Why Summer is the Strategic Season for Drain Care: A Drainology Guide
A Drainology Summer Guide
When people think of drainage issues, they usually picture torrential autumn rain or frozen winter pipes. However, at Drainology, we know that summer is actually the most critical window for preventative maintenance.
The stable weather provides the perfect opportunity to fortify your system. Here is why you should be looking underground while the sun is out.
The "Hidden" Growth Factor:
Root Infiltration
Summer is the peak growing season. As the soil dries out, tree roots instinctively seek out the nearest source of moisture—which is often the condensation or small leaks in your drainage pipes.
- The Risk: Roots can penetrate pipe joints, leading to silent structural collapses.
- The Solution: A summer CCTV survey can catch these "thirsty" roots before they cause a total blockage.
Eliminating the "Summer Stink"
Heat acts as an incubator for organic waste. Food scraps, fats, and oils trapped in your kitchen drains ferment much faster in 20°C+ temperatures, leading to pungent odors and fruit fly infestations.
Drainology Tip: Don't just mask the smell with bleach. A professional hydro-jetting session clears the bacterial "biofilm" that causes the scent in the first place.
Detecting Drought-Related Pipe Stress
Extreme dry spells can be just as damaging as floods. As the ground loses moisture, it shrinks and shifts.
This soil movement can cause older clay pipes to crack or "bellied" pipes to lose their gradient.
If you notice patches of grass that are unusually green or lush, you might have a pipe leaking nutrient-rich wastewater into your garden.
Stress-Testing Your System
Between summer braai's, school holidays, and garden maintenance, your water usage often peaks in the warmer months. This extra volume puts your plumbing under a "stress test."
Watch for: Low pressure in the garden hose or gurgling sounds in the bathroom when the washing machine is running. These are early warning signs of a system struggling to breathe.
Beating the Winter Rush
The best time to fix a roof is when the sun is shining, and the same applies to your drains. By booking maintenance now, you avoid the "emergency" premium rates and long wait times that occur when the first autumn storms hit and everyone’s drains fail at once.
