[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/coopermech.com\/the-coops-guide-to-summertime-maintenance\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/coopermech.com\/the-coops-guide-to-summertime-maintenance\/","headline":"The Coop\u2019s Guide to Summertime Maintenance","name":"The Coop\u2019s Guide to Summertime Maintenance","description":"Summer is my favorite time of year! \u00a0I enjoy hosting friends and family and have designed a great backyard entertainment area that makes it easy and fun.\u00a0 However, the area of my house that gets the most wear and tear during the summer is the bathroom closest to my backyard. This room gets a lot of use so keeping my plumbing fixtures in tip-top shape is high on my list of priorities. Take it from the Coop, just a little ongoing preventative maintenance can head-off an inconvenient malfunction.\u00a0 Of course, that\u2019s easy for me to say since I\u2019m a plumber by […]","datePublished":"2021-06-11","dateModified":"2022-10-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/coopermech.com\/author\/the-coop\/#Person","name":"The Coop","url":"https:\/\/coopermech.com\/author\/the-coop\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb1eb163dafcaf971bc236237b85419f?s=96&d=blank&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb1eb163dafcaf971bc236237b85419f?s=96&d=blank&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Cooper Mechanical","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/docorthopaedic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/docorthopaedic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/coopermech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Plumber-adjusting-the-faucet-handle_1-scaled.jpg","url":"https:\/\/coopermech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Plumber-adjusting-the-faucet-handle_1-scaled.jpg","height":1522,"width":2560},"url":"https:\/\/coopermech.com\/the-coops-guide-to-summertime-maintenance\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":829,"articleBody":"Summer is my favorite time of year! \u00a0I enjoy hosting friends and family and have designed a great backyard entertainment area that makes it easy and fun.\u00a0 However, the area of my house that gets the most wear and tear during the summer is the bathroom closest to my backyard. This room gets a lot of use so keeping my plumbing fixtures in tip-top shape is high on my list of priorities.Take it from the Coop, just a little ongoing preventative maintenance can head-off an inconvenient malfunction.\u00a0 Of course, that\u2019s easy for me to say since I\u2019m a plumber by trade, but if you\u2019re a DIY\u2019er, you can probably take care of some or all of this maintenance yourself.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t have the expertise or the time, it\u2019s best to call a professional plumbing contractor, like Cooper Mechanical, who can take care of common issues before they become expensive projects.Here are a few maintenance tasks that will help keep your bathroom performing at its best all summer.Slow DrainWe have lots of guests (especially kids) who shower after they come out of the pool.\u00a0 Over time, the drain gets clogged with hair, grass, soap, and other debris that\u2019s been washed away.\u00a0 Every week, I run the shower to visually make sure that the water drains normally, and if I see it\u2019s draining slower than usual, I remove the strainer and snake the drain to clear the obstruction.\u00a0 This helps alleviate any bigger issues, like my shower overflowing.Clogged ToiletNobody\u2019s a fan of a clogged toilet, but sometimes it occurs.\u00a0 I make sure that there\u2019s always spare rolls of toilet paper handy so that nobody flushes down a paper towel instead.\u00a0 Even tissues aren\u2019t a good substitute because although a tissue is soft, it\u2019s not made to dissolve as quickly and completely as TP. I keep a toilet auger or plunger on hand in the bathroom to dislodge the clog and get the toilet functioning again.In addition, from time to time, I inspect the inner mechanism of my toilet to make sure all the components are adjusted properly.\u00a0 In particular, I make sure that the rubber flapper maintains a tight seal so there\u2019s no water trickling from the tank to the bowl, which is waste of water.\u00a0 Then, I look at the lift chain which attaches the flushing handle to the flapper to make sure it has the right amount of slack to properly flush the toilet.\u00a0 Lastly, I confirm that the water in the toilet tank is at an appropriate level to flush down the contents in the bowl.By the way, although it\u2019s tempting to drop a cleaning tablet in the toilet tank to help keep the bowl clean, manufacturers warn against it because these chemicals can wreak havoc with the mechanism \u2013 particularly the rubber flange.\u00a0 Chances are greater that the parts won\u2019t last as long in that kind of corrosive environment.Excessive MoistureI have a rule in my house that before you turn on the shower, you MUST switch on the bathroom fan and keep it operating for 20 minutes after you turn off the shower to make sure all the steam is vented out of the bathroom. \u00a0You may think that the main purpose of this fan is to minimize odors, which it does, but more importantly, proper ventilation is key to healthy air.\u00a0 The bathroom fan helps prevent excessive moisture from collecting on surfaces and creating an environment for mold and mildew to flourish.\u00a0 Over time, moisture can damage wall board, paint, wood trim, and doors.\u00a0 Sure, you can open a window every time the shower is used but particularly in the summer, the outside air tends to be humid which defeats the purpose of opening the window. \u00a0It takes very little effort to flick a switch and reduce moisture but it can be expensive and time-consuming to remediate mold.Leaky FaucetThe other day, I noticed that my faucet was leaking slightly by the handle. \u00a0Although the problem was fixable, since the faucet was 20 years old and beginning to look a little worn, I splurged on a brand new faucet in a stylish brushed nickel finish that doesn’t show fingerprints or water spots as much and is easy to maintain.\u00a0\u00a0 It updated the look of my whole bathroom!Do you plan to host family and friends this summer? Which room in your house will get the most wear and tear?\u00a0 You may need the services of a professional plumbing contractor like Cooper Mechanical, who can fix a leak, remove a clog, or spruce up a plumbing fixture to help get you through the summer season without a hiccup.\u00a0 We\u2019re a full-service heating, cooling, and plumbing company that\u2019s at your service \u2013 24\/7 \u2013 for emergencies.\u00a0 Call us at 610-847-2441 and we\u2019d be happy to help prepare your home for summertime entertaining."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"The Coop\u2019s Guide to Summertime Maintenance","item":"https:\/\/coopermech.com\/the-coops-guide-to-summertime-maintenance\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]