With colder weather creeping up on Utah residents, another part of your home you should keep in mind this winter season is your pipes. If you are constantly using your pipes and running water through them, the likelihood of frozen pipes is significantly lower. But exterior taps for hoses or basement pipes that are less insulated may freeze over and cause damage when you try to use them again. S&B Plumbing wants to give Utah homeowners some tips on how to avoid frozen pipes this winter and save their homes from unnecessary damage. 

Drain Lines In The Fall

Before the weather starts to cool off in the evenings, drain any water that may be idle in your pipes that will not be used during the winter. Drain pools, water sprinkler supply lines, and other outdoor taps. This can help stop freezing or bursting when the water expands as ice. 

Prepping your pipes in the fall can save you from working on them in the snow and wind. Keeping the outside valve open and allowing water to drain will also help prevent a build-up of pressure when that tap is used again. This will prevent the pipe and valve from freezing entirely. Pipes can benefit from cleaning and installation before the cold weather takes over. 

Make Sure Pipes Are Insulated

For spaces like your attic and basement, you will want to insulate your pipes to stop them from freezing. Exposed pipes are also more prone to freezing when they are not protected properly. Check for pipes under kitchen and bathroom cabinets, in the garage, or in other hidden places. Both hot and cold water pipes can benefit from the proper installation and help you avoid frozen pipes. 

Run A Tiny Bit Of Water

The easiest way to keep pipes from freezing completely is to run water through them. Using just the slightest amount of water in your sink or bathtub can help prevent the entire pipe from freezing or expanding and bursting from the pressure of using a full force of water after the winter is over. 

Adjust The Thermostat

Increasing the temperature of your home can help protect pipes underneath cabinets or in small rooms of your home. Keeping the temperature in your home at the same temperature during the day and the night will help you avoid frozen pipes when temperatures drop during the night. 

Know Your Resources

There are new technologies and sensors to help you keep track of the state of your pipes. A freeze alarm can help detect when the indoor temperature drops below 45 degrees so that you can help high-risk areas warm back up. 

Hot water circulation pumps can push warm or hot water throughout your lines to keep them above the benchmark of freezing. This can help prevent you from running more water through your home than necessary, but protect pipes from bursting. 

Ways To Help Thaw Frozen Pipes

If you notice or suspect a frozen pipe, there are measures can take to help limit the damage to your home. If the pipe has not burst and you are waiting for a plumber, there are some small steps you can do to help save parts of your home. 

Identify The Frozen Pipe

Identify the pipe that is frozen by opening every faucet and watching for a trickle of water. This is a sign of frozen pipes and once you find one, keep in mind that the other pipes are susceptible. 

Heat Things Up

You can help heat the pipes up by using any external heating method such as a hair dryer, heating pad, or portable space heater. Heating the area around the nearest outlet to the plumbing will help moisture escape freely. 

Slowly Restore Water Elsewhere

As you need to restore water to the rest of your home, be aware and watch for other leaks or problems. If other leaks are spotted, you will need to cut the main water supply while you contact a plumber to fix the problem. 

Work With S&B Plumbing

When you are dealing with frozen pipes, you need to contact an experienced plumber. S&B Plumbing can help you identify the problem pipe and save your home from costly damage. Frozen pipes can burst and cause any water that runs through them in the future to leak everywhere. Water damage is hard to come back from, so protect your home during the winter season by prepping your pipes. Our team wants to help you avoid frozen pipes during the winter and will inspect your home before the cold weather sets in as well.

Clogs in your drains can become a pestering problem and be hard to remove. You may think of a plunger or immediately call a plumber to fix the problem. Using a plumbing snake can actually help you fix the problem faster and handle major clogs. S&B Plumbing wants to give you the tools to handle your plumbing when needed. Here is more about renting a plumbing snake and how to use one properly. 

When A Plumbing Snake Is Necessary

If you are experiencing any backup with drains or toilets, you can and should use a plumbing snake. Slow draining is the most common reason that people rent a plumbing snake because there is hair, grease, or other debris that has built up inside the drain. 

If you have used a plunger to help suck out and remove the clog, but it is not working, a plumbing snake will help to reach farther into the pipe and remove the clog. For deep clogs, plumbing snakes are recommended, or calling a plumber to help identify exactly where the clog is located. 

Stubborn blocks can make it hard to wash your hands, use the restroom, or use your sink properly. The sooner you work to remove the clog, the better results you will have. Clogs left for too long could lead to you having to replace pipes or the whole system. 

Steps To Using A Plumbing Snake

There are two options for plumbing snakes but have similar steps. 

Using A Cable Auger

Start with the coiled end of the snake and place this end into the drain. Crank the handle to unwind the snake while guiding it into the pipe. Continue to turn the handle until the snake catches or stops. This most likely means you have reached the clog. Rotate the coiled end so that it will attach to the material that caused the clog or break it up. 

Once you feel you have grabbed the clog, rotate the handle to rewind the snake and pull up the obstruction. Run hot water down the drain to remove remaining debris and clogs. This process may need to be repeated multiple times until you remove all the debris that is causing the blockage. 

