Winter weather can often cause frustration for homeowners. Shoveling snow, watching for flooding and leaks, and working to prevent plumbing emergencies this winter are all possible when you take the proper steps. Scheduling home maintenance and having your plumbing inspected by our experts at S&B Plumbing can prevent disasters later. This blog has gathered some common plumbing emergencies that happen in the winter and how you can avoid them or solve them after they occur.
Dealing with a lack of hot water, flooding, or sewage backup while the weather is harsh can be extremely frustrating. Let us help take care of your home with S&B Plumbings’ 24-hour emergency plumbing services.
Common Winter Emergencies
While this list may not cover all of the possible plumbing emergencies you could see, these are some of the most common ones we treat during the winter months.
- Frozen pipes (both indoor and outdoor)
- Clogged Drains
- Faulty Water Heater
- Outdoor Drain Damage
- Sump Pump Backup
- Flooded Basements
- Frozen Septic Tanks
1- Make Sure Pipes Are Insulated
The easiest way to ensure that pipes don’t freeze is to make sure they are properly insulated. Indoor and outdoor pipes will both need proper insulation to avoid freezing and especially if you are away from your home for long periods during the winter. Preventing plumbing emergencies this winter can be avoided by preventing frozen pipes.
When pipes freeze, they can burst, causing more damage to your home. Let the faucet drip while you are not in your home, or have a plumber inspect your pipes to ensure they are not frozen already.
2- Unclog Drains
Clogged drains are a common plumbing problem throughout the year, but fixing them in the winter can be even more difficult. Severely clogged drains can lead to major pipe damage, which usually needs to be dealt with by tearing up your yard or getting the pipes inside the floor or walls. This process can be messy and put you out of your normal routine.
Homeowners often turn to commercial drain cleaning products to help their drains drain properly, but these products may not get to the root of the problem. Working with a licensed plumber to prevent plumbing emergencies this winter will save you time and money in the long run.
3- Schedule Water Heater Maintenance
Plumbers offer water heater maintenance to ensure that it works properly, heats your water properly, and does not damage your home. Old water heaters will not provide the amount of hot water you need throughout your entire home and are prone to breaking and possible explosions. Water heater explosions can cause damage to your home and injuries to family members. Proper water heater maintenance will help keep your home comfortable and safe.
4- Fix Existing Leaks
To prevent plumbing emergencies this winter, fix leaks before the weather gets colder. Fixing leaks sooner rather than later will also help prevent frozen pipes and flooding. Our plumbers can help you find pipe leaks in your home and take care of them before they take over your home. S&B Plumbing can help give you advice about common signs of pipe leaks or potential pipe leaks.
5- Allow Warm Air To Circulate
For indoor pipes, allowing your hot air to reach them will prevent frozen pipes. Opening cabinets especially under the sink or in your bathrooms can help hot air circulate around the pipes and help them stay in working order. Heating your home and pipes properly will help prevent plumbing emergencies this winter.
6- Avoid Antifreeze
If your pipes do end up freezing, homeowners may take drastic measures to salvage them. Some may assume that antifreeze can help your pipes get back to working order, but antifreeze is really harmful to the environment, humans, and animals. Putting antifreeze in your pipes can allow it to get back to our water sources, or into the soil which can damage the health of all those around us.
7- Use A Heat Cable, Space Heater, Or Heating Pad
Frozen pipes can be remedied or helped by heating them up with household items. If you haven’t previously installed pipe insulation or a heating cable, using a space heater, hairdryer, or a heating pad around your pipes can help to unfreeze the pipe. When using heat to unfreeze the pipe, make sure to remove flammables from around the piping and take all safety precautions to prevent burns with hot metal.
If you have damaged frozen pipes, the best step to take is to contact a plumber to replace them. S&B Plumbing can repipe your home easily and get your home back to full function.
Prevent Plumbing Emergencies This Winter With S&B
Our full-service plumbers can help you prevent plumbing emergencies this winter. With 24-hour emergency services and multiple plumbing services, you can have peace of mind when it comes to your home. Plumbers can help with drain clogs, frozen pipes, sump pumps, sewer line issues, and more! Trust our local company to protect your home this winter. Contact us today!