When most homeowners think about seasonal plumbing risks, winter comes to mind first. But just because your pipes aren’t freezing doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for plumbing maintenance or even repairs for the season.

Unfortunately, summer brings its own set of plumbing problems, and in Chicago, several of them peak right when the weather gets warmest. Between storm season, thirsty tree roots, and higher household water use, your plumbing works harder in summer than most people realize.

Here’s what to watch for, and how to stay ahead of the most common summer plumbing and sewer line issues.

Common Summer Plumbing Problems (and Their Symptoms)

Tree Root Intrusion

Summer is prime growing season for trees, and their roots are actively hunting for water and nutrients. Your sewer line, which carries a steady supply of both, is a natural target. Roots find their way in through small cracks or joints in older clay or cast iron pipes, then grow inside the line until they cause partial or full blockages.

Chicago’s older neighborhoods, with mature trees and clay sewer lines, see root intrusion year-round, but the problem often becomes noticeable in summer when root growth is at its peak.

Symptoms to watch for: Slow drains throughout the house, gurgling sounds when you flush a toilet, recurring clogs that come back no matter how many times you clear them, and (in worse cases) sewage backing up into basement drains.

Sewer Backups from Summer Storms

Chicago summers often bring heavy, fast-moving thunderstorms, and when it rains faster than the combined sewer system can handle, the main line under your street can surge. This sends wastewater backward into the lowest drains in your home.

Because of this, homes without a backwater valve are the most vulnerable. If you’ve ever had a basement backup during a storm, it will happen again unless you make a change.

Symptoms to watch for: Water bubbling up from a basement floor drain during or after heavy rain, sewage smell in the basement, water in your basement that appears without any visible source, and multiple drains slowing at the same time,

Sump Pump Overload or Failure

Summer storms don’t just stress the sewer system. They stress your sump pump, too. A pump that ran fine during a light spring rain can struggle to keep up with the volume of a summer downpour, and older units often fail exactly when you need them most.

Power outages during summer storms add another layer of risk. A sump pump without a battery backup is useless during a blackout.

Symptoms to watch for: Sump pump running constantly, unusual noises (grinding, humming, or rattling), visible water pooling near the pit, or water on the basement floor after a storm even though the pump appears to be running.

Stronger Sewer Odors

Heat accelerates bacterial activity in your sewer line, which means normal decomposition happens faster and produces stronger smells. If there’s a dry P-trap somewhere in the house, a small vent issue, or a partial blockage that’s been quietly building, summer heat is often when the odor becomes obvious.

Symptoms to watch for: Sewer or sulfur smell inside the house (especially around basement drains, guest bathrooms, or utility sinks that don’t get used often), or a distinct odor over your yard along the path of the sewer line.

A guest bathroom that hasn’t been used in weeks can develop dry traps that let sewer gas into the room. Running the water for a minute usually fixes it.

Increased Water Use, Increased Strain

Summer means more water usage: more showers after yardwork, more loads of laundry from beach towels and pool gear, more houseguests, more dishes from cookouts, more sprinkler and hose use. All that extra water runs through the same pipes handling everything else. This can exacerbate existing blockages, create pressure that can lead to leaks, overload septic systems, and more. 

Symptoms to watch for: Slow drains you didn’t notice before, water pressure dropping when multiple fixtures run at once, water bill spikes that don’t match your usage, or hot water running out faster than it used to.

Garbage Disposal and Kitchen Drain Clogs

Summer produce is hard on kitchen drains. Corn cobs, watermelon rinds, fruit pits, and stringy vegetables like celery can jam a disposal or clog the line downstream of it.

Grease from grilling and cooking also often ends up in the sink, and it will inevitably cool and harden inside the pipe. If your solution is to run hot water down the drain to rinse the grease away, think again: eventually that grease will clog the entire line. 

Symptoms to watch for: Slow-draining kitchen sink, standing water in the disposal, humming without spinning, or a bad odor that returns even after cleaning the disposal itself.

Summer Plumbing Tips to Keep Everything Running Smoothly

Most summer plumbing issues are preventable with a little attention. Here’s where to focus:

• Test your sump pump before storm season really kicks in: Pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure the pump kicks on, moves the water, and shuts off cleanly. If it hesitates, cycles oddly, or doesn’t turn off, get it checked before the next big storm.
• Consider a battery backup for your sump pump: Summer thunderstorms and power outages tend to arrive together. A backup system keeps your pump running when the grid goes down.
• Get a camera inspection if you’ve had recurring drain issues: A camera scope shows exactly what’s happening in your sewer line, including root intrusion, buildup, or cracks. If summer is when your drains slow down, it’s often a sign of a specific problem that’s worth diagnosing rather than repeatedly clearing.
• Install a backwater valve if you don’t already have one: This is one of the most effective protections against sewer backups during heavy rain. For many Chicago homes, it’s the single biggest upgrade for peace of mind during storm season.
• Be careful what goes down the kitchen sink: Even with a disposal, fibrous vegetables, fruit pits, corn cobs, and grease should go in the trash or compost. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Keep an eye on your yard: Soft spots, unusually green patches of grass, or small depressions along the path of your sewer line can indicate a leak or a cracked pipe. Catching that early is much easier than dealing with the aftermath.
• Run water in unused fixtures: Guest bathrooms, basement bathrooms, and utility sinks that don’t get regular use can develop dry traps that let sewer gas into the house. A minute of running water once a week keeps the traps sealed.
• Don’t ignore small changes: A drain that’s slightly slower than it used to be, a faint smell that comes and goes, or a sump pump that sounds a little different are all early signals. Summer plumbing problems rarely appear out of nowhere. They build up quietly until something gives.

Stay Ahead of Summer Plumbing Issues

If you’ve noticed any of the warning signs above, or you just want to get your system checked because of all the storms lately, we’re happy to take a look.

Madden Sewer & Drain has been helping Chicago homeowners handle summer plumbing problems for over 60 years. We’re family-owned, licensed, and bonded, with a 4.9-star rating across 300+ Google reviews. Whether it’s a camera inspection, a backwater valve, a sump pump check, or clearing a stubborn line, we’ll tell you what’s going on and what your options are.

Call 773-588-7534 for a free estimate. We’ll help you get through the season without any surprises.