How To Prepare Your Plumbing For The Winter Months With An Emergency Plumber | Carrollton, TX
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Winter is coming! If you’re a homeowner, it may be a good idea to ensure your home and plumbing system is prepared for the winter months. Plumbing emergencies can happen year-round, but winter is the season when many things can go wrong. If you live in a cold climate, your pipes may freeze, resulting in a burst pipe that you’ll need an emergency plumber to fix.
During the winter, temperatures plummet, and this, combined with a higher demand for hot water, means that problems are more likely to occur. If you have guests over for Thanksgiving and Christmas, this will also take its toll on your plumbing system.
If you live in Carrollton, TX, or the surrounding area and are looking for an emergency plumber this winter, you may like to contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. The company offers a 24/7 emergency call-out service. This article will look at three of the most common reasons that homeowners need to call on a plumber service during the winter months. We’ll also tell you how to prevent these issues from occurring in your own home.
Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes can be a significant problem during the winter, as the temperature falls to below freezing outside. When a pipe freezes, it can expand, causing the pipe to burst or crack due to pressure build-up. Your property will be at more risk of pipes freezing if you have outside plumbing that’s exposed to the elements. Many homes have pipes that run along an exterior wall of a garage, crawlspace, or an unconditioned room such as a basement.
If you notice that a pipe has burst inside or outside your home, you’ll need to turn off the water at the mains valve and then call in an emergency plumber. If you don’t get the cracked pipe attended to immediately, you’ll be left with a flood when the frozen pipe begins to thaw out.
Insulate pipes to prevent them freezing
There are several things you can do to help protect your pipes from the cold winter weather. If you live in a climate where there’s lots of snow forecast, it’s best to insulate your cold and hot pipes. Insulation can protect your pipes, but if you notice a leak, call an emergency plumber.
Insulating your cold water pipes will stop them from freezing. Although hot water pipes won’t freeze as the temperature won’t get low enough, it’s a good idea to insulate them as well to reduce heat loss and lower your energy bills.
It’s also a good idea to set your thermostat so that it never falls below 55 degrees. You can do this even if you’re away on a vacation as it will help keep your home warm and reduce the likelihood that pipes will freeze.
If an unusually cold night is forecast, open a cold-water faucet to a slow trickle and leave it on during the night. When water is running, it means it’s moving through your pipes, and they will be less likely to freeze.
If you have pipes under your sink, you can open the cabinet doors. This will allow warmer air to circulate the pipes. You can also put heaters in unconditioned rooms to protect your plumbing. You only need to warm your room a little so that the pipes don’t reach freezing point. If you have pipes that run through your garage, ensure that the doors are kept closed, especially at night.
It’s also a good idea to drain your sprinkler system before the snow starts to fall. Sprinklers can be prone to freezing as well.
No Hot Water from Your Faucets
It can be a nightmare if you suddenly realize that you have no hot water in your home on a cold winter’s night. There are lots of things that can go wrong with your water heater at any time of year. It’s incredibly important to have hot water during the winter.
A hot water heater may stop working if the heating element is getting old and worn out. You may also find that your water heater is ineffective due to sediment build-up on the tank’s bottom. The first thing you should do if you’re having problems with your hot water system is to look and see if the pilot light is on. Older water heaters run on gas and have an ignite burner with a pilot light. If the light goes out, it will need to be relit.
Prevent water heater problems
Prevention is better than cure and maintenance will reduce the chances that you’ll need an emergency plumber this winter.
It’s a good idea to drain your water heater in the Fall to remove any sediment that’s built up in the tank. This will help your water heater to run more effectively during the winter and is a job that should ideally be undertaken once a year.
Leaky Faucets
In the winter months, germs and bugs are more common. You’ll likely need to wash your hands more during the winter months to protect yours and your family’s health. You’re also likely to have houseguests or children returning from university during Thanksgiving and Christmas. This puts more strain on your plumbing system and your faucets. You may find that a handle has loosed or seals have begun to wear out. Faucets and showers can also develop problems with their aerators.
It’s a good idea to check your faucets and other plumbing features in the fall and call an emergency plumber if you notice any problems. Getting the issue fixed before winter sets in and the problem worsens is wise and will prevent an emergency situation from arising.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, Emergency Plumber
If you live in Carrollton, TX, or the surrounding area and are looking for an emergency plumber, don’t hesitate to contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of North Dallas. The company offers a reliable 24/7 emergency plumber service and can be contacted at 469-214-2582.
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