When it comes to taking care of your home’s plumbing, it’s important to remember that outdoor plumbing is just as essential to maintain. Outdoor plumbing can look different depending on your yard. Some common outdoor plumbing fixtures are pools, hoses, sprinkler systems, and more. With this blog, we hope to give you some tips and tricks to help keep your outdoor plumbing units in great condition.
Identify Sewer Lines
A sewer line is a pipe that carries all of your home’s wastewater to a sewer system located beneath your street. Replacing a sewer line can be one of the most costly expenses a homeowner could face, so it’s vital to learn how to take great care of it. You can take many steps inside and outside your home to take care of your home’s sewer lines.
It’s important to know what not to flush down your drains. Knowing what items to avoid, you can ensure no build-ups in your pipes or septic systems. Replacing your home’s entire septic system can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000, which is no small price tag.
Outside your home, it’s important to know how to identify where the sewer lines have been laid. This is important because if you ever want to renovate or do construction on your home or yard, you need to know what areas to avoid disturbing the already existing pipes. Knowing the location of your sewer lines is also helpful if your pipes are clogged or draining slowly, it may mean you need to take time to clean them out.
In California, it is most common for the main sewer line to be located right outside of your home, right by the foundation of your home. Here, it connects with the city’s main municipal sewer lines. It may be tucked behind some unruly landscaping; cutting down grass or bushes may be the solution. If, after cleaning up your yard, you are still unable to find it, the next recommended step would be to either call a professional plumber or the city. Either of these options should walk you through finding it or send someone to help guide you.
Water Pressure
It’s important to run your outdoor faucets periodically to check for leaks and caught debris. If you notice that your hoses are not providing the pressure you are used to, you could have a pipe leak coming from inside of your house. This situation most likely will require a professional plumber’s assistance. They are best equipped to find the source of the issue, which could be an indoor leak, debris trapped in your home’s hose bib, or a water outage in your house. An expert will resolve the poor water pressure quickly and efficiently.
Sprinkler System
A sprinkler system is one of the most popular fixtures of an outdoor plumbing system. It’s an essential part of keeping your lawn healthy. It’s important to periodically check sprinkler heads are not broken or leaking water. Getting your system set up correctly can help cut on water bills; the less water the system wastes, the more money you save. A recommended way to maximize your sprinkler system is to have it set on a timer; this way, it will only run for the time you’ve allotted.
Hidden Pests
Pipe vents outside your home can attract animals, such as birds or mice, that want to build shelter and escape the elements. Clearing debris like leaves and nests will ensure your pipes and gutters don’t get clogged outside and can drain properly. Taking time to clear out your vents will also keep pests further away from your home, hopefully dissuading them from finding ways to get inside.
For all of your outdoor plumbing needs contact Nautilus Plumbing at (323) 629-4627! We want to ensure your house is taken care of, inside and out.