Winter is on the way and that means frigid cold temperatures that are brutal on your plumbing system. It’s essential to prepare for winter before the first snowfall. If you don’t take precautions now, you could end up with burst pipes and a flooded home when it drops below freezing outside.
The adage “prevention is better than cure” holds true, especially when it comes to your home plumbing. The fact is, your house’s pipes and drains are exposed to a wide range of elements, including extreme heat and cold, which can lead to water leaks, frozen pipes, and busted fixtures. These are inconvenient at the best of times, but they can be far more stressful during Wisconsin’s brutal winters.
Unfortunately, water damage isn’t always apparent; in reality, it might take decades for symptoms to show up. This is why regular maintenance checks are vital.
Many people know that their home’s plumbing is essential to maintain, but it may not be as well understood as what goes into ensuring everything is in working order. To avoid complications down the line make sure everything stays running smoothly at all times.
Don’t let any leaks go unnoticed or unrepaired. There are lots of reasons plumbing fixtures in a home can leak, but the most common culprits include:
If you spot any leaks when inspecting your plumbing system, immediately remedy them before they get worse. If there’s an issue with one fixture, ask yourself if it could be affecting other plumbing in your home. If you can’t fix the problem on your own, make sure to call the licensed plumbers at Lee Service, so they can get everything back up and running smoothly for you as soon as possible.
Now, washers and fittings are easy and inexpensive to replace; damaged pipes are more complicated. Years of wear and tear undoubtedly play a role in pipe damage, but homeowners can severely reduce the life span of their plumbing, too. In addition, faulty installation, debris build-up, constant clogging, and not protecting pipes against freezing weather can compromise your plumbing and cost you a lot of money.
There are several ways we, plumbing professionals, recommend homeowners protect their homes from a winter plumbing emergency:
Don’t let potential emergency plumbing issues pile up and use this time before the first deep freeze to inspect your home for potential issues. A trusted, local plumber can review your home’s plumbing if you have any questions or concerns. Also, don’t forget to check on elderly family members that may need an extra hand during the winter.
As the seasons change, all sorts of debris and gunk can accumulate in plumbing that’s been ignored for ages. This is why it’s essential to clean the drains at least once a year, if not more frequently, depending on your family size and frequency of use.
In addition to clearing out drain traps, here are some other things you should know about preventing clogs and keeping a healthy home:
Preventing blockage in plumbing isn’t just about protecting your home from potential damage; it’s also about safeguarding plumbing fixtures and appliances that play a significant role in your day-to-day life.
If you’re trying to unblock drains yourself, we recommend using chemical drain cleaners or clearing out your plumbing with an auger. Be sure to avoid using boiling water, as it can corrode pipes (leaving them open for leaks and more damage). Also, don’t use chemical drain cleaners too frequently, as they can affect plumbing over time. When in doubt, hire Lee Mechanical to check out your home’s drain system.
If there’s one appliance in your home that’s most in danger of plumbing damage, it’s the water heater.
They’re often located in basements and garages — areas that are susceptible to dropping temperatures — and their insulation can’t protect them from cold weather all by itself. You’ll need to take additional steps such as adding pipe wrap (or turning up the temperature on the water heater) and insulating plumbing pipes leading to the exterior walls of your home.
Most importantly, you should learn how to shut off power and gas supplies for this appliance so that it doesn’t cause a flood or fire if damaged by cold weather conditions — don’t forget about the electrical panel! Especially in areas where freezing is expected, you should consider having your water heater set to a lower temperature during the winter months.
Washing machines, dishwashers, and some refrigerators are also connected to your plumbing system. As mentioned earlier, if your fridge has a water cooling or filtering device, you should be sure to check it and replace the filter regularly.
As for the washing machine and dishwasher, be sure to listen to them the next time you run a cycle. Listen to the water pressure as it fills the machine. Is it slow? Is your washing machine draining water properly after a wash or rinse cycle? These questions could help you identify problems with the plumbing connected to your appliances.
However, if you find plumbing leaks in or around these appliances during the inspection, don’t attempt any repairs yourself; contact a plumbing professional instead. It’s not worth putting your family at risk by attempting plumbing work without proper training and experience.
Fixing plumbing issues can be expensive, but they can also be avoided. With some plumbing maintenance and upkeep, you’ll avoid having to pay for costly repairs down the line. That’s why at Lee Service, we offer financing solutions for plumbing issues if your home needs work, updates, renovation, or fixes. We also offer annual service agreements that include inspections of your plumbing.
If you want to avoid plumbing issues altogether, regular maintenance is the best way of preventing plumbing emergencies from happening in your home. Contact us today to schedule your maintenance appointment today!
Lee Mechanical is a plumbing and heating company with over 40 years of experience and unmatched customer service. You can get expert services at rates that are competitive to other companies throughout the area. In addition, we offer:
It might be hard to think about now, but it won’t be long before the weather starts turning colder and snow begins falling, from Downtown Kenosha to Pleasant Prairie and beyond. If you don’t take care of your plumbing now, you could be in for a nasty surprise when the temperature drops.
So, don’t wait until it gets too cold outside – start preparing now with these helpful tips. It will save you from having to deal with frozen or burst pipes later on down the road. Contact Lee Mechanical today for your home’s inspection or for more information.
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