How to Prevent Common Winter Plumbing Problems

November 11, 2016

This time of year arrives with so much excitement – adorable trick-or-treaters, loved ones together around Thanksgiving meals, and the enchantment of the holidays. But with the lovely comes the ugly. The cold weather and bitter temperatures can cause a whole medley of plumbing problems. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is here with a few preventative measures to help you lower your chance of experiencing these common winter plumbing problems.

 

Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes are a common plumbing problem for North America. This typically takes place when high water pressure from the main water pipe encounters freezing temperatures. To help keep this plumbing problem from happening to you, leave a faucet slightly open to make sure the water can continuously flow through. If you do realize you have a frozen pipe, disable the main water supply to stop the pipe from breaking. Try warming the frozen area of the pipe with heated water and if that doesn’t solve the problem, give Service Experts a call and we’ll send one of our professional plumbers out to look at the issue.

Broken Water Line

A leak or break in your water pipe could cause serious damage to your home. Water line cracks or breaks are commonly because of a frozen garden hose. If you leave your hose connected to your water spout after a freeze, the ice inside can cause pressure to build up in your home’s water lines and create a leak or a break. To prevent this issue, confirm your garden hoses are drained and disconnected before freezing temperatures set in.

Failing Hot Water Systems

If your hot water heater is not working as well as expected, check the temperature and make sure it is set high enough. If you have a gas water heater, confirm the pilot light is still lit. If these aren’t the cause of your hot water issues, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning so we can send out an expert plumber to find out what’s going on. To avoid this issue altogether, be sure you are getting your annual hot water heater maintenance and it’s best if you service it well before cooler temperatures arrive. Call 866-397-3787 to be sure you don’t get left without warm water this winter.