When we think about weather damaging our home's plumbing, our minds instantly jump to winter. We think of the freezing sub-zero temperatures across Northern Illinois that can lead to burst pipes and basement floods.
However, summer brings its own unique set of hazards for your outdoor plumbing. The intense Midwest sun, scorching heat waves, shifting soil, and even landscaping projects can place immense stress on your outdoor spigots, main water lines, and irrigation systems.
At FloRyte Services, we want to make sure your plumbing system stays resilient all year round. Taking a few proactive steps to protect your outdoor pipes this summer will save you from hidden water leaks and costly repairs. Here is what you need to look out for.
1. Shield Exposed Pipes from intense UV Rays
Just like your skin, outdoor pipes can suffer from too much sun exposure. If you have exposed plastic pipes—such as PVC or PEX pipes leading to an outdoor sink, pool pump, or sprinkler system—prolonged UV exposure will break down the material. Over time, the plastic becomes brittle, discolored, and highly prone to cracking under water pressure.
The Fix: Wrap any exposed outdoor piping with foam pipe insulation, or paint PVC pipes with a UV-resistant latex paint to block out the harsh rays.
2. Monitor Shifting Soil and Ground Movement
Summer droughts can dry out the Midwest clay soil, causing it to shrink and crack. Conversely, a sudden summer thunderstorm can saturate the ground quickly. This constant cycle of shrinking and expanding causes the soil to shift. If your main water line or sprinkler lines are buried in these shifting zones, the intense ground movement can cause pipes to bend, disconnect at the joints, or crack.
The Fix: Keep an eye out for random wet spots in your yard, pooling water, or an unexplained spike in your water bill—these are classic signs of an underground pipe leak.
3. Practice Landscaping and Gardening Caution
Summer is the prime time for outdoor home improvements, gardening, and lawn care. Unfortunately, it’s also prime time for accidental plumbing damage. Lawn mowers and weed whacker strings can easily strike and crack exposed plastic pipes or outdoor spigots. Even worse, DIY digging projects for new fences, trees, or gardens run the risk of striking buried water or sewer lines.
The Fix: Always mark out your underground utilities before digging, and clear a safe zone around outdoor faucets and pipes so yard equipment doesn't accidentally strike them.
4. Check for Hose Bibb Backpressure
During the summer, hoses are constantly hooked up to outdoor spigots (hose bibbs) for watering lawns, washing cars, or filling pools. If you leave a hose pressurized with a spray nozzle shut off at the end, the trapped, heated water expands. This continuous backpressure can damage the internal seals of your outdoor faucet, leading to a persistent drip or a leak inside your wall cavity.
The Fix: Always turn the water off at the main spigot valve when you are done using the hose, and bleed the pressure out of the line.
Keep Your Plumbing Flowing Freely with FloRyte Services
Outdoor plumbing leaks can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars in wasted water and hidden property damage. If you suspect an underground line has cracked, or if you have a stubborn outdoor spigot leak, don't let it linger.
The licensed plumbing experts at FloRyte Services are equipped with advanced leak detection and pipe repair technology to pinpoint and fix outdoor plumbing issues cleanly and efficiently.
Keep your home protected through the summer heat! Contact FloRyte Services at (847) 276-2297 to schedule an outdoor plumbing inspection or repair.
Proudly providing expert plumbing and HVAC solutions across Northern Illinois (Lake & McHenry Counties)