Waterways Plumbing & Heating

Prevent Winter Plumbing Problems

Long stretches of cold weather or a sudden cold snap can cause plumbing systems to break or wear out prematurely, demanding costly and unnecessary repairs. Most of these problems are easily avoidable, making preventative maintenance cheap by comparison. Homeowners should review the following list of common winter plumbing problems and take the precautions that apply to them.

Frozen Pipes

Broken pipes due to freezing can be a real headache, but are a suprisingly common occurance, possibly because the risk is often easy to overlook. Outdoor pipes are common culprits, but so are less intuitive fixtures like the kitchen sink (which in older homes is often fed through an outside wall). It is important to identify all at-risk pipes and fixtures and take measures to prevent them from freezing. Once an risk has been identified, homeowners have several options. If the pipe or fixture needs to be used year-round, it should be insulated against the cold. If this is not possible, and the cold weather is likely to be short-lived, it may be feasible to open the tap slightly and allow water to drip. Most outdoor fixtures, however, which bear the brunt of the cold, should be shut off and drained. The goal here is to leave only air in the pipes; if water is still in the line it can freeze and cause a rupture.

If your system does not provide a ready way to do this, it may be advisable to install isolation valves to allow you to turn the water off on a fixture-by-fixture basis. If you have questions about your risk of freezing pipes, we recommend that you contact your favorite plumber.

Bad Water Heater Elements

A homeowner will often only notice that a water heater element is failing when the winter months hit, and it needs to be replaced. This is a common part, and is usually fairly straightforward to replace. It is worth noting though that a simple decrease in temperature may not be a sign of a failing element; it may simply mean that the weather is getting colder and it is necessary to raise the temp. A test with a standard ohm meter will indicate whether the element needs to be replaced.

Septic problems

If a homeowner inadvertently neglects to check septic levels going into winter, serious backup problems can result. At the best of times, this can require excavation and be quite costly to fix, but the season and conditions this time of year usually add to the expense. This service should be performed regularly, in advance.

Failing Boiler or Furnace

Likewise, if you have a gas or oil powered unit, it pays to have it serviced before the months when you will need it most.

All plumbing damage due to cold is typically forseeable and preventable. Whether you need help performing some of the preventative maintenance outlined above, or are kicking yourself wishing that you had, Waterways is here to help.