Outdoor Plumbing Maintenance: 3 Tasks to Prevent Outdoor Plumbing Disasters

When it comes to plumbing, most people are keen to maintain fixtures inside their homes. If you're like most homeowners, you probably pay attention to your indoor pipes, faucets and other key parts of the systems. Outdoor plumbing goes ignored most of the time, but if it's not in excellent condition, it can cause irreversible damage and cost you a lot of money in repairs. Therefore, as you come up with a maintenance plan for your plumbing system, pay attention to the following issues regarding the outdoor portion of the system.

Inspect the Sewer Line for Clogs

The sewer line is one of the largest systems in your outdoor plumbing system. It is tasked with collecting all the wastewater from your toilets, showers, washer and kitchen and directing it to the septic system. If you have a septic tank in your home, you should be wary of clogs along the sewer line. Clogs result from the following:

• Flushing non-biodegradable items down the toilet
• Dumping fats and oils in your sink
• Dumping chemicals in your drainage systems

Clogs can also occur when tree roots break through the sewer line and prevent wastewater from flowing into the septic tank. These forms of blockage can cause sewer backup in your home. Therefore, conduct routine inspections of the sewer line, especially if you notice multiple blockages in some of the drains in the house.

Check for Leaks in Outdoor Pipes

There are various outdoor pipes, with the main one being the water main that supplies water to the entire house. Other lines include those providing water to the pool, garden, outdoor kitchen and other areas. These pipes are installed out of sight; therefore, they can leak and go unnoticed. The problem with such leaks is they not only cause water wastage, but they can also damage your home's foundation.

Luckily, you can spot leaks by looking around for wet spots around your home, especially in areas where the pipes are installed. If you suspect a leak, you can ask a plumber to check it out using advanced leak detection techniques. Fix the problems immediately, mainly if the damaged pipe is located near or around your home's foundation.

Check for Damaged Outdoor Water Fixtures

Outdoor water fixtures such as sprinklers, faucets ad hoses are used to supply water to various parts such as the yard. These can also be sources of water wastage due to leaks. Damaged fittings can cause your faucets, hoses and sprinklers to leak water. Regularly inspect these fixtures, especially before summer and spring. This is when there are numerous outdoor activities such as gardening and cleaning. Fix damaged fittings to reduce water wastage.

Outdoor plumbing fixtures require as much care and attention as the indoor ones. Talk to a plumber for more information about your pipes and fixtures.