When it comes to protecting your home from the cold, there’s a lot that can go wrong. From frozen pipes to basement floods, winter weather causes a variety of home issues.
Below, we outline the 7 most common winter plumbing problems and tips on how to prevent them from happening for winters to come.
If you’re experiencing any of these plumbing problems, give us a call! We’re here to help.
1. Frozen Outdoor Pipes
Pipes that are exposed to severe cold temperatures can become a recipe for disaster. When water freezes, the pipes expand. This leads to bursting pipes, which is arguably the most common winter plumbing problem.
To combat frozen outdoor pipes, we recommend securing outdoor valves and hoses before winter hits. This will greatly reduce the chance of freezing outdoor pipes!
2. Frozen Indoor Pipes
If left untreated, the same goes for frozen indoor pipes. To start, we recommend opening the tap slightly in order to get a gentle flow of water going.
This can prevent pipes from freezing, and even clearing blockage that has already started.
If you’re experiencing any of these plumbing problems, give us a call! We’re here to help.
3. Clogged Kitchen Drains
Trying to do dishes with a clogged kitchen drain is never a good idea, especially during the winter time.
In fact, if you’re using a garbage disposal, then you’re accelerating the growth of ice layers.
In order to thaw the winter obstruction, we recommend pouring boiling water down the drain. Do not pour oil or grease down the drain, as it can easily plug the drain during the winter.
4. Outdoor Drain Damage
You have protected your outdoor pipes; now it’s time to protect your outdoor drains. Snow can still get into drains, causing extreme damage.
To protect your outdoor drains, we recommend covering and concealing them during the winter.
If you’re experiencing any of these plumbing problems, give us a call! We’re here to help.
5. Sump Pump Backup
Sump pumps are vital in preventing water problems in your basement. However, a frozen sump pump can cause a lot of damage to your home.
The most important recommendation we can give is to never unplug your sump pump, as it will cause significant damage.
Other recommendations are to:
- keep your home heating system above 55 degrees °F
- install a sump pump battery backup in case of a power outage
- reduce the workload on the sump pump
- insulate the intake and discharging line
6. Frozen Septic Lines or Tanks
Septic tanks help disperse waste water, which is why preventing the lines and tanks from freezing is of utmost importance.
To avoid your septic lines and tank from freezing, you should insulate your pipes and stagger your hot water use.
If you’re experiencing any of these plumbing problems, give us a call! We’re here to help.
7. Basement Floods
Whether or not you have an unfinished or finished basement, having your basement flood is extremely costly.
The first step in preventing basement flooding is to keep snow away from your home by shoveling it away. Additionally, ensuring that your sump pump is properly working along with your pipes is key in preventing basement floods.
These Common Winter Plumbing Problems Can Be Avoided
Winter plumbing problems are costly, frustrating and damaging to your home. However, with these tips, you can ensure that winter plumbing isn’t a problem in your home.
If the problem becomes severe, you can give our team a call to help solve your winter plumbing problems!
