Winter plumbing issues and how to avoid them

Every new season comes with new plumbing issues and as professionals in plumbing, we are always ready to resolve any problem our customers may have with their plumbing system. No matter the problems that come with winter, we are ready to help you.

The following are the common winter plumbing problems and how best to avoid them.

Frozen pipes: This occurs first immediately winter rolls in. With high water pressure and low temperatures, pipes are certain to breeze making it difficult for you to wash dishes, take a shower or do anything that the plumbing is meant for. To prevent this from happening, turn on the faucet a bit to allow for trickles of water. This way, tiny bits if water moving through the pipe will prevent the pipes from freezing. This is far better and cheaper than having to burst pipes and expensive repairs.

Damaged water heater: In winter, the water coming into your water heater is usually cold due to the low outdoor temperature. This makes your heater work more in order to produce hot water for your shower. You can start by using a little bit of hot water heater and also adjusting the thermostat on your water heater. This will reduce the pressure of the heater. You can contact us if you have any problem with your water heater.

A Clogged Drain: Though not related to winter, it is more common during winter because of the holiday season. Holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah where you’ll have to do more cooking that you are used to as you will likely need to entertain family and friends. So all the dirt and grease with other debris gets into the drain. Over a period of time, a clog could occur far down in the drain where it’s inaccessible.  To prevent this, always ensure that you are using a drain cover and also try to keep big food scraps and debris out of the sink.

Septic tank backup: This is a problem that you won’t want to deal with in winter. Ensure a plumbing professional checks out your septic tank to be sure the waste levels are not too high. It’s good to do this early enough before winter as dealing with septic tank backups can be really expensive during winter.