The festive season in Adelaide has its own rhythm. Long lunches that turn into long nights. Extra people in the house. Kids home from school. Washing machines working overtime. And somewhere in the middle of all that, plumbing systems get pushed harder than usual.

Most of the issues we see around this time aren’t dramatic at first. They start small. Then they land right in the middle of a holiday, usually when everything else is closed.

Here are the five plumbing problems we see most often during the summer festive season and why they happen.

Top Five Common Plumbing Problems During the Festive Season in Adelaide

1. Blocked Drains Adelaide After Big Gatherings

This one’s almost guaranteed. More cooking. More dishes. More grease, food scraps, and everything else going down sinks that weren’t designed for it. Kitchen drains cope with the worst of it especially after backyard barbecues and big family meals.

In summer, fats and oils don’t always behave the way people expect. They cool and harden inside pipes, even when the weather’s warm. Once that build-up starts, it doesn’t take much to cause a full blockage. You’ll usually notice slow draining first. Then the smell. Then, if it’s ignored, a complete stop.

2. Toilets That Suddenly Stop Cooperating

With more people using the bathroom more often, toilets get tested. We see blockages caused by excess paper, wipes (even the ones labelled “flushable”), and sometimes things that should never have been flushed at all. Add older pipework into the mix and problems show up fast.

In many Adelaide homes, especially older ones, the plumbing system just wasn’t designed for constant, heavy use.

3. Adelaide Hot Water Systems Giving Up at the Worst Time

Hot water failures are frustrating at any time. During the festive season, they’re a nightmare.

Summer doesn’t give hot water systems a break. They still work hard, especially when multiple showers are happening each day. Older units struggle with demand, and faults that have been quietly developing finally surface.

Often, there were warning signs earlier. Water temperature fluctuating. Strange noises. Slower recovery times. They’re easy to ignore until there’s no hot water at all.

4. Outdoor Taps and Pipes Leaking

Summer heat in Adelaide puts stress on outdoor plumbing. Taps, hoses, and irrigation systems expand and contract daily. Over time, seals weaken and small leaks appear.

You might notice damp patches near garden taps, or a slow drip that never quite stops. Left alone, these leaks waste water and can damage surrounding areas.

They’re usually simple fixes — if caught early.

5. Burst Pipes from Heat and Pressure

This surprises people, but summer can be just as hard on pipes as winter. Heat causes materials to expand. Combine that with increased water use and pressure changes, and weak sections give way.

We often see this in older homes or where pipes have already been compromised.

The festive season should be about enjoying summer, not dealing with plumbing emergencies. A little preparation goes a long way.

At aba PLUMBING + GAS, we see these same issues across Adelaide every summer. In most cases, they’re preventable or at least manageable with early attention. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s usually worth checking before it turns into a holiday problem.

Don’t Wait for Things to Get Worse

If you’re facing a plumbing emergency or you’re not sure whether it counts as one just call us. We’ll talk it through and let you know if it needs urgent attention. And if it does, we’ll be there. 24/7 service. All across Adelaide. Just one call away.