We often spend nine months of the year looking forward to the three short months of summer, only to find that they fly by in the blink of an eye. Between backyard bbq's, cleaning up fallen branches after a thunderstorm, or long days re-landscaping the yard, our minds are often everywhere except on our outdoor plumbing and water fixtures.

When was the last time you cleaned out your outdoor plumbing elements? Have you recently checked the integrity of your outdoor spigot? You don’t have to do a lot of maintenance to keep your outdoor fixtures in working shape, but you should give them at least a little bit of regular attention.

Check Your Outdoor Fixtures Often

Often, outdoor maintenance requires little more than ongoing inspections. Notice a hose bib that’s rusted out? Seeing that your hose gets little to no pressure when you’re watering plants in the summer?

While all these issues start out small, they can be a major liability for your home. An essential task for any homeowner is ongoing checks and maintenance. If you see that something’s not working as it should get help fast.

While sometimes it can be resolved with a little scrubbing - like a hose bib that’s rusted - other times the issue could be deeper in your plumbing system and requires expert help.

Outdoor Plumbing

Outdoor plumbing comes in a variety of packages. Most homes have outdoor spigots that connect with hoses for yard maintenance.

These drains are challenging for homeowners to clean but try your best to make sure that the entrance to the pipe is free of debris before you run water.

If you have an outdoor shower, make sure that the water runoff path is completely clear before turning on your shower, whether it’s the beginning of the season or midway through it.

Most outdoor showers share a wall with the home, and water that pools on the shower floor can damage the exterior of your home over time. If enough water pools, it can even leak through your wall into your house.

Replacing Your Outdoor Fixtures

Sometimes, you have no choice but to replace your fixtures. Look for the following signs to determine when it’s time to purchase new ones:
  • Water leaks: Are certain areas of your lawn overly green? Noticing puddles of water around sinks and fixtures? What starts as a small leak can easily cost you thousands.
  • Rust buildup: The biggest concern for outdoor fixtures is always going to be rust. If they’re covered to the point they’re no longer working properly, replacing is the best option to protect your home.
  • Age: Like any fixture in your home, your outdoor ones are susceptible to age. Over time they’ll become less efficient and struggle to operate properly - and that’s something no one should have to deal with.
Often, replacing outdoor fixtures is complicated. It’s dangerous to manipulate plumbing systems when you’re not sure what you’re doing. Be safe and call a professional for the installation.

If you’re not sure where to start with your outdoor fixture maintenance, give us a call. We’ll schedule an appointment to check all of your plumbing and water fixtures to make sure that everything is working well. You’re busy with other projects this summer, so let us handle the routine maintenance.