Summer in Southern California is tough on your plumbing. Months of heavy water use, hard water buildup, and heat stress on your pipes mean fall is the right time to take stock before temperatures drop and the holiday season turns a small problem into a big one.
Here are the most important things to check before fall sets in.
Check your water heater
Your water heater works harder in cooler months. Before demand picks up, check the temperature setting — 120°F is the recommended standard — and look for any signs of sediment buildup, rust, or moisture around the base. If your unit is more than 10 years old and you haven’t had it serviced recently, schedule a flush and inspection now. A water heater that’s struggling in October will likely fail in December.
Look for slow drains before the rain comes
Fall in LA means more people are home, more cooking, more guests, and eventually some rain. Slow drains in your kitchen or bathrooms are a warning sign. Grease, soap scum, and hair build up gradually and tend to become full blockages at the worst possible time. A simple drain cleaning now avoids an emergency later.
Test your shut-off valves
Many homeowners don’t touch their main water shut-off for years. When a pipe bursts or a fixture fails, that’s not the moment to find out the valve is stuck. Turn it off and back on to confirm it moves freely. Do the same for the shut-offs under sinks and behind toilets.
Check for drips and running toilets
A faucet that drips once per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons per year. A running toilet can waste five times that. Neither is a big fix, but both add up fast on your water bill. Fall is a good time to do a quick walk-through and listen for anything that shouldn’t be running.
Think about outdoor hose bibs and irrigation
Even in Southern California, temperatures can drop enough overnight to cause problems. If you have hose bibs on the north or shaded side of your home, consider installing frost-free versions. If you’re on a timed irrigation system, adjust the schedule for cooler, wetter months — overwatering in fall is as common as underwatering in summer.
A little attention now keeps your home running smoothly through the holidays and into winter. If you’re not sure where to start, A-1 Total Service Plumbing offers comprehensive plumbing inspections for homeowners across the Los Angeles area. Give us a call — we’ll take a look and give you a straight answer on where things stand.
