If there’s one thing I’ve learned running a plumbing company down here in South Louisiana, it’s this: summer doesn’t just bring the heat—it brings out every plumbing problem that’s been quietly minding its business all year long.
I’m Stephen Jordan, owner of SMJ Plumbing here in Slidell, and let me tell you, when those temperatures start climbing, so does my phone bill.
Now, you’d think winter would be the rough season for plumbing—and sure, frozen pipes can throw a tantrum—but summer? Summer is sneaky. It’s the season where everything looks fine… until it very much isn’t.
Let’s start with one of my personal favorites: overworked water heaters. Folks don’t always realize that your water heater doesn’t get a summer vacation. Between extra showers (because let’s be honest, nobody stays dry in Louisiana heat), kids being home all day, and washing everything twice as much, that heater is working harder than a crawfish in a boil pot. Sediment buildup becomes a real issue this time of year, and if it’s been a while since you flushed it, you might be one hot shower away from disappointment.
Then there’s the garbage disposal. Summer cookouts are a beautiful thing—until somebody decides the disposal can handle corn husks, shrimp shells, and whatever else got scraped off the plate. I hate to break it to you, but your disposal ain’t a wood chipper. Treat it right, or it’ll start sounding like a tractor that swallowed a spoon.
And don’t even get me started on clogged drains. Between increased usage, grease from backyard barbecues, and the occasional “I thought it would go down” experiment, your pipes start to feel like they’re hosting a traffic jam. If your sink is draining slower than a Sunday driver, it’s probably trying to tell you something.
Outdoor plumbing takes a hit too. Hoses get left out in the sun, spigots develop leaks, and sprinkler systems decide to either flood the yard or give up entirely. It’s like they know you’re counting on them.
One issue that really ramps up in the summer is sewer line trouble. Tree roots love warm weather, and they’ll go hunting for water like it’s their full-time job. If they find even the tiniest crack in your pipes, they’ll move in uninvited and bring the whole family. Next thing you know, you’ve got backups that nobody wants to deal with in 95-degree heat.
Here’s the good news: most of these problems can be avoided with a little attention and a whole lot less wishful thinking. Routine maintenance goes a long way. Flushing your water heater, being mindful of what goes down your drains, and checking for small leaks before they turn into big ones—that’s the kind of stuff that saves you money and keeps me from having to show up during your weekend barbecue.
But if something does go wrong—and sooner or later, something always does—that’s what we’re here for. At SMJ Plumbing, we’ve seen it all, fixed it all, and probably laughed about it later (in a professional way, of course).
So this summer, stay cool, keep an eye on your plumbing, and remember: if your pipes start acting up, don’t wait until it becomes a full-blown Southern disaster. Give us a call, and we’ll get things flowing right again.
Because around here, we believe plumbing should be the one thing in your life that just works—no drama, no surprises, and definitely no strange noises coming from under the sink.