3 Critical Plumbing Checks for June to Summer Proof Your Pipes

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June is officially here, and with it comes a massive shift in how we use our homes. The kids are out of school, weekend cookouts are back on the calendar, and the summer humidity is starting to roll in.

While we usually think of plumbing issues as winter emergencies (like frozen or burst pipes), the summer months actually bring an entirely different set of demands on your home’s plumbing system. More people at home means more showers, extra laundry, and a kitchen sink that’s working overtime.

Before the summer heat takes full swing, here are three essential plumbing checks every homeowner should perform this June to prevent unexpected blockages and water damage.

1. Protect Your Garbage Disposal from Summer CookoutsJune kicks off the peak season for backyard barbecues, but all that food prep can wreak absolute havoc on your kitchen drain. Garbage disposals are designed for light food residue—not heavy meal disposal.

If you want to avoid an emergency plumbing call during your weekend party, keep these common summer items out of your disposal entirely:

Corn Husks and Celery: These fibrous, stringy vegetable scraps act like a web inside your disposal, wrapping around the blades and burning out the motor.

Bones and Fruit Pits: Watermelon seeds, cherry pits, and ribs/chicken bones will instantly jam or break the grinding components.

Cooking Oils and Grease: Never pour grease down the drain. It may be liquid when it's hot, but it quickly cools, solidifies inside your pipes, and creates a dense grease clog that catches everything else you wash down.

2. Check Your Sump Pump Before Heavy Summer StormsJune often brings heavy downpours and sudden thunderstorms. If you have a basement, your sump pump is your home’s first line of defense against severe water damage and flooding.

Don't wait for a midnight storm to find out your pump is dead. Run this quick 5-minute test today:
Locate your sump basin in the basement and remove the lid.
Pour a bucket of water slowly into the pit.

What to look for: The water level should rise, triggering the float switch. The pump should turn on automatically, discharge the water quickly, and shut itself back off.

If your area is prone to severe storms that cause power outages, June is the perfect time to consider installing a battery-backup sump pump. It will keep running even if the main electricity goes out.

3. Watch (or listen) for Toilet "Running" and Silent LeaksWith kids, grandkids, or guests home for the summer, our bathrooms are about to get busy and extra usage can accelerate wear and tear on toilet tank components (like the flapper or fill valve).

A toilet that "runs" constantly isn't just an annoying background noise—it can waste hundreds of gallons of water a day, causing a shocking surprise when your July water bill arrives.

Want to test your toilet for a silent leak? Try drop a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank and leave it alone for 20 minutes without flushing. If you see the color leaking into the toilet bowl, your flapper valve isn't sealing properly and needs a quick, cheap replacement.

We want you to enjoy a worry-free summer when it comes to plumbing!
Take a few minutes to test your sump pump, review disposal rules with the family, and catch silent bathroom leaks now means you can spend your summer focusing on the beach, the grill, and the warm weather—not dealing with a messy plumbing backup. If you find yourself in the middle of a plumbing emergency this summer, you know who to call! Tony's Plumbing & Heating will be here! 

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