Summer in South Carolina is a wonderful time of the year. But while you are busy enjoying the sunshine in Columbia, your home’s plumbing is working overtime. The combination of heavy summer storms, increased water usage, and high humidity can easily push your pipes to their breaking point.
Summer Plumbing Risks
At Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration, we keep your property safe and comfortable by focusing on your entire plumbing system. To help you protect your home this season, here are five of the most common summer plumbing emergencies we see.
1. Clogged Garbage Disposals
During the most popular time of year for barbecues, your kitchen sink gets a heavy workout. Disposals frequently jam during the summer due to people putting the wrong items down the drain. Watermelon rinds, corn husks, greasy leftovers, and BBQ scraps will quickly clog your pipes.
2. Sewer Line Backups
South Carolina summers are famous for intense thunderstorms. When a massive downpour hits, the dry, hard ground struggles to absorb the water quickly. This heavy rainfall can seep into cracked sewer lines, overloading your system and causing raw sewage to back up into your tubs, showers, and sinks.
3. Sump Pump Failures
If you have a basement or a crawlspace, your sump pump is your primary defense against summer flooding. If your pump is old, neglected, or gets overwhelmed by a severe summer storm, it can fail. A broken sump pump can quickly lead to costly water damage and dangerous mold growth in our humid climate.
4. Overworked Washing Machine Hoses
From pool towels to sports uniforms, our washing machine handles much larger loads during the summer. This spike in usage puts pressure on your rubber washing machine hoses. An old, brittle hose can easily crack or burst under the strain, causing a major indoor flood in minutes.
5. Backed-Up AC Condensate Lines
Your air conditioner pulls an incredible amount of moisture out of the humid South Carolina air. This water drains out through a condensate line. Over the summer, algae and sludge can clog this pipe, causing water to back up and flood your ceilings, walls, or floors.
Plumbing Services in Columbia, SC
Don’t let a plumbing nightmare ruin your summer fun. If you notice slow drains, strange odors, or unexpected water pooling around your home, act fast.
Experiencing plumbing issues? Contact Cool Care today to schedule an appointment or call 24/7 for plumbing emergencies!
