips through the cracks to get into the pipes. Worse yet, the new season may also cause tree roots to grow even further, which could make cracks larger.

Issue #3 – Blocked Toilet

Having the entire family at home throughout the day simply means that the toilet is going to get more use out of it. Make sure that you deal with small blockages by having a plunger on hand, and have a plumber whom you trust when the issues get larger.

Issue #4 – Sump Pumps

If you have a cellar or basement prone to flooding, you have a sump pump installed. However, the unexpected downpours of summer can cause havoc on your system. What was once a qualified option suddenly turns into a flooding problem. In order to avoid summer flooding drama, make sure that your sump pump still works after winter.

Summer Plumbing Tips

1. Prevent clogged drains from happening by avoiding the following unwise habits:

Dumping oils, fats, or grease down the kitchen drain; while running hot water following fats, oils, or grease is a good idea, it does not mean it will free your drain of any clogs you create.
Putting fibrous food matter in the disposal: This includes foods like lettuce, onion peels, and celery. The blades on the disposal are not meant to handle fibrous material. It will cause a clog.
Other drain clogging food matter down the drain: Avoid putting coffee grounds, rice, potatoes, and pasta inside the garbage disposal.
Inappropriate waste or an overabundance of waste in the disposal: Putting items like bones inside the disposal will make a lot of uncomfortable noise. Likewise, avoid putting way too much waste in the disposal all at one time.

2. Time Your Lawn Watering

Once the sun goes down in the evening and early in the morning well before high noon are the best times to water your lawn and/or plants. From noon to around 3pm, the temperature is hot enough where the sun might cause some of the water to evaporate.

3. Lower The Temperature On The Water Heater

This conserves energy if you are planning to go on vacation for a few days. In addition, keep an eye on how old your water tank is to ensure it continues to operate in the most cost efficient way. The unit will have a life span of eight to 11 years. If you are unsure of the actual date the unit was manufactured, somewhere on the tank there is a serial number that you can look at to find out: The last four digits display the year the tank was made.

4. Do An Inspection Of Your Sprinkler System

Look at the sprinkler(s) to see if there are broken heads or clogs and leaks within the irrigation system. Be careful about the positioning of your systems as well; in other words, it is a terrible waste to have sprinklers in the lawn that end up getting more water on the roads, driveways, and walkways.

5. Check Your Washing Machine Set Up

Check both the machine and hoses. Every three years, make it a practice to replace the rubber hose connecting the machine to the water supply.

6. Careful Tree Planting

If you put new trees in your yard in the late spring and early summer, make sure you put them in a place where they are less likely to allow their natural root system to discover your sewer line. If you think there is potential root intrusion in the pipes, you need a professional to help.

If these tasks seem complicated, or you just want a professional to take care of them for you. Call the professionals at Dr. Pipe Drain and Plumbing. Their courteous service professionals will be able to help you in these situations.

Give us a call today: 613 791 5777 for a free upfront estimate!

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Based on 38 reviews

Patrick Asselin

We recently had some major plumbing work done (main line and vertical stack replacement and shower base installaton) by Dr. Pipe. I am extremely satisfied with the service. Max, the owner, answered our phone calls and texts right away and was very patient dealing with all of our questions. The quote was very resonable and the job was done within days professionally!

Patricia Morash

Max arrived the same day we requested service. He was on time, polite and professional. Their prices are reasonable and posted on their website. Thank you for a job well done.

Vicki Sima

I just had my two bathroom sink/faucet replacements work done. I am very satisfied with the service. The phone calls /texts were answered right away, the job was done within days professionally. I appreciate it! Thank you!

Daniel Martell

Max was great! Great service, very satisfied. Would use again

Sylvie L

I consulted five different plumbing companies regarding the replacement of my drain pipe and possibly installing a backwater valve. Dr Pipe was by far superior in knowledge, professionalism, and honesty. While some plumbers tried to sell unnecessary products by giving false information (ex: saying a product was required by the building code when ,in fact, it was not), Dr Pipe did not. Dr Pipe did excellent work and in a timely fashion. The house inspector was impressed with the quality of their work.

Dave

After research, I selected Dr. Pipe to replace our 51 year old main internal water shut off valve. I dealt with Max. His e-mail and phone responses were quick, straightforward and detailed which impressed me. Pictures of the necessary work were forwarded to him and a quote returned in short order. Pricing was transparent and all inclusive – no last minute extras. His accommodating several changes to the work date by me spoke volumes for customer service. Max completed everything without issue. As seniors, we do not need drama in our lives and dealing with Dr. Pipe was stress free.

Shady Bee

I had Ron come to my condo unit to replace the toilet wax ring and unclog the bathroom sink. He did a great job, gave me pictures of the toilet pipe and cleaned up after the end of the job! I’m very satisfied with his work. Would hire again!!

Nola Juraitis

Excellent service. My go to plumber from now on. Did a difficult job in an old house and saved me the need to get tiling done. Yay Max and Ron!

Geoff McGuire

Once again, we had a great experience with Dr. Pipe (Osmaks) and would not hesitate to use this firm again for future plumbing needs. This time, we hired them to replace our kitchen faucet and our bathroom faucet and drain. We also asked them to provide a solution for our broken outdoor garden hose tap. The kitchen faucet replacement was assigned to Ron Osadchyi. The old kitchen faucet was a bit stubborn, but Ron managed to get it off and got the new one installed. The faucet/drain replacement for the pedestal sink in the bathroom proved to be a more challenging two-man job, but Ron and Maxim rose to the challenge. After sizing up the situation with our garden hose tap, they recommended putting a new line through from the basement to the exterior wall at a more convient location, and they offered a very reasonable estimate. We didn't have to wait long at all, as they managed to fit in the work later that same day. Ron took the time to explain what they had done and the proper way to close and drain the new line at the end of the season to prevent freezing and bursting. If we had to sum up our experience, we would say that Dr. Pipe was responsive, professional and reasonably priced. Glad to have a plumbing firm we can trust here in Ottawa!

Simon Redding

I had to have my water supply line to my house replaced as it was leaking. I called a number of companies and they said they would have to dig everything up with a backhoe to replace the water line. This included ripping up the interlock and also shoring up the porch. Responsibility for restoring the interlock would be on me at my expense. I called Dr.Pipe, who advertises trench-less water line replacement, where they only dig at the water shutoff valve and in the basement. They then push the new pipe through, and provided they do not hit a large rock, replacement is done with a minimum of disruption. Dr Pipe successfully replaced my water line in less than a day and cleaned everything up. Not only did I not have to deal with and pay for the interlock restoration, the price for the work was about 60% of what the backhoe people wanted. I am extremely happy with the service. Max and his crew we friendly and professional. Highly recommended.

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