How to Prepare Your Plumbing for Hot California Weather

Banning, CA sits at the gateway to the San Gorgonio Pass, and summer temperatures regularly reach the upper 90s and above. While residents are accustomed to the heat, many don't think about how extreme temperatures affect their home's plumbing until something goes wrong. Unlike freeze protection — which most California homeowners understand at least conceptually — summer plumbing stress is less obvious but just as real. Here's what to check and prepare before the hottest months arrive.

Inspect Outdoor Water Supply Lines and Hose Bibs

Plastic and rubber components in outdoor plumbing — hose bib washers, irrigation line connections, soaker hose ends, and drip emitters — deteriorate faster in intense UV exposure and heat. Before summer fully arrives, check all outdoor hose connections for cracks, brittleness, or leaks. Replace any hose bib washers that are cracked or deformed. A leaking hose bib that drips constantly can waste significant amounts of water over a California summer — which affects both your water bill and your property during water-conservation periods.

Check Your Irrigation System

Irrigation systems in Banning work hardest during summer, and small leaks or broken sprinkler heads that go unnoticed during lower-demand seasons become costly water wasters when the system runs daily. Walk your irrigation zones as the system runs and look for: broken or tilted sprinkler heads that spray sideways or downward rather than outward, sunken heads that no longer pop up fully, hissing sounds near irrigation valves suggesting a valve seat failure, and wet spots between heads that indicate a supply line leak underground. Fixing these before peak summer use saves water and prevents soggy ground that can affect the foundation.

Flush Your Water Heater

Summer is an ideal time to flush sediment from your water heater tank if it hasn't been done in the last year. In Banning's hard water environment, mineral sediment accumulates on the tank floor year-round, but running the water heater harder in winter and spring means sediment layers build up. Flushing involves connecting a garden hose to the drain valve, turning off the heating source, and allowing the water to drain until it runs clear. This removes the loose sediment before it compacts and reduces efficiency or causes overheating. If you're not comfortable doing this yourself, our water heater maintenance service covers it.

Check Water Pressure During Peak Demand Periods

Municipal water systems can experience higher demand during summer months as irrigation across the region increases. If you notice lower water pressure during morning and early evening hours — typical irrigation times — the cause may be system-wide demand rather than a problem with your home's plumbing. However, if the pressure drop is severe or occurs at all times, a pressure reducing valve check or leak investigation is warranted.

Protect Exposed Pipe from Direct Sunlight

PVC and CPVC supply pipes that run in attic spaces or through unconditioned areas of the home can reach very high temperatures during hot California summers — hot enough to soften or deform the pipe in extreme cases, and consistently hot enough to expand and stress connections over time. If your home has exposed plastic supply pipes in an attic or garage wall, adding insulation wrap or foam pipe insulation reduces heat gain and helps maintain consistent pipe temperature.

Monitor Your Water Bill for Unexplained Increases

Summer is when water waste from hidden leaks becomes most apparent on your bill — because irrigation demand is already high, making it easier to attribute elevated usage to other causes. Take a note of your baseline water usage from spring months and compare it to summer usage month over month. An unexplained increase of 20% or more (beyond what additional irrigation accounts for) is worth a leak inspection to rule out underground supply line leaks.

Know Where Your Main Shutoff Is

This preparation applies year-round, but summer is a good time to confirm you know exactly where your main water shutoff is and that it operates freely. Shutoff valves that haven't been turned in years can seize or fail to close fully when needed. Turn the valve to the off position and back again to confirm it operates smoothly. If you have a gate valve that is difficult to operate, consider replacing it with a ball valve — a service our plumbers can perform quickly.

Reviewed by our master plumber

Mike Reyes · Lead Master Plumber & Owner

Master plumber with 20+ years of hands-on experience serving Banning and the San Gorgonio Pass.

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