Drought and Monsoons – Tips for summer in Arizona
Summer in Arizona means times of extreme drought along with the heavy rains of monsoon season. As a result of these droughts and monsoons, your plumbing can really take a beating during the summer. Here are a few tips for dealing with the Arizona weather this summer.
Stay safe in storms
In the event of a storm, the National Weather Service Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services has two plumbing-related tips for staying safe during a storm. The first is to avoid plumbing. Do not wash your hands, take a shower or bath, or wash dishes. Both the metal in the plumbing pipes/fixtures and the water itself conduct electricity. The second is to avoid using appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and hot water heaters. All are electrical conductors so play it safe and stay away from them during a storm.
Give your swamp cooler a break
Do you have a swamp cooler? Be aware that because swamp coolers use moisture to produce cool air, they do not operate as efficiently when the relative humidity is above 80%. You can conserve energy and water usage by turning off the pump and leaving the fan running when it’s raining outside. This will take advantage of the natural rainfall and you can still experience the same cooling effect.
Save water—literally
Rainfall is great for those of us who tend our lawn and garden. Save energy and water by turning off automatic sprinkler systems during the rainy weeks of the year and gauge watering by the amount of rainfall your area receives.
During heavy downpours, you can use rain basins to collect water for later use. Just make sure to cover the basin after the storm passes so it won’t evaporate as quickly.
One last tip is that if you need to give your pet a bath or you have children at home that want to play in the water, be sure to do the bathing or set up the water toys on areas of the lawn that need to be watered anyway.
If you find that the drought or monsoons are affecting your plumbing or you want to make sure you’re not wasting water this summer, give Ben Franklin Plumbing AZ a call. (602) 903-1762