Closet Auger

Mostly used for toilets, closet augers have a tip that needs to be facing up in order to maneuver it properly. Make sure to hold the auger steady, slowly crank the handle until all of the snake is released, and lower the snake through the pipe. Once the snake is fully released, slowly start to reel it back in, while simultaneously pulling the shaft. 

After this process, test your toilet to see if it will flush. You may need to repeat the process a few times to fully dislodge the clog. 

When To Call S&B

If you have fully extended the length of your plumbing snake and have not been able to reach the clog, it is best to call a plumber. Sometimes, slow draining or drain problems are not caused by clogs, but by obstructions. Roots will need to be removed and the pipe will need to be replaced in order for water and waste to drain effectively. 

If you have tried multiple options and you are not satisfied with the condition of your drains, it is best to call a pro. 

Working With Our Plumbers

Our family-owned business works hard to serve your family. With our around-the-clock services, you can have peace of mind about the plumbing in your home. S&B Plumbing offers emergency plumbing services as well as services for repairs and installations. 

We know that plumbing issues can become frustrating, so it is best to call our experts as soon as you start experiencing a problem. Our business has grown to serve more homes and more communities in the Northern Utah area. Contact us to schedule a service today. 

Conserving water has been a common environmental topic for years, but what are the true benefits of conserving water? Does water conservation in your home truly help the planet? Plumbing issues can contribute greatly to water waste and can cause low water pressure in your home without explanation.

S&B Plumbing wants to help you understand your water usage and what that means for the environment and the community. Knowing more about your water usage and water conservation techniques can improve the cost of your water bill and your green footprint. Read below in this blog to learn about water conservation facts and benefits. 

Water Protects Our Ecosystems And Wildlife

We all need water to survive, but the plants and wildlife around us need it the most. Water resources are depleting rapidly across the globe and when ecosystems are destroyed, they affect the food chain and other ecosystems.

Without proper water, aquatic life has less of a chance of survival, and other plants that help supply food for animals or produce oxygen will die without proper water.

Supply Is Already Limited

Freshwater around the world has been depleting for years and now makes up only .03% of the water that is available to us as humans. Finding fresh water is going to become a challenge if water conservation practices are not implemented now. If we learn to conserve the limited resources we have, it may be easier to increase the resources of freshwater as well. 

Conserving Water = Saved Energy

Energy is needed to pump water to your home or business. Water pumping consumes over 6% of all energy within an average household, so if you want to lower your energy bill, lower your water consumption. Shorter showers, turning off the tap during washing dishes, or brushing your teeth can help lower costs throughout your home. Saving water results in saving dollars because you will be paying the energy and water companies less. 

Health And Safety

We use water for more than just bathing. Water is used by firefighters to fight fires, and by cleaners to improve hygiene, and reliable water sources are a luxury that humans often take for granted. The luxury of having running water prevents us from mass destruction and rampant disease. 

Water Conservation Ideas

There are easy ways to conserve water in your everyday life. Simple acts can result in large quantities of water being saved. 

Check Your Toilet For Leaks

Checking for small leaks can make a large difference in the amount of water you consume in your home. Common places for leaks are toilets and faucets. S&B Plumbing can help look for leaks or extra water drips and repair them. 

Shorten Your Showers

A long hot shower after a rough day at work can feel amazing, but taking shorter showers or opting for a bath can help us reduce our water consumption. Using less water to bathe or shower is a great water conservation tip because we can use more water than we initially realize. 

Turn Off The Water While Brushing Your Teeth

While your toothbrush is in your mouth, turn the faucet off. This water just gets wasted and is not useful for anyone. This water conservation tip may seem small, but every small step can make a difference. 

Do Only Full Loads Of Dishes And Laundry

Full loads of dishes and laundry help your chores get done quicker and waste less water. Doing less loads of laundry means you use less water overall. Don’t fill the load to the point where nothing gets clean, but doing full loads helps save our water resources. 

Water During Cool Parts Of The Day

Using your sprinklers during cooler parts of the day allows the water to seep into the ground rather than evaporate. When the sun is beating down on the lawn, the water will dissipate quicker, causing you to water for longer or water more often. Water when it is cool outside to allow the water to stay put. 

Use A Broom To Clean Driveways, Sidewalks, And Steps

Homeowners think the most effective way to clean the exterior of your home is to pressure wash or clean with water. Water conservation can be done by using a broom to clean these areas or even a leave blower to remove debris. This saves water and can save you money on your water bill.

S&B Plumbing To Fix Water Waste

Having your plumbing inspected regularly will help prevent unnecessary water waste in your home. Pipe leaks, faucet leaks, faulty water heaters, and other aspects can cause you to use more water than you originally intended. S&B Plumbing wants to help give you advice on how to improve water conservation. Our technicians know about plumbing issues and how to improve the quality of you home and save you money.
If you are worried about plumbing or water waste, schedule a service with us today!